Is your staff trained?
What vaccinations do you require? What documentation do I need?
How can I prepare my pet for the boarding experience?
Should I bring my dog’s toys and bedding?
How often do you feed your guests? What do you feed? May I bring my own food?
Will you be sure my pet gets enough water?
Will you give my pet his medications?
Do you have indoor/outdoor dens?
Can my pets stay together in one den?
How big are the dog dens?
Is Cinder Hills Boarding Kennels cooled and heated?
Do you offer group playtimes?
Can my dog have a bath before going home?
What accommodations do you offer for cats?
How far in advance should I make my reservations? Do you require a deposit?
Can my pet catch an illness from being around other pets?
What if my pet becomes ill while boarding?
Is your staff trained?
Yes! We are proud that we have a boarding facility that the ENTIRE staff is formally trained and certified through not only the former Pet Care Services Association but we are the first kennel in Arizona to complete certification through the newer International Boarding and Pet Services Association! You will see their certificates posted in our reception area...and you will see certificates for EVERY STAFF MEMBER! In addition, we have an internal training system and qualification cards that everyone is required to complete. We also participate in continual training…many times on current topics provided by local veterinarians!
What vaccinations do you require? What documentation do I need?
Our canine guests be must vaccinated against distemper, parvovirus (this may be a combination vaccine that will immunize against other viruses, too) rabies and bordetella (kennel cough). At the recommendation of most local veterinarians, we require the bordetella vaccine every 6 months. We require our feline guests to be vaccinated against FLV and rabies. Simply bring in a copy of your vaccination records from your vet or have them faxed to 928-526-3812. We do not accept owner administrated vaccinations because history has shown the best quality control of vaccines is obtained by those obtained from veterinarians.
How can I prepare my pet for the boarding experience?
One of the worst things that an owner can do is get emotional when bringing and dropping off your pet for camp. Our pets are very tuned into our emotions and if they see you upset, then they will be upset. You wouldn’t want your pet carrying on because you are going on a well-deserved vacation; that just doesn’t make sense! So, be happy...and show it… that your family member is having their well-deserved vacation because, chances are, they will have as much fun as you while away!
Should I bring my dog’s toys and bedding?
Yes! You may bring along a few of the favorite toys as well as bedding. It is important to many dogs to have something with them from home and we couldn't agree more! We only ask that if you bring bedding, it is machine washable in case of an accident. We do not accept bedding with any type of foam rubber in it. If you forget to bring bedding, we have plenty of blankets and comforters here at the kennel! And unlike some kennels throughout the country, you don't pay extra to use our bedding! No need to bring your pet’s dishes as we have those here.
How often do you feed your guests? What do you feed? May I bring my own food?
We try to keep our guests on the same feeding schedule they enjoy at home. We generally feed morning and late afternoon, but we will gladly accommodate up to three feedings per day. We complimentary feed Nutro Max chicken meal and rice for dogs and Meow Mix for cats. Nutro Natural Choice Grain Free and Sensitive Skin/Stomach foods are available for an additional fee. Of course, you may bring your pet’s own food if you prefer (no extra charge!).
Will you be sure my pet gets enough water?
Our staff monitors the water consumption of each of our guests, checking and refilling so that your pet will have fresh water available constantly throughout his stay.
Will you give my pet his medications?
Yes, we will administer most medications or vitamins for no additional charge. We do not administer Sub-Q fluids. Please be sure any medications are clearly marked with dosage and frequency.
Do you have indoor/outdoor dens?
Of course! Many kennels have indoor only dens or a combination of indoor only and indoor/outdoor dens. Unlike other kennels in Northern Arizona, ALL of our dens are indoor/outdoor at a lower price than others smaller indoor/outdoor suites! Indoor/outdoor dens have proven to be a superior accommodation here in Northern Arizona! Advantages are many and include that our guests can come and go within their own dens without depending upon the staff. This is especially important for bathroom breaks! Guests can also decide if they want to sunbathe outside or comfortably rest indoors on their ceramic tiled floors…all at THEIR discretion! All boarders get locked inside for the night after “last outs” which is around 9:00 PM. They are opened back up at 7:30 AM when they are served breakfast!
Can my pets stay together in one den?
Yes, guests from the same family and of the same species (canine or feline) can share a den/condo at a discounted rate for the additional pet(s).
How big are the dog dens?
We have the largest dens available in the Flagstaff area! Many of our “dens” are bigger square footage wise than others’ “suites”. Each den has its walls painted with marine based epoxies to completely seal the den thus preventing viral or bacterial “hideout”. Our floors are ceramic tiled with epoxy grout, the best available within our industry! You don't have to worry about wear or "break through" on our floors!
