never happy leaving pets behind
I have never had a good experience with boarding my dogs. Once, despite paying for inoculations, the dogs came home with kennel cough. They were treated pro bono, but...were they actually vaccinated or were they gambling with my dogs' health?
Another time, after research, a visit and questions, I chose a kennel, that told me the dogs would be taken out, of a inside/outside run, to a secure outdoor play area, on a daily basis. Well, after 7 days, I arrived to pick up my pets and they were in the process of being groomed. The technician (one of whom was responsible for taking the dogs out) looked up and said " I just noticed this dog only has 3 legs. A physical attribute, hard to miss.
So, if I can't take them with me or can't get a familiar friend to dogsit, I don't go.
Not only is it stressful for the dogs, it is extremely stressful for me!