At Hillcrest Dogboarding, we aim to provide you and your beloved dog, peace of mind from initial meeting to final pickup. You enjoy your time away and your dog enjoys the comforts of home life, walks and more.

Initial Meet 'n Greet - preferably on neutral territory in order for both parties to assess initial impression. By my use of an adapted Cesar Milan 'no touch, no talk, no eye contact' technique, owners may get an impression of not engaging with their precious BFF but that is far from the truth - there is definitely a major conversation going on at a canine level of utmost importance to our future relationship of trust. Please be patient!

Further contact will be at Hillcrest. All owners will be informed of access issues for Aire View Drive (AVD) - greeting at the gate and a familiarisation tour of the premises offered, giving an opportunity to discuss licence, DBS, insurance aspects as well as introduce the documentation and raise a file as appropriate. Please give at least 1/2 hour for this and subsequent visits as your dog will settle quicker as Hillcrest becomes more familiar.

If accepted for boarding, a 50% total fee to save the date deposit is required at the latest 1 calendar month before departure. If not paid at that point, this contract will be considered void. If a deposit is paid but the booking cancelled within 1 calendar month of departure, a 25% levy shall be applied and the remainder refunded.

Trial date(s) - for boarding to be successful, psychologically as well as physically, further visits and at least one trial 24hr overnight stay are required to assess temperament & behaviour when owner absent.

If the dog is used to different environments with other people for short periods - all the better!

However, if unable to settle satisfactorily, unfortunately, boarding at Hillcrest is not an option.

Departure drop off - between 9am - 4pm

Following successful trial date(s), all documentation completed & signed & payment of balance of fee, it is vital that drop off is as calm and stress - free as possible for all parties. To this end, a brief 'be a good boy/girl' is recommended.

Collection - between 9am- 4pm

Hillcrest Dog Boarding(formerly homeminderuk)at 9 Aire View Drive, BD20 5NN

Policies & Procedures Document (PPD) to demonstrate compliance under the 2018 Animal Welfare Regulations & client agreement

1 - CBMDC licence prominently displayed (porch area) & available at all times.
Current DBS (on-line) please ask for certificate number
Up-to-date business insurance certificate available on request.

2 - Records:- electronically & hard copy documentation will be available at all times. A copy of the client booking form/dog stay log is given to the client at end of stay. Original booking form & vet release are retained for 3 years for auditing purposes, then confidentially shredded/erased & appropriately disposed of or returned to client.

3 - Hillcrest Dog Boarding is solely for dogs, not exceeding the maximum allowed on the current licence (max 3).
The conditions of acceptance for boarding forms the 'contract' for services rendered.

4 - Hillcrest is a single handed operation: myself, Marcia McGrail being the sole proprietor. Although presently without a dog of my own, having been a dog owner or working for dog owners for over 20 years, I have amassed a wealth of practical & esoteric knowledge to provide your dog with a superior boarding experience. My professionalism for CPD includes reading extensively & keeping updated via relevant canine formats & discussion forums.
OFQUAL Canine 1st Aid gained 28 4 23:updated biennially.

5 -THIS IS A NO SMOKING ENVIRONMENT..well maintained, warm and comfortable bungalow. However, please note that although the front of the property is ramped, the back garden is not suitable for elderly or less mobile dogs, due to its steps & undulating nature.
There are 2 secure, lockable signaged gates between dogs and the property boundary of 6' fencing/hedging/walling.
Each room has at least 1 sleeping/resting area per dog. Please note - NO dogs allowed on main bedroom bed.
Dog gates are also available to provide extra safety and security.
Clean, daily fresh water is always readily available in each room as necessary: more generally, in the kitchen and in the garden.
Crating, in compliance with CBMDC licensing, is only if the dog has been gradually habituated to being crated: for no longer than 3hrs in any 24hr given period (not overnight). I have used my own (medium) crate on clients' request (consent to frequency, timing within the above parameters) to commence crate habituation: this service is offered & recorded.
In normal circumstances, the crate is left open in the back room as an alternative peaceful sleeping option.

