When family emergencies or illness strike, or when you travel, what is the best way to take care of your dog -- this is the question that faces every dog owner regardless of where they live. Occasionally, pet owners will choose to circumvent this situation by traveling with their pet, which can lead to vacations gone bad, thanks to travel-induce pet illness, hotel restrictions on pets, and runaway pets. Some pet owners ask friends, neighbors or relatives to care for their pets when they are away. Unfortunately, problems can arise with even the most well-meaning and pet-loving caregivers. When an untrained person is "looking in on" a pet from time to time, sometimes the pet ends up escaping or becoming sick due to the lack of supervision.

You need to find a solution where all of your pet's needs will be addressed. Fortunately, the majority of pet owners who find themselves in need of substitute pet care utilize the services of professional boarding kennels. Each year, over 30 million pet owners understand that full-time, experienced and educated boarding kennel staff arrange for the most reliable, safe and protected pet care to be had.

Finding good, safe, secure kennels for the safekeeping of their precious pets can be a difficult, time-consuming and frustrating experience for conscientious pet owners; to aid in this vital aspect of pet ownership, the American Boarding Kennels Association (ABKA) has compiled information to aid pet owners in finding, judging, choosing and developing a relationship with their local professional kennels.