Frequently Asked Questions

Others have already asked so you don’t have to.

(But you still can if you want…)

What is a day at the kennel like for my dog?

Our staff arrives at 7:30 am to start the day. The first thing we do is let the dogs out for their morning potty breaks while we refill their waters from overnight, clean out any messes in kennels, and prepare their breakfasts. Morning medications are also done at this time. We feed your dogs based on your direction, so if your dog does not get breakfast, or if they need certain supplements or additions, we are happy to do that. After they get to potty and stretch their legs a bit it’s back inside for breakfast by 8:30-9:00 am. The staff takes this time to write any notes necessary on the dogs, such as any behavioural or medical concerns we may need to keep an eye on. Between 9:00-11:00 am we clean out the kennel, answer messages and voicemails, and give extra care to the pups who may need it. Around 11:00 am we begin playgroup, where the dogs get to run around and play with their buddies! We mix based on your direction as well, so if your dog is only good with a certain size of dog or not friendly with dogs at all, we will do as you say. We never mix large and small dogs unless they are members of the same family. This lasts as long as we can manage, usually until 12:30-1:00 pm unless poor weather dictates otherwise. During this time we do another quick sweep of the kennels, refill waters, and so on. Dog playgroups are always supervised. After playgroup, we turn the lights down for a while to give the dogs a rest, from roughly 1:00-3:00 pm. At this time we begin letting them out again for their before-dinner run, which lasts from roughly 3:00-4:30 pm. We prepare the dinners for the dogs while they are out and feed them around 4:00-4:30 pm. Before we close, we do another sweep and make sure everyone is comfortable, watered, and any medications have been given. The kennel closes at 5:00 pm but our on-site kennel attendant lives on the property and will come out around 8:00-9:00 pm to do one more run before bed. Again we make sure the dogs are safe and comfortable when they come back inside to sleep. 

What are your yards like?

Our yards are fully enclosed with wire and wooden fences, which are dug several feet into the ground to prevent digging out. Our staff regularly inspects the fenceline for defects and gaps. Our main yards have both gravel and grass, while our smaller side yards are gravel with astroturf provided. We have several different kinds of toys for the dogs to play with, from kiddie tunnels to giant Indestructiballs, and even pools in the summertime! We love trying new things to entertain our pups, and often put out things like bubble blowers and ball pits to give them new, fun experiences. We do have cameras facing into each yard for security.

How big are your kennels?

All measurements in inches

Small Dog Regular Room: 52 x 42

Small XL Room: 105 x 38

Regular Room with Outdoor Run: 64 x 43 - Outdoor: 116 x 43

XL Room with Outdoor Run: 64 x 90 - Outdoor: 90 x 116

Why do you require an orientation?

We require an orientation for all new dogs boarding at our facility. This is, in essence, a few hours of free daycare for us to learn a bit about your dog and its behaviours, and for it to learn about the kennel and grow more comfortable with it. This is necessary for us to ensure the dog will not have a poor reaction when it comes to stay for it’s first real visit. This orientation may be waived if the dog has a good reference from another kennel. Some dogs may require a few visits to get used to the kennel, which we do encourage! Please see our page “First Time Boarding? Please Read This!” for more info.

Can I see your facility?

We do offer tours of the facility on an appointment basis. Please contact us at 250-248-8700 to arrange a tour. 

Why do I need an appointment? Can’t I just come in and look?

For everyone’s safety, we require an appointment for viewing the back because all dogs must be away in their kennels. Even if a dog is friendly towards staff, does not mean it will be friendly towards strangers. This also cuts into the amount of time the dogs get outside. Just as your own dog might be reactive to someone walking up the driveway, seeing a stranger can cause many of them to become stressed, excited, fearful, or very loud and they can take some time to calm down again. As we like to keep their stay as low-stress as possible we keep walk-throughs to the afternoon during nap time so the dogs have had a good play time and are more tired.

What should I bring for my dog when they board?

We suggest bringing your dog’s food, anything that would make them feel more comfortable and safe such as a bed or blanket, and any toys you think they may enjoy in the kennel. We are happy to give any medication the dog may need. You do not need to bring dishes, as we provide stainless steel bowls for each dog’s meals that are washed after each meal. You may bring in specialty bowls if your dog needs them (i.e. speed feeder bowls.) If you are unable to bring your dog’s food we can provide them with our house food, for a charge of $1/meal. 

