Your Pets First Visit
Here’s what you need to know for your first visit. These requirements ensure you have a personalized experience and keeps our facility safe and healthy.
Your dog will need a series of vaccines to be accepted at Colonial Kennels. We uphold the same standards for everyone to ensure everyone’s dog is healthy and safe. We also require some paperwork to be filled out prior to staying at our kennel that provides us with general information about your dog as well as a release, so the kennel owner can bring your dog to your vet to be seen. Please contact us to have that sent to you or look below. We do not pre-screen dogs, we accept any breed and most temperaments. However, we do pre-screen people. We will want to talk to you in some form prior to kenneling with us so you understand and are comfortable with the way we operate.
We require the rabies, distemper, Bordetella, and influenza vaccines as well as the results of a fecal test that must be negative. The rabies and distemper are standard vaccines that many dogs have. The distemper combination comes in many forms, either DHL-PVC or whatever is important to your veterinarian’s protocol. The Bordetella, also known as kennel cough vaccine, must be given at least 2 weeks prior to daycare, or boarding if has expired or never been given before. This is because the disease has a 2-week incubation period, and that period allows us to be sure the dog has not contracted the disease and therefore cannot spread it to others. All vaccines must be given at least 72 hours before daycare or boarding because we want to ensure your dog does not have any kind of reaction to the vaccine during their stay. These sorts of reactions can be accelerated by the stress the change of environment, such as boarding, can bring on.
Due to the increase in canine influenza in the area we now require the canine influenza vaccine of H3N2 and H3N8, which must be given in 2 parts. This means if it has never been given before or expired the dog must get the second dose 2-4 weeks after the first one. Consult your veterinarian about their specific protocols. While we do require the second part of the shot to be given your dog can come to the kennel with just the first part, but it will expire in a few weeks, so it is in your best interest to schedule an appointment with your vet to have the second one done. At that point the influenza will be up to date for one year and you will only need one shot if it does not expire.
We also ask that all dogs be on flea and tick medication as we check for fleas at drop-off and don’t want to have to turn you away. Finally, and this is the fun part, we must see a negative fecal test result. This means you must bring a fresh fecal sample to your vet once a year and have it tested to ensure your dog does not have any sort of parasites.
It is important to stress to your vet these specific requirements to make the process of coming to Colonial Kennels as quick and easy as possible. We are happy to take your dog with very little notice but can only do that if all the shots and paperwork are up to date. So, please, stay on top of your dog’s records.
How to become a client
The following steps are required for any person to become a client
1. Call or email us
We want to get to know you and what your needs are. Please call us at
(610) 770-8807 or email us at
[email protected] to start a conversation.
2. Fill out the forms & release medical records
There are 3 forms to fill out
3. Medical Record Release
Veterinary Office emails or faxes relevant medical records
4. Tour the facility
Due to COVID-19 this is a virtual visit and completely optional
Required Vaccinations
Safety is one of our top concerns. That’s why all of our furry friends need the following vaccinations.
Dogs
Puppies
Too young for rabies vaccination
Cats