6 - Diet:- any dietary restrictions are to be discussed prior to boarding. Clients will provide dietary requirements, including treats, for each boarded dog for the duration of the stay, in manufacturers' original packaging showing expiry dates, receipt of which will be recorded. Any unused food will be returned on completion of stay. Signed consent for amount, frequency etc as well as for feeding with other dogs if appropriate.
Individually prepared using clean bowls & utensils (dog's own if supplied & labelled), each dog's name labelled food is kept separately either in the designated kitchen cupboard or in the fridge (see feeding policy).

7 - behaviour/training/walking:- all dogs will have their behaviour & level of training assessed & recorded - any dog displaying overt signs of person/dog aggression will not be boarded.
All dogs accepted for boarding must be fully toilet trained.
A standard 2 daily x 20 minute walks are offered: any dog that pulls on the lead will not be accepted for boarding.
All activities, including daily walks/exercise regime are consented by the owner including solo or group (if appropriate following successful familiarisation).
Dogs are expected & encouraged to be friendly & sociable to other dogs on walks as well as people (if indicated).
Contact with younger (<10yrs) children without an adult present is discouraged - no young children access the property.
All poop, whether on or off the property, is immediately scooped with single use bags & deposited in general waste receptacles.
Appropriate, clean, undamaged dog toys are provided for the dogs' use - clients bringing their own (undamaged clean & recorded) will assume use by other boarders unless such use brings resource guarding issues in which case will be removed from use & returned to client.
All group playtimes are supervised to avoid territorial/guarding issues.

8 - Animal handling/interactions:-
All dogs will benefit from positive human interaction for most of each day of their stay.
All interactions are reward & positive reinforcement based - voice tone, body language, treat etc - NO dog is ever punished to cause distress or suffering of any nature. All dogs are given as stress-free an environment as possible for the duration of their stay, after full discussion with the client & trial date(s) observation, regarding normal behaviour, individual likes, dislikes, quirks & idiosyncrasies which, as far as is practicable, will be gladly accommodated at Hillcrest. A daily pet log is recorded during stay & given to owner on return: any seemingly abnormal behaviour will be monitored, recorded and owner/vet contacted according to communication preferences indicted on file.
Boarded dogs are not left alone in the normal day-to-day course of events nor are dogs left unsupervised together (if a shared stay) as there are designated rooms if separation for any reason becomes necessary, with securely closing doors & restricted access window opening providing ventilation.

9 - In order to prevent exposure to avoidable pain, suffering, injury & disease, carefully prepared and enacted written P&P are in place (see below) relating to feeding, cleaning, transportation, prevention of disease, health & welfare, death/escape, emergency contacts & plan, fire, revocation of licence, isolation & extreme cold/heat.
It is a condition of boarding at Hillcrest that the documentation is read, agreed and signed.
feeding procedure -
- [ ] dry foods/biscuits/kibble/treats supplied in manufacturers' original packaging, labelled with dog's name & stored in designated kitchen cupboard:
- [ ] cooked/tray/packet or opened tinned meats in sealable bags or lidded on lowest fridge shelf:
- [ ] raw, in sealed packs or lidded containers in separate fridge compartment:
All feeding will be carried out according to client's prior recorded instructions as to what, amount, timing, frequency. With limited storage facilities, all dishes & utensils are supplied.
Hillcrest food prep.has hygiene of paramount importance - proprietary hand soap under warm running water for at least 30s & dried with daily changed cloth towel. When handling such as raw foods (which carry an increased risk of bacterial contamination), single use disposable paper towel to dry & disposed of using 'no touch' technique to bagged domestic waste bin: extra diligent care taken after preparation to ensure all surfaces are cleaned using recommended antibacterial cleaner.
Dogs will be fed separately unless demonstrated & agreed beforehand that food guarding is not an issue. Even then, enough space is given for each dog to enjoy its meal & all mealtimes will be monitored to this effect. Any deviation from the recorded norm (ie not finishing the offered meal) will be recorded & acted upon according to 'health & welfare' policy. Used dishes etc will be washed in hot soapy water in separately designated bowl at the kitchen sink, air dried & stored ready for the next meal.
Medications - medical history of all boarded dogs is discussed & recorded, together with vet details: all medications must be supplied for the duration of the stay by the client in the original named and labelled packaging: will be used in accordance with the written veterinary instructions: all prescribed medications will be kept in individually named, labelled containers in an upper kitchen cabinet or a separate shelf in the domestic fridge: any unused medications will be returned at end of stay.

