A clean-looking lobby tells you little. This checklist follows the California rules for boarding facilities, so you can judge the part of the kennel your dog will actually live in.
The floor and the smell
State law requires structures that are sound, pest-free and made of surfaces that can be cleaned. Walk the kennel and look at the floor. The kennel building at Happy Paws has epoxy floors, which are sealed and easy to wash. Expect a staff member to be cleaning during part of the day, and watch your step on wet concrete. Wet floors in a kennel mean someone is washing, so treat them as a good sign, and wear shoes you do not mind getting damp.
The space each dog gets
Under section 122382 an enclosure has to let a pet turn around, stand, sit and lie down comfortably, with heating, cooling or shade as needed. Ask for the interior and outdoor dimensions. At Happy Paws the three classes are 4 by 4 feet inside (Economy), 5 by 6 (Business Class) and 6 by 8 (First Class), each with an outdoor area reached through a doggie door. Look at the raised bed and the blankets too.
Safety, water and watching the animals
A boarding facility must keep either a fire alarm connected to a central station or a fire sprinkler system (section 122385). The 2022 building at Happy Paws has fire sprinklers. The state also requires clean water at all times, an observation of every pet at least once every 24 hours, daily enrichment, and written policies for emergencies and evacuation. Ask to see how the kennel handles each.
The paper you should be handed
Section 122384 says the operator must give each owner written information on drop-off and pick-up times, staffed hours, enclosure sizes, how and when pets are observed, and the daily activity schedule. Ask for it on the tour. At Happy Paws drop-off and pick-up run daily 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2 to 5 PM, and check-out is by 11:30 AM.
Questions worth asking
How are vaccines checked, and what happens if a record expires during the stay? Who do you call if your dog is ill, and what do you decide ahead of time? Happy Paws asks owners to fill in a medical release naming health conditions and what to do if the owner cannot be reached. Medications are given at no extra charge. The questions to ask a boarding kennel guide has a longer list.