Boarding FAQs
Have A Question About Our Boarding Services?
Check our list for your question. If you don’t find it, give us a call at 724-327-PAWS!
We can, but we want what is best for your pets. Please keep in mind that at home, your pets have the whole house, so if one of your pets needs to take a break from the others, it is easy to find a quiet corner. In a suite, if someone needs a break and can’t get away, that’s when problems can arise.
We keep a maximum of 2 pets per suite for meals and rest for their safety and comfort. However, playgroups are comprised of many dogs, so your pets can still play together. We want all of our guests to have an enjoyable and safe stay.
Cats and dogs are housed in different areas when they stay at Walkers.
We don’t want our feline guests to get out and into trouble when we take our canine guests out for a walk. Cats stay in their own private condos in our cattery (which is double insulated for sound so they don’t hear the doggies), and dogs are housed in suites inside the boarding area. Cats from the same family can stay together in adjoining cat condos and dogs from the same family can share a suite (if they get along of course). Please remember that we still give 2nd pet discounts regardless of whether pets are housed together or separately.
For sanitary reasons – Grass can’t be sanitized. It is also less messy since grass can quickly turn into mud.
Walkers provides raised feeders and water bowls to giant breed dogs upon request at no additional charge. It is “upon request” because some owners do not want raised bowls.
Walkers also gives them breaks one hour before and after meals. These steps help reduce bloating.
Thick rubber “Horse Mats” are also provided for large dogs in addition to standard bedding to help reduce chances of getting hot spots.
Walkers can provide extra bedding and raised bed to make a “Senior’s” stay more comfortable. Every pet staying at Walkers receives individual one-on-one human interaction and frequent wellness checks. This is especially important for Geriatric pets since it helps us quickly spot and react to changes in behavior which may indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed in a timely manner.
Grooms must be scheduled. You might be able to schedule grooming services when you check in for boarding if there is availability, but we would advise requesting grooming services in advance.
Descriptions of specific services can be found on our grooming request page.
Rates are on a per-day basis, not 24 hour period. You may drop-off and pick-up any time during business hours: Monday-Friday (7 am – 7 pm) Saturday (9 am – 3 pm) Sunday (2 pm – 5 pm).
If you pick-up before 10 am Monday – Saturday, you are NOT charged for that day. Sunday is ALWAYS charged as a full day. If you drop-off Saturday at 3 pm, and pick-up on Sunday at 2 pm, it is considered to be a 2 day stay. If you can’t make it by 5 pm on Sunday, and you pick-up Monday before 10 am, it is still a 2 day stay.
The choice is yours. Our standard “House Foods” are high quality and are included in the price of your pet’s stay. If you bring your own food, there is no additional charge. Please follow the guidelines below.
DRY or SHELF STABLE FOOD: If you bring dry, canned, or shelf stable foods from home, we prefer that you bring it in a large container or bag and let us measure each serving. Please make sure to pack a little extra in case of spills or extended stays.
We use 8 oz. measuring cups, so if you bring dry food in a large container, please keep in mind that “one cup” to us is one 8 oz measuring cup, not “World’s Best Dad” coffee mug! If you use something other than a measuring cup at home, please verify the exact quantity for us.
RAW/FRESH FOOD: Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in the use of raw food, cooked meat, deli meat, FreshPet, and other prepared foods. Just like people food, some products can only stay safely refrigerated for a few days. If you feed any of these foods, please prepare and/or buy them the day of, or the day before, your stay. Also, the food will need to be portioned out PER MEAL NOT PER DAY, and labeled with the pet's name. To insure accuracy please feed the same quantity of food for each meal.
Depending on the length of your stay, we may need to freeze portions of your food to ensure that everything stays organized and fresh for your pet!
If you are unable or forget to portion out your pet's special meals, we will be able to do it at the time of check-in for a fee.
Please call us at 724-327-7297 and ask to speak to one of our receptionists with any questions.
We try to follow your pet’s normal feeding schedule as much as possible. If your pet is a grazer or a nibbler, food is left in your pet’s room until the next meal, at which time the old food is removed (if it hasn’t been eaten), and replaced with a fresh bowl of food. We do recommend two feedings per day, which makes it easier for us to spot any eating issues and also reduces the chance of bloat.
We don’t want to put new food on top of food that was given previously but not eaten so we can tell how much each dog ate each meal. If the uneaten food is wet or had some wet food or yummies added we discard it, however if it is completely dry, we put it in a bin and donate it for shelter dogs. We don’t serve it to our guests.
Always pack extra food in case of spills or extended stays. We do ask that you let us know what we can substitute in case your pet runs out of food during his or her stay, just to be on the safe side.
Of course. We have a refrigerator and a freezer for wet/raw diets.
Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in the use of raw food, cooked meat, deli meat, FreshPet, and other prepared foods. Just like people food, some products can only stay safely refrigerated for a few days. To keep your pet healthy and safe while boarding with us, starting on September 3, 2019, we will have a change in our policy regarding these types of foods.
For your pet’s stay, if you feed any of these foods, please prepare and/or buy them the day of, or the day before, your stay. Also, the food will need to be portioned out per meal, and labeled with the pet's name. To insure accuracy please feed the same quantity of refrigerated food for each meal.
Depending on the length of your stay, we may need to freeze portions of your food to ensure that everything stays organized and fresh for your pet!
If you are unable or forget to portion out your pet's special meals, we will be able to do it at the time of check-in for a fee.
Please call us at 724-327-7297 and ask to speak to one of our receptionists with any questions.
We use our stainless steel bowls to keep everything sanitary and consistent. We can use elevated bowls for large breed dogs upon request. Please ask us about special feeding needs.
We do not use bedding or dog crates brought in by their owners. We provide all of our guests with clean appropriate bedding. Using our bedding allows us to quickly replace dirty bedding with clean bedding. It also reduces the risk of bad things (fleas) being brought in from the outside. Similarly, we can provide appropriately sized crates for guests who request them. Using "house" crates ensures safety and facilitates cleaning.
We do accept donations of bedding, crates and food.
We wash and sanitize all donated bedding, crates and carriers. Then we determine if they are appropriate for in house use. If not, we donate them to animal organizations.
We will only serve our guests the "house food" we purchase or food that their owners bring in for a stay. This ensures freshness and quality. So any food donations we receive are in turn donated to local shelters.
Dogs can either stay in our Standard Suites our Luxury Suites that are climate controlled 24/7. We do not have Indoor / Outdoor "Runs". See (and smell) for yourself. Tour anytime!
Cats can stay in our cat condos located in our cattery. These accommodations can be "Rows" horizontal layout or "Towers" vertical layout. Slightly larger Luxury Cat Suites may also be available. Our Cattery is climate controlled 24/7 with sound insulation to provide a soothing environment. See for your self. Tour anytime.
We determine where a pet stays based on it's size, if it needs to be housed with another pet from the same family, room availability and other factors that needed to make the pet's stay comfortable.
Your pet will receive the same excellent level of care, playtime and human interactions regardless of the size of their room.
You can also choose request a luxury suite or extra bedding for your pet's stay.
Crate use is not our first choice. We only use them under certain conditions.
We can provide a "House Crate" if an owner requests that their dog stay in one to maintain their training.
We may also use a crate if no other rooms are available. For example when a dog needs a place to stay while their room is being cleaned, or they need a time out, or if they need to eat on their own in peace, or for short periods.
All of our house crates are inspected for safety and are large enough to ensure the dog's comfort.
Although every dog is unique, bigger dogs require more room to stay and play so larger dogs are charged more.
(Actually, the dogs aren't charged, their owners are;)
