Dog Boarding Preparation: 15 Essential Things to Verify Before Departure

What happens to your dog at 2 a.m. at a boarding centre when the lights are off and nobody answers the phone? Few of us ever ask. A recent case from Coimbatore says we should.

In early October 2026, Chikku, an Indian Kombai passed away at a cage-free boarding house in Saravanampatti. His owner claims that Chikku was tied in a cage and left hanging on the night of 3 October. Staff, the owner says, only noticed the next morning. Police got a petition on 7 October and registered it as a CSR. These are allegations. Nobody has proven anything. However, the case does prompt some questions for every pet owner to consider before travelling.

Here is a down-to-earth dog boarding checklist for Indian homes: what to check, what to pack and what to look for when you pick up your dog.

1. Visit in person. Visit the boarding centre in person instead of relying on pictures of its best corner on its best day. Check where the dogs sleep, the floors, the ventilation, and where the staff prepare food.

2. Discuss with them who stays in the house during nights. Nothing matters more.Ask whether anyone stays overnight or whether the entire team leaves at 9 p.m. Also, find out how often the staff check on the dogs at night.

3.Ask the staff how they keep dogs in kennels. They should never tie or leash a dog inside a cage. Even a collar left on a dog inside the crate can get caught on the bars. If they claim to tie him so he will remain calm, you should just walk away.

4. Check the fencing and gates. A double door entry prevents a dog from escaping when the gate is opened.

5. Inquire about the staff to dog ratio like how many dogs does one handler watch at playtime? Above all, aggressive or sick dogs should be kept apart, and there should be an isolation area.

6. Discuss on the vet plan. Is there someone in the veterinarian office that can call you, and will they be calling you before they treat the animal? Get it in writing whose vet will be used, yours or theirs. Set an emergency cost limit though.

7. Inquire about CCTV and updates. Camera access is optimum. At least daily photos must be provided.

8. Think about Indian weather. What do they do in the May–June heat, the monsoon damp and power cuts? Ticks can pose a problem in Indian kennels, so ask the staff whether they check each dog for ticks upon arrival.

9. Book a trial stay. One night shows you how your dog copes, and also the staff will get to know his temperament.

Most boarding centres in India want proof of the rabies shot and the DHPPiL combo vaccine. Also it is sometimes referred to as DHPP or DHPPi. Many also ask for the kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccine.

Don't wait until the last minute! One kennel in Delhi requires owners to vaccinate their dogs against kennel cough at least 72 hours before admission. While the UK charity PDSA recommends that many kennels prefer a couple of weeks. So ask your centre early. The vaccine lowers the risk but can't fully prevent kennel cough. Symptoms usually show 3–14 days after contact.

Only puppies aged 4 months or older, females not in heat, dogs that are not pregnant and dogs that are not ill or aggressive are welcomed in many centres. Some also want a photo of you with your pet, plus an ID.

10. Food for the whole stay, plus a little extra. Bring your dog's regular meals with you for each day of the trip, plus a day or two just in case! Divide each meal into servings and mark them AM or PM. Cook at home? Our guide on home-cooked food for dogs in India can help.

11. Medicines with clear instructions. Keep them in their original labelled packs. Add a sheet with the name, dose, timing, storage and the last dose you gave.

12. Papers and ID. The vaccination card, a collar with an ID tag, the microchip number, a leash or harness and a recent photo.

13. One comfort item. An old t-shirt that smells like home, works well. Leave big beds, rawhides and anything you can't replace at home.

14. Write down your dog's routine. Feeding times and amounts, walk and toilet times, sleep habits, allergies, fears and the signs that he's stressed all go on it. List the foods he must never eat; our list of dangerous foods for pets is a good start. Then add your phone number, travel dates, a backup contact who can make decisions, your vet's number, the nearest emergency vet and who is allowed to collect your dog.

Discuss medicines and feeding plan with staff at drop off and check pickup time. Keep the goodbye short. Long goodbyes only make dogs more anxious.

15. Check your dog before you leave. Look for weight loss, ticks, cuts, limping or a dry cough. Ask how he ate and how his toilet habits were. Symptoms of kennel cough may not appear soon, so be alert for coughing, loose stools or decreased energy during the next 14 days.

India has no specific law or city rule on what a boarding centre must check. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017 do mention boarding kennel operators, and say dogs with a suspected contagious disease must be kept separate. Whether boarding-only businesses have to register is unclear. The Pet Shop Rules, 2018 cover shops that sell animals, not boarding. In practice, owners go to the police when something goes wrong, as in the Coimbatore case.

That's why a checklist of your own is important. Keep asking the awkward questions, come first and listen to your instincts.