Cleaning -
inside, using environmentally conscious materials whenever possible, all dog accessible household floors will be vacuumed daily or more frequently as necessary: hard floors will be mopped daily with proprietary floor cleaning agent. Furniture is dusted/vacuumed regularly: soft furnishings laundered frequently and/or covered.
Toys are kept clean: any frayed or obviously damaged are removed from use and returned to client (if supplied, must be clean, undamaged) at end of stay.
Hot soapy water will be used daily on all wipeable surfaces, with spot cleaning as necessary with proprietary eco-friendly grease & grime cleaner more frequently as required.
Urine & faecal accidents will be cleaned promptly: ensuring other dogs have no access to the area, solids will be bagged, the affected area wiped with paper tissue & proprietary antiseptic disinfectant applied as per dilution & surface contact time instructions. Following thorough cleaning & drying of the area, all soiled materials will be double bagged & disposed of in the outside domestic household waste bin.
Hand hygiene is always important but especially so following such incidents.
outside - the secure garden is kept as neat & tidy as warranted: poop is removed as soon as it appears or at least daily & deposited in the outside domestic waste bin collected Thursday fortnightly. The dogs are encouraged to use the artificial turfed area for ease of cleaning but all areas will be inspected daily for outliers. Favourite frequently used areas will be hot soapy water sluiced twice weekly.
Transportation - as a non-car owner, I walk everywhere or use public transport. If boarded dogs are able to use public transport, daily walks could be further afield if consented.
For emergency use, licenced pet taxi : Doggy Doolittle (Kelly 07897335569) or Paws4Walk (Amy 01535 439119/
07799040747) - client invoiced.

Health & Welfare - NO DOGS ACCEPTED FOR BOARDING WITHOUT VACCINATION RECORD: NO ILL DOG WILL BE BOARDED EVEN IF PRESENTED AT DEPARTURE DROP OFF - please ensure adequate insurance for these eventualities.
Any abnormal behaviour during the stay is recorded & vet advice sought if necessary but certainly for any sudden onset of fever, listlessness, etc or injury as soon as it occurs(apart from minor cut or abrasion for which there is a first aid kit NB use of iodine tincture) or loss of appetite lasting more than 24hours.
All boarded dogs are treated as a loved family member, with respect & empathy.
PLEASE NOTE - I do ask that clients ensure that their dog's claws are as short as possible - not only does this extend the life of floors/artificial turf, 'clickclack' issue etc but also limits damage to the artificial turf, scratches to bare skin, pulled fabrics, torn claws. I also believe long claws are detrimental to his/her comfortable walking and can contribute to long term paw, joint & back problems. Unfortunately, many vets may be laissé faire about this issue and may give conflicting advice, if any. However, claw clipping is available during stay if client consents & supplies dog's own clippers/consents to use of Hillcrest's own.

Extreme heat or cold - there are functioning radiators in every room for routine heating: if for any reason the annually serviced boiler breaks down in cold weather, there is a 2kw fan heater and an oil-filled portable electric radiator available.
The 'dog room' is cool, north facing with opening window: the lounge has sliding patio door with access to shaded veranda for ventilation and through breeze: further cooling is available via an electric fan heater, shower room and garden pool.

Isolation - any dog presenting fever, cough, sneezing, nasal discharge, sticky eyes, listlessness, lethargy, depressed etc &/or having displayed such symptoms in the previous 24 hours &/or in contact any contagious condition 21 days prior to boarding will not be accepted for boarding as per CBMDC licensing regulations. Any dog(s) displaying such symptoms post drop-off will be isolated in designated room(s)with secure closing door, washable bedding, fresh water, restricted opening window for light & ventilation; no contact with other dogs. Regular monitoring/recording with increased hygiene precautions ie hand washing on entering & leaving the isolation room, bagged bin in room for wipes, tissues etc. Client’s own veterinary practice will be contacted for treatment instructions & the client invoiced for costs incurred. If the usual veterinary practice is located too far away to access via reasonable pet taxi fee, temporary registration is available via Aireworth Vets, Keighley - cost will need to be paid by the client before treatment is commenced therefore communication must be available with emergency contact if absent owner unavailable.

