A Vacation for You and For Your Pets

This week Hillsborough Patch is premiering a new series of articles delving into family-oriented services, activities and products that are fun, educational or simply useful. If you have an idea for a future article or are a local business-owner with information to share, please contact the author to share!

Our premier article of the series looks at the extended family. When considering travel, those of us with dogs and cats have furry friends to consider. Options abound for services that are available to step in and provide care and feeding, when human parents are away. 

Be sure to consider arrangements in advance, since animals kept in group quarters generally require certain vaccinations, for their safety. In addition, peak travel times (such as school breaks and summer vacation) mean spots fill up quickly, so as soon as you make your own travel reservation, be sure to get a spot for your animals.

Here is a list of some local animal care providers you may want to keep handy, as you plan your future vacations.

Longhill Kennel is located at 380 Longhill Rd and can be reached at 908-359-5229. Cats can be boarded for $8.50 per day. Dogs under 40 lbs cost $20 per day, while dogs over 40 lbs cost $21 per day and 100 pounders plus go for $22 per day. If you’re interested in  extra pampering for your pet, you can find it here. Baths and brushing range from $25-$35. If your dog is accustomed to leash potty breaks, the price is 3 walks or yard breaks for $5. You can also purchase a 15 minute nature hike for just $5.

Dog Days Daycare Center is another option. Located at 281-283 Roycefield Road, this pet retreat can be reached at 908-431-0100.

If you’re away for a short time (6 hours or less), $20 ensures your dog has a great time with socialization and exercise. For a full “work” day of 12 hours, pay $35 for “Pooches on Parade,” which includes some play equipment-this package can be extended into an overnight visit for an additional $25. Overnight stays are limited to those whose dogs attend this center at least twice a month. As an added service, another offering is a pet taxi, which can assist in getting your pet to and from the center for a $10 fee each way.

Roycefield Kennels also provides dog boarding services at its 329 Roycefield Road location. To reserve a spot or get more information, their phone number is 908-218-1939.

Daily boarding rates are as follows: 20 lbs or less $24, 21-50 lbs $26, 51-90 lbs $27.50, over 90 lbs $29. Cat boarding is available for $13 per day. Bath prices range by size of dog and span from $25-$70. Nail cutting is $13.  Walks and play time are also on the menu-for a quarter mile, pay $4.50, or for a half-mile pay $8.50. A charge of $2.50 per walk is issues for those dogs requiring bathroom breaks beyond the dog run.

If you’d prefer your pet stay in his own home, Precious Pets may be for you and can be contacted by calling 908-685-2038. When reserving via this online form, if you request a week’s worth of services, you receive the first visit free.

This provider charges $20 per visit for up to 2 pets, with a discounted rate of $18 per visit for two visits per day. A midday walk is available for $16 per day, with $4 for each additional pet. Services include having your mail and newspapers brought inside, water plants, alternating lights for security reasons, as well as genuine love and affection for your animals. Small pet boarding is also available, for a rate of $45 for a dog or puppy or $36 for a kitten or cat.