Doggy Daycare and Dog Boarding

The Big Backyard’s (aka “The BBY”) Rules and Regulations

To ensure a safe and healthy environment for your dog, The Big Backyard, requires the owners of all dog daycare and boarding attendees to read and comply with the following Rules and Regulations. These Rules and Regulations may be changed at any time by The Big Backyard giving Owner prior notice thereof:

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Daycare & Boarding is BY RESERVATION ONLY. We are not a drop-in facility.

• Daycare Monday thru Friday from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm. Closed 11am -1pm for naptime
• Daycare Saturday & Sunday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed 11am – 2pm for naptime
• Weekday Boarding Drop Off: 7:00 am – 10:30 am. No drop offs in the PM
• Weekend Boarding Drop off: 8 am -10 am only. No drop offs in the PM.

AGE; SPAY/NEUTER:

All dogs must be 4 months or older and have completed their puppy series of vaccinations. All dogs over the age of 6 months should be spayed or neutered. Your veterinarian may want you to wait until your dog gets older to spay or neuter, with males we can have them to continue to come if their behavior allows. Females will need to wait until they are spayed to come back to our facility.

VACCINATIONS / Flea & Tick Preventative / Canine Influenza:

Owners must submit proof from their veterinarian that their dog has received the following “current” vaccinations: DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordetella (kennel cough). Please note that the Bordetella vaccine must be administered at least 7 days prior to their first day. The BBY also highly recommends that all dogs receive the canine influenza vaccine annually in the Fall. We will also need proof that your dog is on a 6-month (May-October) preventative treatment for flea/tick/lice.

HEALTH & BEHAVIOR:

All dogs must be in good health. Dogs with an illness, stitches or open wound will not be admitted until they have sufficiently recovered or healed. All dogs must be non-aggressive and should not be possessive of territory or toys. Owners must certify that their dog has not harmed or shown aggressive or threatening behavior towards any person or any other dog.

BOARDING/DAYCARE AT OTHER FACILITIES:

If you choose to use another facility for overnight care or daycare you will need to wait at least two weeks before your dog can come back to the BBY. We maintain a very clean facility, and this is the best way to make sure that we do not have cross contamination of any illnesses from another facility.

NAPTIME:

The Big Backyard is closed for naptime from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on weekdays, and from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on weekends. Owners are not able to pick up or drop off dogs during nap time. All dogs are required to rest in a crate during naptime. Dogs are also required to rest in runs and/or crates when staying overnight at the facility.

FOOD:

All dogs are fed a dog biscuit provided by The BBY when they nap in their crates. Owners may provide their own meal or snack for their dog but please use a Tupperware or a zip lock labeled with your dog’s name. We will provide a stainless-steel bowl to put their snack in. Owners should advise The BBY in writing if they do not want their dog to have a biscuit at naptime. In addition, if your dog is boarding with us, we can provide pumpkin, yogurt, peanut butter, canned ID for digestion, fish oil, Pepcid AC, and Benadryl to help your dog with stomach upsets or to help stimulate their appetite if necessary. If you DO NOT want us to provide any of these products, please let us know at the time of drop off. If your dog has allergies, please make us aware by marking it on your boarding card.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION/VITAMINS/SUPPPLIMENTS/etc.:

The BBY can only administer prescription medication at Owner’s request, under the direction of a licensed veterinarian and in accordance with the labeled instructions on the medication container. We are not allowed, by law, to give expired medications. Every medication, vitamin, etc. must come in its original bottle. No exceptions! We will not be able to give it to your dog if it is in a zip lock or other generic container. This is mandated and enforced by The Dept. of Agriculture.

RESERVATIONS:

Reservations are required for daycare and boarding services. Daycare “No shows” and cancellations made without a 24-hour notice will be charged the full rate for the reserved service. We require 48 hr. cancellation for non-holiday boarding, or we will charge one day/one night fee. Holiday boarding, we require a 50 % non-refundable deposit.

FEES:

The Big Backyard’s current fees for dog services are listed on its website and at the facility. All fees are due and payable at the time that services are provided by the BBY. We have a $3.00 charge for each minute the dog is left at the facility after 6:30pm. A $30.00 fee is charged for all returned check.

ADMISSION:

Owner must (i) complete and submit an Admission Questionnaire, along with an immunization record, dog completes a temperament interview, and prior to receiving any services from The Big Backyard, sign an Owner’s Agreement.  The Big Backyard is entitled to deny admittance to any dog for any reason in its sole discretion.