Pet Vaccinations and Why They're Necessary

Dog vaccinations and cat vaccinations are a fact of life at reputable pet boarding facilities; here's why.

Sometimes pet owners are caught off-guard when by a boarding facility explains its policy for dog and cat vaccinations.

After all, they may have had their dog or cat for several years and not had all these vaccinations; why now?

The answer is simple. With all of the hundreds of animals that come in and out of a facility like ours, there is no way we could guarantee that pets carrying serious diseases are not among them, without requiring cat or dog vaccinations prior to their stay with us.

For dogs, we require rabies, distemper and bordatella (kennel cough) vaccinations, as well as a negative stool sample check within the last nine months. For cats we require the rabies and distemper vaccinations.

Rabies, passed through saliva, is a 100 percent fatal disease that affects the central nervous system. Distemper affects the respiratory, nervous and gastrointestinal systems, and is spread via bodily fluids, including saliva. Bordatella is a respiratory condition that can spread quickly among animals, usually through airborne droplets from saliva or other fluids.

Even if you think your pet is absolutely healthy, all it takes is contact with, or proximity to, one infected animal to cause serious health problems. It’s a chance we cannot, and will not, take. Pet vaccinations are essential.

We take extreme precautions to maintain a clean and healthy environment at Hubbard Pet Resort & Spa, including proper ventilation, nightly washing of food and water bowls, regular laundering of linens, and spraying the artificial turf in the potty and play yards. Even with that, however, some diseases could be spread through something as simple as a pet sneezing or coughing inside the boarding area.

These vaccinations don’t just ensure the health and safety of your pet. They provide a safer environment for the other animals, their owners, and our staff.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask us in person or by calling us at 330-534-1200.

To Shave or Not to Shave? Your Dog, That Is...

Should owners have their dogs shaved for the summer? According to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, that's a polarizing topic among groomers and veterinarians.

(Salt Lake Tribune)

The article lists these arguments against:

• Shaving exposes a dog to sunburn, bug bites and skin disease.
• A dog’s fur serves as insulation against heat.
• The fur will grow back fuzzy and may take two years to return to its natural state—if it ever does.

And for:

• Shaving helps a dog keep cool during the summer.
• Shaving reduces the amount of dog hair in the home.
• Shaving reduces the need for other grooming services.

Whatever your choice, we can help keep your four-legged loved one clean, trimmed, and happy this summer! Call us at (330) 534-1200 to make a reservation. If you'd like, you can read the entire Tribune article here.

HPR Teams With Rescue Road Warriors to Help Deliver Dogs to Their New Forever Homes

Hubbard Pet Resort and Spa is proud to be affiliated with Rescue Road Warriors, a network of volunteers who give of their time to transport loving dogs from rescue organizations to their new forever homes.

HPR owner Lesley McBurney began volunteering with RRW in January. "These beautiful animals are so precious when I pick them up from the previous driver," she said. "Sometimes they're a little nervous or tentative, but once you show them kindness and affection, they give it right back. They deserve to be loved and cared for, and that's what this whole process is all about."

The network covers about a dozen Midwestern states, and hundreds of volunteers rotate on different weekends. Most volunteers drive once a month, with some doing it more often. It's a relay that begins in Missouri on a Saturday morning. Drivers pick up the dogs at designated spots and then drop them off an hour or two later at the next rendezvous point. The process continues through Sunday and sometimes into Monday, until the dogs arrive at their destinations on the East Coast -- in states like Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire and New York. Most legs last between an hour and 90 minutes.

"Some of these dogs have been abandoned or mistreated, and it's sad to think of the lives they may have lived to this point," said Lesley. "That's why it's so gratifying to know that they're on their way to homes where they'll be able to love and be loved in return."

Rescue Road Warriors welcomes volunteer dog rescue drivers and appreciates donations to the cause. For more information, call Lesley at HPR: 330-534-1200.