FAQs About Our Services

Day Care

Do you accept walk-ins?

We will accept walk-ins when we are able, however this service is dependent on availability and we can only accommodate when we have space. Priority will always be given to clients who book in advance and we cannot guarantee space to those who do not.

Is there a fee or penalty for changing or canceling bookings?
Absolutely not. You can change your dates whenever you want, as long as we have the space, and you will not be charged or penalized for making changes or cancellations.

Can I book over the phone?
Of course! Booking over the phone and in person are the only options for new clients and both are equally acceptable. Make a reservation today.

Can I book over email?
We will take bookings over email for clients who have already started a file with us—that means that if you are a new client and we have none of your information, you must come into the kennel or call us in order to book.

Can I come in for a tour before I book?
Yes! We strongly encourage people to tour the facility (and others in the area) before booking so that there are no surprises at drop off. We do not require that clients who want to take a look at the kennel to make an appointment—you can come whenever you want—but if you can come between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, please do so! Our afternoons and evenings are very busy and front desk staff may be alone in the lobby when you arrive for your tour.

My dog is intact (not neutered): is s/he still allowed to come for day care at E&E Kennels?
E&E Kennels has no additional rules or requirements for intact male dogs. We will accept intact female dogs for day care on the condition that they are not in heat, about to go into heat or recently out of heat.

How do day care play groups work?
Each boarder is matched with a suitable group of 6-8 dogs—based on age, size and temperament—for supervised exercise and play daily.

What if I want my dog to go out alone?
If you do not want your dog socialized, please let the front desk staff know when you are booking or when you are dropping your dog off. There is an additional charge for dogs that cannot be socialized (+$5.00/day, full or half) and you will have your choice of individual outside time or exercising time on our doggy treadmill.

Can I pay for my dog to get some extra attention?
If you do not feel that group play will be enough exercise for your dog, we can give them a good walk or run on our doggy treadmill (which is made specifically for dogs) for an additional $5.00/day (half or full.) We are able to train dogs who have not used a treadmill before to run comfortably on ours!

What vaccinations are required for day care dogs?
As with our boarding clients, day care clients require their Rabies vaccine, Bordetella vaccine and Distemper combo/multivalent vaccine (DAPP, DHPPC, DHLPP, etc.) If a dog is missing any one of these vaccines, we reserve the right to refuse admittance. The Bordetella vaccine must be given 10 or more days before the drop-off date.

I do not have a copy of my pet’s vaccinations and am not sure whether they are up to date or not. How can I get them to you so you can tell me whether they’re correct?
If you call/visit the veterinarian who administered the vaccines, they will be able to get a copy to you. Many vets will not release your pet’s vaccination information to us at our request (for confidentiality reasons), but if you give them our fax number and request that they send vaccinations to us, they will be able to fax us the latest copy. Our fax number is 780-963-6023.

Dog Boarding FAQ

My dog is intact (not neutered): is s/he still allowed to board at E&E Kennels?

E&E Kennels has no additional rules or requirements for boarding intact male dogs. We will accept intact female dogs on the condition that the owner leaves a local emergency contact who is able to pick the dog up immediately should she go into heat.

What is a “social kennel”?
E&E Kennels is considered a “social kennel” because suitable boarders go out for exercise times with other dogs, as opposed to going out to yards or for walks by themselves.

What are the benefits of a social kennel?
Dogs are social creatures by nature. We have had great success with our socialization program, which has proven to reduce separation anxiety, boredom and frustration (and resulting destructive behaviour.) Socializing with other dogs is the most time-effective way to provide boarders with physical and mental stimulation under the watchful eye of experienced staff.

How do exercise groups work?
Each boarder is matched with a suitable group of 6-8 dogs—based on age, size and temperament—for supervised exercise and play twice daily.

What if I want my dog to go out alone?
If you do not want your dog socialized, please let the front desk staff know when you are booking or when you are dropping your dog off. It is an extra $3.50 per day for dogs that are let out on their own. If you have 2 dogs in one family or if your dog has a medical concern, there is no extra charge for being let out alone.

Why are morning runs not done in groups?
The first run of the day occurs during cleaning and sterilization of the kennels. Because E&E Kennels follows a strict and specific daily cleaning procedure, all staff is required to be involved in sterilization and no one is available to supervise groups. Our facility is large enough to allow us to separate dogs into very small groups (3 dogs or fewer, who we know well and know will get along) and put any new or unknown dogs out alone as necessary in order to ensure everyone’s safety during this unsupervised run. During the summer months, when there is additional staff to clean outside in the mornings, that person is able to multitask and check on the small groups, but they are not continually supervised as they are in the afternoon and evening.

