Boarding Policies

Vaccine Requirements

For the safety of everyone’s pets, no animal shall be accepted into Park Avenue Animal Hospital’s boarding facility without record of appropriate vaccination.

• For dogs, required vaccines include Rabies, DA2PP or DHPP (commonly known as “Distemper”, with or without Corona and Leptospirosis), Canine Influenza and Bordetella (Canine Cough.)
• For cats, required vaccinations include Rabies and FVRCP (commonly known as “Distemper”).
• All pets are required to have a fecal test for intestinal parasites within one (1) year.

If no vaccination history is provided, or a pet is not current on their vaccines at the time of drop off for boarding, or if a pet tests positive for intestinal parasites, a doctor will evaluate the pet and vaccinate or treat as needed, at the owner’s expense.

External Parasite Control

All pets will be checked for fleas and ticks before being accepted into the kennel. If a pet is found to have external parasites, a dosage of appropriate medication will be administered at the owner’s expense. In excessive cases, a bath may also be given at the owner’s expense.

Treatment

Should a pet become ill (including vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, etc) during their stay, Park Avenue Animal Hospital will make every reasonable effort to contact the owner or authorized emergency contact to advise them of the situation. Until that time, Park Avenue Animal Hospital will be authorized to give the necessary care or treatment for the pet at the owner’s expense.

Personal Belongings

Park Avenue Animal Hospital provides clean, stainless steel bowls for food and water, and plenty of bedding for every patient. We do not allow personal bedding, clothing, or towels to be left with boarding pets as they can become soiled or damaged. Small pieces of toys and chews can be broken or torn off and can become a choking hazard or can be ingested, which can cause a potential surgical emergency.  Because of this, we do not allow toys of any kind to be left with a pet for any amount of time, and we highly discourage owners from bringing these items.

Feeding Instructions

Unless otherwise specified, all boarding dogs are fed Purina Veterinary Diets E/N. All cats are fed Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin. These foods are very palatable and easily digested, and both are well-received by pets of all ages and dietary requirements. Canned food can also be provided at an additional charge. We at Park Avenue Animal Hospital understand that there are cases where a pet may require a very specific diet, and we are happy to accommodate this need. An additional charge may apply if a veterinary therapeutic diet is requested and not provided by the pet owner.

Medication

For pets that are on medication during their stay, we ask that owners provide the medications in their original vial, marked with the pet’s name, drug name, dosage, and instructions.

Abandonment

By Florida State Statute 705.19, pets that are left beyond their scheduled date of release from boarding without communication from the owner may be considered abandoned. Park Avenue Animal Hospital will make every reasonable effort to contact the owner or authorized agent before further action is taken. In the event no contact can be made, a certified letter will be sent to the owner’s last known address. If no response is made within 10 (ten) days, the pet will be considered abandoned and will become the property of Park Avenue Animal Hospital. Abandonment does not release the owner from financial obligation leading up to and including care for the pet once in the legal ownership of the hospital. Park Avenue Animal Hospital reserves the right to evaluate abandoned pets to adopt. Animals deemed suitable for adoption may be turned over to bona fide rescue organizations or county-based Animal Services.

Release 

Pets will only be released to the owner on record unless other arrangements have been made in advance and are provided to Park Avenue Animal Hospital in writing. We ask owners to please provide all pertinent information on any authorized person scheduled to pick up a pet in the owner’s absence. We also ask that owners provide a method of payment to be processed at the time of discharge, should a pet be released to an authorized person. Pet owners may need to be present to pick up their pet if a doctor has evaluated the pet during its stay for any reason. We will make every reasonable effort to arrange an appropriate time for discharge.