Paws & Claws of Morganton - FAQs | Paws & Claws of Morganton

FAQS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General

What vaccines does my pet need to visit?

For dogs visiting, we require the following:

• Bordetella (sometimes listed as Kennel Cough)

• Distemper and Parvo (sometimes listed as DAPP or DHPP)

• Rabies

NOTE:  Although we do not currently require vaccination against Canine Influenza, aka dog flu, we agree with the IBPSA that the most important preventative measure to take against this influenza is "Education."   Please CLICK HERE for the DOG FLU FACTS.

For cats coming in we require the following:

• Feline Distemper (sometimes listed as FVRCP)

• Rabies

If you are unsure about your pet’s vaccination status, your vet should have that information available.

Are there any breed restrictions?

We welcome all breeds of dogs and cats at Paws & Claws. Bring us those big headed bully breeds!

Can I take a tour?

Of course! Who wouldn’t want to see where their family member will be staying? We offer the opportunity to come by and tour the kennels as well as answering any questions you may have. Give us a call to make an appointment. Appointments are required so that we can be available to give you the time you deserve.

Can I check in on my pet via live camera?

We do not have a live feed for owners to watch but we do post pictures regularly on our social media. Check us out on Facebook or Instagram!

Do I need an appointment to get my pet groomed?

Yes, we do all grooming services by appointment. Depending on the service, the availability can range from within the next day or two (nail trims, anal gland expression, bath/blowout) to a month or more (“trims”, hair cuts). The best way to find out exactly when we can get your pet in is to call!

Lodging

Check in and Check out

Checking in can be done any time Monday through Saturday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. We offer limited Sunday hours for pick up and drop off between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Our rate works like a human hotel when it comes to checking out. Check out before 11:00 am so that you won’t be charged for another day of boarding. If you intend to check out on Sunday, you will pay for Sunday as well, as the hours are after 11:00am.

What do I need to bring?

Enough food for the duration of the stay plus 2 or 3 days extra. Sometimes your plans get disrupted and we want your pet to be able to eat until your return. Food must be in an airtight container so that it does not attract pests. We ask that your food is brought in ziploc bags, either bagged by meal or in large bags with a scoop.

Special bowls you may use, like a slow feeder, should be brought with you but we have hundreds of stainless steel bowls that are washed after every meal so please leave your regular bowls at home. We would hate for them to be lost in the shuffle of dish washing.

If your pet requires medication, please bring enough for their stay.

Other than those necessities, you are free to bring whatever you want! Bedding, treats, toys, etc. as long as they won’t pose a choking risk or bowel obstruction if ingested. That means no raw hides or rope toys.

What if there is an emergency?

We ask that all owners please provide an emergency contact. This contact needs to be able to make important decisions (as in life, death, or financial) on behalf of you regarding your pet. If your pet needs immediate care, will we attempt to contact you and/or emergency contact while on the way to the vet’s office. We will attempt to utilize your vet but in events where an emergency vet visit is necessary we will transport to whichever has the shortest wait (Asheville or Hickory).

For less urgent incidents, our staff is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid.

My pet takes medication or supplements. Can you accommodate?

We regularly give medication to our lodging pets at a cost of $1 per dose. At the Pet Village anything taken orally, topically, eye or ear drops, etc. can be administered. At our special needs facility we do all of that and injections (such as insulin or fluids) for your pets. Those injections have a cost of $3 per dose so please factor that into your pet’s stay.

All medications are to be brought to us IN THE ORIGINAL BOTTLE. If the instructions you give us does not match the instructions on the bottle a vets note is required. A vets note is also required for any calming medication.

My dog can jump a fence. Can you manage that?

If your dog is a fence jumper, PLEASE let us know ahead of time. Our fences and kennels are 6 feet tall so that heads up lets us know how best to handle your dog. We can secure a top to their kennel and during potty breaks we can use a long lead so they can feel a bit freer while still being secure.

I want to board multiple pets. Can they stay together?

We do not house dogs & cats together.

Your pets are welcome to stay together if they meet the following criteria:

They can eat together without issue.

We have space to accommodate them (such as a larger room for larger dogs)

They live in the same house full time.

That last part means that even if your dog is best friends with the other, they won’t be able to stay together if they live in different houses.

Doggie Playcare

Why do you need an evaluation?

We evaluate dogs entering our playcare program to see if they will be a good fit for our program AND that the program is beneficial to them. We want to make sure everyone is able to have the best possible time with us in group.

Dogs are just like people in the way that they have preferences on who they want to interact with. Some are too energetic, some are too calm, and some are just too big/small to be compatible. We want to make sure our dogs MUTUALLY enjoy each other’s presence and experience.

