How do I judge the cleanliness routines at a pet boarding facility?

Start with the written routine: what is cleaned, how often, with which products, and who signs it off. Then compare it to the building. Look at corners, drains, door seals and the underside of beds, because that is where lapses show first. Smell is a signal too, though one visit may mislead, so return at another hour if you can.

Ask staff how a kennel is turned over between guests, what happens after a sick animal, and how laundry and bowls are handled. Clear, similar answers from different staff suggest a real routine. Vague answers or conflicting ones suggest it is loose.

Check the supplies and equipment. Are cleaning products stored safely, is there enough laundry capacity, and do the surfaces hold up to frequent washing? Worn or cracked surfaces are hard to clean and can be costly to replace. Last, ask about incidents: illness outbreaks, complaints about odour and how they were handled. Your vet contact or an insurance broker can help you read what you find. Take notes as you go and repeat the visit unannounced if the owner agrees, since a routine that holds on any day is the one you want.

Key takeaways

• Visit at turnover time and again after a busy period to see the routine in action.
• Ask several staff to describe the same cleaning task and compare their answers.
• Inspect surfaces, drains and laundry capacity, and ask how past illness was handled.