Nauset Kennels

We had to scratch our heads this morning when someone brought it to our attention that they saw a posting on Craig’s List about kennel cough and our facilities. We scratched our heads for a number of reasons, particularly the fact that we haven’t been contacted by any of our clients to let us know that their dog has kennel cough, nor have we ourselves noticed anything (we often are the first to notice and will let our customers know if we suspect a case of kennel cough).

Hmmm…a disgruntled customer? An angry neighbor? We won’t know because this person posted anonymously on Craig’s List. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, call the kennel or day care facility directly. Posting anonymously to Craig’s List doesn’t allow us to address your concerns, nor does it allow us to follow a procedure we have in place to track kennel cough. As my friend Karen would say, “Put on your big girl panties and call us. Don’t hide behind anonymous postings!” (Sorry for offending anyone, but unless your job is in jeopardy or your family is at risk, own up to any criticisms or comments.)

I would like to thank you though for the opportunity to do another informative blog! Sometimes I need an idea, so thank you for that!

We have indeed suffered through cases of kennel cough throughout our almost forty years of business. In fact, three summers ago we even shut down our facility for two weeks to try to clear it out. Sixteen years ago, I knew of kennel cough, since it has always been a required vaccine, but didn’t ever hear of it. In fact, we were somewhat lax about the vaccine, even letting people have their dogs vaccinated the same day the dog was due to come in for boarding.

Like everything, kennel cough seems to have changed a bit though, and we are indeed seeing more cases of it in our area. Typically when we have it, other areas of the Cape will have it as well, usually in pockets. And, like the flu or a cold, it can be mild to severe in the numbers of dogs it affects. In certain areas of the country, veterinarians require the vaccine to be given every six months due to a higher incidence rate in that area. Here, the vaccine is usually an annual vaccine, but it depends on your vet.

Perhaps I should provide a definition of kennel cough. Kennel cough is a respiratory infection caused by both bacteria and viruses. It is rarely serious, but should be treated by a veterinarian. While there is a vaccine, like our human vaccines, it only covers so many strains of kennel cough, so yes, your dog can still get kennel cough even though she has been vaccinated. Signs of kennel cough are pretty simple: a hacking cough or “hard sneezing” like sound. Watch this video for an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx7tveHyFqk

Some vets treat kennel cough with antibiotics, while others take a wait and see approach. On our end, we require all our boarding and day care pets to be vaccinated for kennel cough, following manufacturer’s guidelines that the dog be inoculated seven to ten days prior to boarding (I can’t tell you how many customers we have to turn away because of this policy). If we receive a phone call from a customer or suspect a dog staying with us has kennel cough, we start tracking. All employees are notified to keep an eye out for any potential new cases. From there, we keep an eye on a dog we suspect might have the cough if it is actually with us and will often call the vet immediately as a precaution. If we find that there are more than three confirmed cases, we start to let our customers know, focusing specifically on any pets for which the illness might actually be worse for them (puppies, elderly, ill, etc.). Our cleaning regime is stepped up to include bleach - bleaching the floors, the walls, the runs, sponges and cleaning towels, toys, the vacuum filters, the vacuum, the wash, etc. Our cleaning routine, while already at a high standard, is the main focus if we suspect any type of bug, not just kennel cough. We will also lime our play yards and let them sit a few days. And yes, we will even shut down our operations if need be. The wonderful thing about our new facility is that we can now shut down just the affected side if necessary.

We certainly don’t try to hide kennel cough from anyone. In fact, we even call around to other kennels and day cares in the area to inquire about their dogs, so we certainly put it out there so customers can decide what to do.

Kennel cough is a part of running a kennel, just like coughs and colds are a part of running a school or a day care. Some dogs will get it, others won’t. Most will have mild cases, but a few won’t. We’ve even known families of dogs where one will get it and another will not. If you suspect, call. Be responsible and let your kennel or day care know. Keep your pet away from other dogs until you are sure he isn’t coughing on anyone else. Call your vet. And don’t be ashamed and feel the need to post anonymous postings on Craig’s List! You aren’t helping anyone by fomenting anger (yes, some of our customers and our employees are angry at your post) and fear. Be informed and take corrective measures to insure the safety of your dog and others.