What is the morning cleaning procedure at E&E Kennels?
Every morning (no exceptions, even on days that we are closed) both of our kennels are cleaned completely following the same procedure. All beds, food, toys and dishes are removed from individual runs. Dishes are washed and replaced with clean ones. Inside kennels are pre-rinsed with a high power pressure washer and hot water in order to remove large messes. They are then mopped with KennelSol®, a broad spectrum germicidal cleaner, deodorizer and disinfectant specially formulated for animal care facilities. The final rinse with the pressure washer and hot water is then done in order to remove all of the cleaner. Water is squeegeed out of the kennels and they are mopped with a dry mop to remove any excess water before beds, food, toys and water dishes are replaced. Water bowls are filled and all dogs are allowed back inside.

In the summer, outdoor kennels are cleaned at the same time following the same procedure as the inside (pre-rinsed with pressure washer, mopped, rinsed and squeegeed) with disinfectant soap and a small amount of bleach.

Bleach is never used to clean indoors at E&E, nor is it used in high concentrations, as the potential dangerous side-effects far outweigh its cleaning power.

Can I pay for my dog to get some extra attention?
For an extra $10.50/day, we can take your dog and give them a good 20 minute walk or run on our doggy treadmill (which is made specifically for dogs) or take them for some extra playtime. We are able to train dogs who have not used a treadmill before to run comfortably on ours. Playtimes can either be time with a favourite toy, time spent outside or just some extra people time!

Cat Boarding FAQ

My cat is intact (not neutered): is s/he still allowed to board at E&E Kennels?

No. Unfortunately, we do not accept cats to board unless they have been spayed or castrated—the only exceptions are made for young kittens who have had all of their vaccines but have not yet reached sexual maturity.

Are there individual cat rooms?
We do not have rooms for individual cats. We have one cat room that can be shared by up to 8 cats, as well as a “cat tower” for new cats (for the first 24-48 hours) and cats who need to be separated due to dietary requirements.

It is my cat’s first time at a kennel. How can s/he be eased into boarding?
New cats generally spend the first day or two of their stay in the tower in our cat room, separated from the other cats but still able to see and interact with them. They will be released into the cat room at the discretion of our staff based on when we feel they are comfortable enough.

My cat has never been around other cats before and I do not think s/he will do well in a communal cat room.
You are not alone! Most people are surprised to see so many strange cats sharing a room without incident. We have never had incident or injury to any of the clients in our cat room.

Cats are different from dogs in two key ways: the first is that they usually determine their hierarchy passively without much direct challenging—which is even easier in a neutral space like our cat room—and the second is that they are more poorly socialized. Cats are not necessarily “bad” with other cats, like many people think; they are just territorial and not used to socializing. If we feel that the stress of interacting with other cats is too much for your cat at any point, we can always move them to the cat tower to make them more comfortable.

Do I need to bring food for my cat?
No, you do not. The cost of food is integrated into the nightly boarding rate for cats and, because food gets put down for all cats in the cat room to share, it may be to your benefit not to spend money feeding someone else’s cats! That said, if you do want to bring food for your cat specifically, we will make sure it gets put down. If your cat has a special dietary requirement, we can make arrangements for them.

My cat is not neutered. Can I still board him/her?
No. Unfortunately we do not accept cats to board unless they have been spayed or castrated—the only exceptions are made for young kittens that have had all of their vaccines but have not yet reached sexual maturity.

Medical FAQ

What vaccinations are required for boarding dogs?
Dogs require their Rabies vaccine, Bordetella vaccine and Distemper combo/multivalent vaccine (DAPP, DHPPC, DHLPP, etc.) If a dog is missing any one of these vaccines, we reserve the right to refuse admittance. The Bordetella vaccine must be given 10 or more days before the drop-off date.

What vaccinations are required for boarding cats?
Cats require their Feline Rabies vaccine and FVCRP vaccine. You may vaccinate your cat against Feline Leukemia, but it is not a requirement. If a cat is missing any one of these vaccines, we reserve the right to refuse admittance.

What vaccinations are required for other boarding animals?
If you are boarding a bird, fish, rabbit, ferret, rodent or reptile we do not require any vaccinations in order for them to stay.

What happens if my pet is injured or becomes sick while they are at E&E Kennels?
All of our staff are certified in Pet First Aid and are equipped to deal with mild injuries and illnesses (scratches, punctures, diarrhea, etc.), but in the case of more serious incidents we will take the animal to a local veterinarian. Veterinary costs and transportation are the owner’s responsibility and will be added to the invoice at the end of the pet’s stay.

I do not have a copy of my pet’s vaccinations and am not sure whether they are up to date or not. How can I get them to you so you can tell me whether they’re correct?
If you call/visit the veterinarian who administered the vaccines, they will be able to get a copy to you. Many vets will not release your pet’s vaccination information to us at our request (for confidentiality reasons), but if you give them our fax number and request that they send vaccinations to us, they will be able to fax us the latest copy. Our fax number is 780-963-6023.