Den sizes are:
small dogs – 3’ X 13.5’ = 40.5 sq. feet total. (1/2 sq ft larger than others' advertised largest space)
medium dogs – 4’ X 15.5’ = 62 sq. feet total. (50%+ larger than others' advertised largest space)
large/multi dogs – 4’ X 18’ = 72 sq. feet total. (80% larger than others' advertised largest space)
All outsides are covered ENTIRELY to provide shelter from the direct sunlight and inclement weather. Please note that w
e NEVER REDUCE THE SIZE OF OUR DENS DURING HIGH ACCOMMODATION PERIODS SUCH AS WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS. Many kennels across the country not only reduce the size of their runs but they will also charge you more since it is a high accommodation period! Why would you want to pay more for a smaller den during such times? That just doesn't make sense! We will never give your pet less space, let alone charge you more for it! We ensure our family members have maximum comfort AND space year round! Feel comforatable in knowing that at Cinder Hills we will never "maximize the population" in our facility at the expense of your pet's comfort and space! In addition, because we don't reduce the size of your pet's area during such times we don't need to bring in additional staff to keep our ratios acceptable.
Is Cinder Hills Boarding Kennels cooled and heated?
Yes! In Northern Arizona we have all realized the extremes in summer and winter. Our cat facility and reception rooms are air conditioned during the summer and heated during the winter with a Central Air & Heat System. The dog kennels are cooled during the summer time using evaporative coolers with thermostats. Air exchange in the kennels is very important to minimize airborne pathogens and we have the ability to change out fresh air up to 36 times an hour! Conventional filtering of air does very little in the kennel environment so it is imperative that ventillation systems are otherwise designed. The kennels are heated during the wintertime utilizing furnaces and in-floor heating. We typically can maintain temperatures 68 to 72 degrees F year round.
Do you offer group playtimes?
Only guests from the same family play together at Cinder Hills Boarding Kennels. We know that some facilities offer group play among dogs from different homes, but we don’t have the staff to PROPERLY supervise them. Experts in this field recommend no more than 5 dogs per group per staff member. Some dogs, when placed in such a situation, will become overly rambunctious while others, perhaps less out-going by nature, will be intimidated or defensive.
This can lead to interaction that is potentially
dangerous and sometimes fatal, even with the friendliest of guests. We have several clients that have had less than positive experiences with the co-mingling of dogs from different families. We want all of our guests to have a positive, safe experience at Cinder Hills. Our play times are individually tailored to each guest’s needs and offer one-on-one contact with a staff member.
Can my dog have a bath before going home?
Yes! We offer only bath and nails as a service for an additional fee. We don’t do any “foo-foo” cuts! If you want a bath before you pickup, please schedule this at the time you make your reservation as we have limited slots available. If your dog has a bath before it goes home, we usually like to do that on the morning of departure. The staff will discuss with you your pickup time so we don’t have your family member in the grooming facility any longer than necessary. For those getting baths, the 1:00 checkout time does not apply. We do not offer baths on Wednesdays or Sundays due to shorter hours.
What accommodations do you offer for cats?
Our Purring Parlor offers roomy condos with windows either facing the outside or our reception room. We also have a cat suite located in our lobby. These large condos are furnished with either a kitty size couch or “sono tube”, a perched area for them to "get up on", litter box, food and water. Our cat facility contains designer tree houses and toys for your feline family member to enjoy during their individual playtime. For those cats wishing to hide from view, our room is ideally setup for these "sleuths"! We truly have the Best Cat House in town!
How far in advance should I make my reservations? Do you require a deposit?
To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you make your reservation as soon as your plans are finalized. We do book up quickly and waiting lists during the summer and holidays can be as long as 4 weeks!
Most of our clients actually make their plans around our
facility's availability because they refuse to board anywhere else! We start taking reservations for Thanksgiving on October 1; Christmas/New years on November 1; and Spring Break on February 1. Although no deposits or credit cards are normally needed for a reservation, we do require a credit card to hold your HOLIDAY reservations. We will send you a cancellation policy that will need to be signed and returned to us. We require a 7 day notice to cancel for holiday stays, otherwise a 3 day notice is required for all other stays. Please understand that many times people are on a waiting list to get in, so don’t forget to cancel well in advance should your plans change!
Can my pet catch an illness from being around other pets?
Yes.
Any place that will not tell you this is being less than honest! Although we take every precaution to protect your pet from being exposed to disease while they are at Cinder Hills, they can contract an airborne illness from another pet. By requiring current vaccinations, maintaining our state of the art ventilation systems, and practicing meticulous disinfection/sanitation in our areas, we are minimizing the risk. Additionally, our staff is trained to observe your pet and recognize early signs of common illnesses. We have an isolation area where guests displaying symptoms of illness are comfortably and safely housed, as well as vets on call 24 hours per day. It is very similar to sending your child to school: you may have seen to it that he has received that season’s flu vaccine, takes his vitamins, and has proper nutrition and rest. Despite your best efforts he may still contract a cold or flu, possibly a strain that was not included in the vaccine.
What if my pet becomes ill while boarding?
When you first check in, we will obtain all of your contact information, including who your family veterinarian is. In case of illness, we will first try to take your pet to their vet. If for any reason we cannot get in contact with your vet, we will use either Continental Animal Wellness Center or Aspen Veterinary Clinic. These two clinics are the closest to our facility and have excellent reputations. In all cases, we will attempt to contact you if there is an issue.