For more information, check out the following sites. They are all pretty similar in what they say, but are presented from various angles - boarding dogs, training dogs, day care, etc.

http://www.kennelcoughindogs.com/

http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Kennel_Cough

http://www.workingdogs.com/deboerken_cough.htm

http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=11339267 (just a note - this one is fascinating because the owner of this facility doesn’t even require the vaccine!)

Over the course of the summer, we had quite the learning curve being in the new building. You see, while we had spent years (yes, years) researching and learning, and then what seemed like years securing the financing, working with the architect and then finally building the building, until we actually moved in, we never realized how much our business model would change just from moving into a new building. And while I would love to say that we had the foresight to plan for such change, we didn’t. Retrospect is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?

So, over the course of moving and settling in, we adjusted our business. Boy, did we hit the ground running! Some of the changes we were more than happy to make. The new building gave us an opportunity to correct and alter in a way that the old building couldn’t. There were those necessary changes that weren’t in our original plan, but were a must. Part of doing business though, and we know that we were able to improve upon an already solid product or service. And we were just thrilled to have an opportunity to take our business to a new level. All should be good, right?

Well, some of our two-legged customers are still adjusting to these changes. Since the early 1970’s we have basically run the day-to-day affairs as it related to the animals the same as always. Sure, we tweaked some things here and there, but for the most part, it was reliable. Now we’ve gone and changed what so many knew and expected.

I understand their frustration. Whenever I go to a favorite restaurant and find changes to a menu, I cringe, hoping I can find something similar to replace an old favorite. If I venture into a store and can’t find something they’ve always carried, it frustrates me. At the health club, my kids’ school, the doctor’s office, everywhere I go there is change. Honestly, I don’t always deal with such changes well, and often wonder what they’re thinking. I’ve even been heard to say, “I can’t be the only one who thinks this change is stupid!” Trust me, if you are frustrated, I get it.

More often than not, I end up eating those words and seeing the change as positive and usually necessary. Change in all aspects of our lives can be hard, but for businesses, it is inevitable and necessary to maintain a vital, thriving business. Yes, it is difficult to balance change with consistency. The consistency is found in the end product though. Is the customer (both two and four legged) leaving happy? Are we providing the absolute best service? Would we be happy as a customer here, even with the changes?

The answer to those questions is a resounding yes. We feel confident that our changes have helped us to up our already high level of care and provide more amenities and services. While we know that we will always look for ways to improve, and yes, change, we hope that all of you know that your pets are still the most important part of our day. And that will never change.

Within the last week, we’ve had at least five panicked phone calls from dog owners whose friends have bailed on them at the last minute for pet sitting. This weekend just so happens to be Columbus Day Weekend, a particularly busy weekend at the kennel.

For some of these panicked people, we’ve been able to accommodate them. A couple of people had to, as the saying goes, punt. We couldn’t take their dog because (s)he isn’t current on vaccinations necessary for boarding. More likely than not, another friend stepped up to the plate, or, a weekend away got postponed or cancelled.

Friends can certainly provide fabulous pet care while you are gone. A good friend of mine recently helped another friend by taking her dog for two weeks. She proved to be a fabulous pet sitter, even keeping a journal complete with pictures of Jerzey’s activities. Short of a major health problem, this friend of mine would never have considered cancelling on Jerzey’s owners.

Unfortunately, too many people out there do have things that come up causing them to cancel on their commitment to a friend. While I am not passing judgement on these people, I am suggesting that you have a back-up plan for your pet.

A reputable pet sitter or a kennel can provide such back up. This is our business, it is what we do. Unless your pet is sick or seriously injured, we don’t turn you away. A reputable pet sitter can even help with the above situations to a point.

Many of you are probably saying, “Well, we’ve never had problems with our neighbors watching the dog for us.” And that is great. Unfortunately, I am writing this because too many people do run into issues with their friends or neighbors as pet sitters.

We are booking up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And while we always encourage last minute phone calls because you just never know, we can’t always guarantee that your vacation will still be a go. If you don’t have a regular kennel or pet sitter that you use, let’s hope your neighbor or friend is as good as my friend Karen.