What is kennel cough?
Also known as infectious canine tracheobronchitis, tracheobronchitis, canine infectious respiratory disease and Bordetella, “kennel cough” is a highly contagious respiratory disease usually caused by several infectious agents working together—a lot like the common cold in humans. The only symptom of kennel cough should be coughing. The dog’s general state of health and alertness will be unaffected, they usually have no rise in temperature and they do not lose their appetite. Although kennel cough will pass in a few days in vaccinated dogs without medication (though it can take up to 21 days if the dog is unvaccinated), it is still recommended that your dogs see a vet if they are coughing and especially if they are showing any other signs of illness because there are several serious respiratory diseases that might display similar sounding coughing as a symptom.

Can my dog still get kennel cough even after being vaccinated?
When we vaccinate “for kennel cough,” we are vaccinating against Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is only one of the bacterial agents that has been implicated in canine kennel cough. Some other contributing viruses (like Adenovirus and Parainfluenza) are covered by other standard multivalent vaccines. However, there are still contributing agents that we do not vaccinate against and, in some cases, have not even identified. The Bordetella vaccine (along with the other standard vaccinations your dog receives) is not intended to prevent Bordetella entirely—it can’t. They’re intended to boost your dog’s immunity and equip them with the proper antibodies to fight off the illness more effectively.

Why is there a 24-hour wait period after getting the vaccination before my dog is allowed to come to the kennel?
E&E Kennels policy requires that dogs receive the kennel cough vaccine at least 24 hours prior to coming in to the kennel for boarding, whether it was injected or given intranasally.

We ask this, first, to protect the dogs coming in and to ensure that they have the appropriate level of immunity because the primary immune response to initial vaccines is a long process which typically requires 7-14 days for the first antibodies to be produced. This phase is called the “lag phase” and means that the animal isn’t protected by the vaccine at all and may be more vulnerable during that period because their immune system is distracted.
The second reason that we require a 24-hour wait period, especially in the case of intranasal vaccination (which is usually given the first time a dog receives the kennel cough vaccine), is that the Bordetella vaccine is a live vaccine and can be passed from dog to dog while fresh. Any dog to come in contact with a mild form of Bordetella can carry it around for a short period.

Does it matter whether my dog is given intranasal or injectable Bordetella?
Intranasal (otherwise known as the “up the nose” vaccine) and injectable (traditional needle) Bordetella vaccines are all equal to us if given before the 24-hour wait period. We do, however, have some specifications if the dog is receiving their Bordetella within the 24-hour wait period.

I am now within the 24-hour wait period but still need to drop my dog off at E&E. Can I still do so?
Yes, conditionally. First, you understand that your dog may not have full protection from Bordetella bronchispetica and acknowledge that you are dropping your pet off at the kennel at your own risk. The second important thing to understand is that we cannot allow dogs into the kennel showing the signs of infection (like coughing, sneezing or nasal discharge) which can happen after being injected with the intranasal vaccine. Because the problem, and the cause of these symptoms, is the live avirulent bacteria in the intranasal vaccine, it can be avoided by administering the injectable vaccine instead, which is made of an inactivated-cellular antigen extract (or dead bacteria.) This prevents the spread of the disease around our facility by coughing, sneezing, discharge, etc.

So my dog could potentially be unprotected for his entire stay if we get the injectable vaccine right before drop off?
The short answer is yes. This is why it is so important to get the Bordetella vaccine done with time for the body to recover and begin to produce antibodies. That said, most new research recommends intranasal only for the first vaccine, since it stimulates a natural immunity, and then the injectable to boost the natural immunity created by the previous exposure. While some research shows that injectable has a slightly longer wait period before antibody production (though well within 14 days), it should not be quite that long in a dog that has been regularly vaccinated up to this point and is still producing some antibodies.

We maintain this policy (as well as our rigorous cleaning policy) to ensure that the entire E&E Kennels facility remains free of contagion/disease in order to protect all of our clients. Because all the dogs in the kennel should be properly vaccinated (well outside of the wait period) or vaccinated with the injectable vaccine, there should be no opportunity for Bordetella to spread.

If you have any further questions, our staff would be happy to answer to the best of their ability.

Booking FAQ

How far in advance should I book?
It depends what dates you are looking for—we generally advise that you should book your stay as soon as you know that you will be going away. For many holidays and long weekends, we can fill up as early as a month before. We’re usually full for Christmas by August!

Is there a fee or penalty for changing or canceling bookings?
Absolutely not. You can change your dates whenever you want, as long as we have the space, and you will not be charged or penalized for making changes or cancellations. The only exception is Christmas, at which time we charge a non-refundable deposit (paid in November) in order to hold your reservation.

Can I book over the phone?
Of course! Booking over the phone and in person are the only options for new clients and both are equally acceptable.

Can I book over email?
We will take bookings over email for clients who have already started a file with us—that means that if you are a new client and we have none of your information, you must come into the kennel or call us in order to book.

Can I come in for a tour before I book?
Yes! We strongly encourage people to tour the facility (and others in the area) before booking so that there are no surprises at drop off. We do not require that clients who want to take a look at the kennel make an appointment—you can come whenever you want—but if you can come between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, please do so! Our afternoons and evenings are very busy and front desk staff may be alone in the lobby when you arrive for your tour.

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