Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Barks and Recreation’s office is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Reservations
We require all dogs participating in Day Care, Boarding, or Grooming to have a reservation. All reservations are considered requests until Barks and Recreation has confirmed your reservation. All “Standing Day Care Reservations” are confirmed except when we close Day Care during peak Boarding times (holidays, including Spring Break and Fall Break). We will always send out an e-mail noting the days we are closed for Day Care.
Evaluations
In order to provide a safe and fun environment, we may require some guests to pass a temperament test to interact socially with other dogs during play time. There is no charge for this evaluation. Guests who have not passed their temperament test will not be allowed to participate in group activities. All guests will be assigned to a social and/or size based playgroup. If any guest is aggressive toward other guests or to our staff, we reserve the right to refuse subsequent visits.
Vaccinations
To safeguard the health and well-being of all our guests, all dogs must have current vaccinations, so here’s what you need to do before checking in: Provide written proof of Rabies, DHLPP (or equivalent) and Bordetella vaccinations. Puppies must be at least 12 weeks old with 2 sets of DHLPP and Bordetella completed. No puppies will be allowed to socialize in a play group with other dogs until all rounds of puppy shots have been completed, including the Rabies vaccination. Additionally, your dog must have a Canine Influenza vaccination for both the H3N2 and H3N8 strains. The Canine Influenza vaccine is available in Bivalent form (one vaccination followed by a booster 2 – 4 weeks later) that covers both strains. We recommend that you email your dog’s vaccination records to us ahead of time at info@barksdaycare.com. We’ll be glad to contact your Veterinarian and obtain your records if you provide the necessary contact information.
Because our city experiences a high rate of canine cough, Bordetella vaccinations are strongly recommended every six months, but we will defer to individual veterinarians who use a once yearly protocol. Immunization should be completed at least five days before your pet’s arrival at Barks and Recreation.
Please double-check all shot records in advance, since we must regrettably turn away any guest without up-to-date vaccinations. If, for a current health problem or perhaps the age of your pet, your Vet does not want to update any of the required vaccinations prior to your pet’s scheduled stay with us, please notify us at least two days in advance. We must be able to contact your Vet before we can approve any deviation from our vaccination protocol. It’s for the safety of all.
Spay/Neuter:
Barks and Recreation does not require that your dog is spayed/neutered for Day Care or Boarding. However, please understand that if an intact dog expresses any dominant or excessive mounting behaviors towards other dogs, s/he will not be allowed to socialize in a group setting. In this circumstance, individual play time will be provided for your dog. This rule ensures a fun and safe environment for all dogs in our care. No intact female will be accepted for Day Care or Boarding if she is in heat.
Foods and Medications:
We can administer simple medications while your pet is staying with us. Please bring in the prescribed medication, clearly labeled with your dog’s name and written instructions. We cannot administer intravenous medications and will not accept any dog undergoing treatment for a transmittable disease. Prices may vary for dogs requiring anything other than oral or topical medicines. Check with us at drop-off or when you make a reservation.
We can easily accommodate raw food diets, homemade diets and other special preparations. Please bring your dog’s special day care or boarding food pre-packaged in a sealed container, labeled with their name, and feeding instructions. We will not accept any raw food or homemade diets that we consider unsafe for your dog or our staff. Examples include, but are not limited to, food that we feel has not been properly stored or refrigerated or diets consisting of only one food group which we would consider unbalanced.
Our kennel food is available for all dogs visiting our facility. Our standard is Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach since it is well tolerated by almost all dogs. Additional charges do apply. However, no additional fees are applied when you provide your dog’s own food from home.
Collars, Leashes and What to Bring From Home
Each dog should wear a properly fitted, quick-release collar. The safety of your dog is our highest concern. Metal collars, pinch collars, choke chains or shock collars are not allowed at Barks and Recreation.
We will keep your collar on your pet during his or her stay with us. Overnight guests may bring comfort items from home only if they can safely be left with them when unsupervised. We assume no liability for chewed, destroyed, dirty, or lost items.
Payment
Payment is due upon checkout for all Day Care, Boarding, and Grooming guests. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and debit cards.
Click Here for paperwork that should be filled out prior to arrival. We look forward to meeting our new furry friend!
Cancellation Policy
During all high-volume times of year, such as holidays, a non-refundable Boarding deposit will be required to hold your dog’s reservation. This deposit covers the first night of your dog’s boarding stay with us and will be applied to the total of your bill at the time of pick-up.