We do evaluations on Mondays and Wednesdays.

I scheduled my evaluation. What do I need to bring for my first visit?

For your dogs evaluation day make sure that you have your dogs vaccination records and your Off-leash Group Play Application. That’s the 60 question form that gives us insight into your dog’s experiences so far.

How long does an evaluation last?

All day. Drop off for evaluations are between 8-9:00 AM. Pick up is no earlier than 4:00 PM. This allows for your paperwork to be completed.

How does scheduling work?

To make sure your dog has a spot on our schedule (which has a maximum of 20 dogs per day) we require a card to be put on file and days to be requested in advance. We offer various memberships for those who know what days they need but walk ins are unlikely to be accepted due to the limit. Your best bet is to call in advance to see if there is space if you didn’t schedule ahead of time. For days that you request and don’t use your card will be charged/your membership will be used for that day unless we are notified at least a day beforehand. This makes it so the spot can be made available to another hopeful attendee.

My dog can jump a fence. Can you manage that in playcare?

If your dog is a fence jumper, unfortunately we do not allow them to go to playcare. The attendants are already busy with staying on top of behavior, messes, group timing, etc. so the added threat of a potential escapee is a risk we will not take.

What are the hours and what if I’m late?

The playcare attendants are here from 7:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday and 8:00am-5:00pm on Saturdays. There is no playcare on Sundays. We have a $1/minute late fee for pick ups after 6:00. If something happens that you will be extremely late, we can always let your pet check into boarding for the night. If in doubt about your arrival time, please call and let us know what to expect.

Can my lodging pet go to playcare?

As long as your pet has passed an evaluation and been a regular member of our group within the last 30 days, they are more than welcome to play during their stay. Playcare as a boarding add on is $24 per day.

We will not be offering playcare to dogs briefly passing through our facility. It consumes a massive amount of time to do an evaluation and is unfair to the pups who come regularly.

If you would like to have your dog still be able to have playtime we do offer off leash playtime for boarding attendees. The playtime is a 30 minute session with just an attendant and your pet. This allows extra exercise for your pet if they are not a regular attendee in playcare. This session is $15 for every 30 minute session.

When would I need a re-evaluation?

If your dog has not been in for playcare in 30 days or more and/or has exhibited concerning behavior we will conduct a second evaluation. Sometimes a change in environment like moving houses, new siblings (human or animal), etc. can cause a change in behavior. Results are always discussed with owners.

Grooming

Do I need an appointment?

Yes, for everything. Nail trim? Anal gland expression? Bath? All of the above? Absolutely. The groomers only have so many hours in the day and we schedule them to the fullest. Please give us a call to fit your pet into our schedule. Generally we can get you in quickly for services as simple as a nail trim but haircuts can easily be a month or more out before there is any availability.

It is highly encouraged that you book your next appointment at checkout. This way you get whatever time frame you like instead of what may or may not be available.

Cancellation Policy

We require a 24 hour notice for cancellations. If you do not let us know that you will not be able to make your appointment, you will be required to pre-pay for future services.

Vaccinations

Starting 2022 we are requiring the same roster of vaccinations that our boarding and playcare dogs are required to have. They are Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Bordetella (Kennel Cough). This new policy is to best protect your family member while they are in our care. Our cleaning practices have always been top notch but we want to take this extra step to curb the likelihood of illness.

Do you offer sedation? Can I bring them in sedated?

We do not offer any sedation services for dogs or cats. That requires a dedicated, well controlled and monitored veterinary visit; out of our realm of operation. Unfortunately, that means you can’t have your pet knocked out at the vet and rush them over to us for a quick haircut.

If your dog takes any medication for anxiety, seizures, diabetes, pain, etc. please let us know! We can accommodate those needs on the schedule as long as we know ahead of time what to expect.

At what age should a puppy begin going to a groomer?

We recommend that puppies start their grooming experience as early as 12 weeks (3 months). This gives them the chance to experience the sights, sounds, and sensations that they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.

Puppy’s first groom would be a bath, blowout, anal gland expression, nail trim, and tidy up. Their face, feet, and sanitary area will have the hair cleaned up but not their entire body. It’s a lot of stimulation for a puppy!

Given an early chance to understand that no one is going to harm them, they can grow into confident happy adults who are a pleasure to groom.

What services do you offer for cats?

We do offer cat grooming! We have ‘Caturday’ two (2) Saturdays of every month (may be rescheduled due to holidays). During this time, we do baths, haircuts, and nail trims for cats.