Escape whilst boarded - no effort is spared in maintaining a safe stay but in the unlikely event of escape, to facilitate immediate return to Hillcrest care, all dogs must have a recorded microchip as a condition of boarding.
All dogs will wear the Hillcrest flexitag on their collar/harness*. Recently laundered, well-fitting (not tight) collar and/or harness (preferable 2 if one becomes wet/damaged) supplied by the client will be used for all off-property activities: any supplied lead(s) will always be securely attached before opening exit door/gate.
No off leash walks unless specifically consented by client.
All entry & exit points will be checked as closed & locked.
All dogs will be secured before visitors or deliveries etc.

In the event of escape, the following procedure will apply until found:-
- advise client/emergency contact
- contact local authority dog warden 01274 433927;
- contact/check on-line lost & found websites including petlog.org.uk 01296 737600, www.doglost.co.uk 08448003220 (use of 'Barkout' social media facility £30 invoiced to client if consent obtained. Pls check individual dog's insurance as lost dog advertising may be covered), WY Professional Dog Walkers' FB, DroneSARFforlostdogs FB page,
- 999 if any suspicion of active theft or 101 to obtain a crime number www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101LiveChat
- local kennels ie The Springs Kennels & Cattery BD16 3AS 01274 568049
- local vets ie Aireworth 01535 602988, Gatehouse 01274 560111, Vets4Pets 01535 667061
- notices, flyers etc can be produced in-house (recent photo required)

Death whilst boarded - Should a boarded dog become suddenly so unwell/injured that a registered vet recommends euthanasia, the client/emergency contact will be contacted as soon as practicable: should contact be unavailable within a reasonable time frame via the contact information given to Hillcrest Dog Boarding, and the vet considers delaying euthanasia would be inhumane, to prevent further suffering, I will provide consent.
If death occurs at Hillcrest, the dog's remains will be cleaned, wrapped in a cold blanket with a coolmat, covered and laid in the lounge until collection within 24hrs.
If death occurs elsewhere, the dog's remains will be transported, at client's cost, to the nearest available facility as appropriate ie vet practice, animal hospital etc until collection.
There will be fees due for these services.

Emergency/fire prevention/revocation of licence - in any emergency situation, the lives and welfare of any boarded dogs will be the overriding priority .
NO smoking allowed on any of the property.
The gas hob is the only source of naked flame.
There are 2 functioning, regularly tested smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in the property.
There is a BS1869 fire blanket located above the kitchen light switch to be used if safe to do so otherwise if the alarm sounds, there are 2 exits - the west main door and the lounge patio door exiting to the garden.
GET OUT & STAY OUT - boarded dogs will be evacuated to the most available rendezvous either a neighbour or via pet taxi or pickup by
Mr & Mrs S McGrail of 4 Sunny Mount, HARDEN (son/daughter-in-law, a registered dog walker & boarder)
or
The Springs Kennel & Cattery, Eldwick BD16 3AS (5* CBMDC licensed) or
Mount Pleasant Kennels, LONG LEE, BD21 4SD
In the event of revocation of licence for whatever reason, with immediate effect, any boarded dogs will be removed to the most available emergency rendezvous (see above) at my own expense until collection.
Miscellaneous - Any other reasonable costs incurred during boarding over and above the boarding fee are to be invoiced with covering receipts to the client.
Photos/videos taken during stay may be available for Hillcrest website: please indicate consent on booking form.
Reviews - honest reviews are appreciated on the Hillcrest website - compliments are always welcome: complaints will be taken seriously..if there is anything less than perfect about your dog's stay & you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact me, either in person;
by email marcia@hillcrestdogboarding.co.uk
or mobile 07516356980
Thank you
Marcia McGrail/Hillcrest Dog Boarding (formerly homeminderuk )
*except on trial visits