Why do you require the vaccines that you do?

We require rabies, bordetella, and DAP (or equivalent) vaccinations for all dogs boarding with us. These are the most common transmissible diseases among dogs and thus we feel it is in the best safety for all to have our furry clientele vaccinated. We do accept titre tests and exceptions as suggested by your veterinarian. 

Does my dog have to be spayed/neutered?

We do ask that any dog over one year of age be spayed or neutered. Any dog over that age that is unaltered will incur a $5 fee every time they book. This requirement applies only to boarding. Grooming dogs have no spay or neuter requirements. However, neither for boarding or grooming can we accept females who are in heat or pregnant.

Why is there an excess cleaning fee?

Due to many dogs excessively and consistently messing in the kennel. (more than 4 times a day) we have added an additional fee. Excess time and materials need to be used in the kennel and excessive bodily fluid wears down the inside of the kennel over time. Additional deep cleaning is also performed after the dog leaves to ensure it is clean for the next dog which takes ample additional time.

Do you have breed restrictions?

We do not discriminate against any dog breed, all are welcome at our facility! However, if your dog’s behaviour becomes a threat to staff, other dogs, or even itself, we will have to refuse boarding and/or grooming for them. 

What behaviours are not tolerated at your facility?

First and foremost we will not tolerate any kind of behaviour that will endanger our staff, other dogs, or the dog itself. This includes aggression, destructive behaviours inside the kennel, and attempts to get at other dogs through kennels or between fenced yards. For kenneling, excessive urination inside the kennel may also prompt a ban, as this can damage the kennel interior and often points to deeper medical or behavioural issues that may need addressing before the dog can be boarded with us again. For grooming, any unsafe behaviour that makes grooming a hazard to the dog and/or staff will not be tolerated, such as excessive thrashing. We will try to work through these issues and find a solution if possible, but if no progress is made then we will have to ask you not to bring the pet back to our facility.

Why has my grooming price changed?

Groom pricing is done on a case by case basis. If your dog is well kept and has the same needs for every groom, then the price will likely stay fairly similar. However, if your dog has poor behaviour, or if they have matting or other sanitary issues that take up more time of the groomer’s schedule, additional fees may be incurred. Our groomers reserve the right to adjust their prices as needed to stay market competitive and to compensate them for the time and effort put into making your dog look its best.

Why aren’t you accepting new grooming clients/when will you be accepting new grooming clients?

Unfortunately with the majority of mid-island groomers closing and/or retiring due to COVID throughout 2020 and 2021, we were one of the only facilities that was able to accept new clients through much of that time. We were finally forced to close our doors to new customers in June 2021, as our backlog had grown to an unsustainable length. Our regular clients were being forced to book several months ahead. We found this to be unacceptable to our loyal clientele, and thus we closed our grooming availability. We are still playing catch-up, and our clients often still have to book two or more months ahead of time. Sadly we cannot say when we will be able to accept new grooming clients. When we do, you can be sure to catch the announcement on our Facebook page!

When do you recommend booking for Spring Break/Summer Vacation/Christmas?

Our Christmas slots fill up very quickly - we are usually fully booked by June of that year! With travel restrictions lessening, we expect to fill up very quickly for Spring and Summer Vacation spots. For high-value times such as this, we recommend booking at least two months ahead of time, if not more so. 

For Spring Break (March), we recommend booking by January.

For Summer Vacation (May-August), we recommend booking by April or May.

For Christmas (December), we recommend booking by June or July. 

For Christmas, we do accept a cancellation list for anyone who would like to be called if a spot opens up. We call our Christmas clients in mid-November to confirm their dates; this is usually when you will receive a call if a spot opens up.

I am booking for a month or more, what do I need to know?

We do not recommend booking for longer than thirty days, as at this point a dog typically begins showing signs of stress and mental deterioration. Keep in mind, the dog does not know you’ll be coming back! We will do all we can to keep them happy and healthy, but it is not advised for them to stay any longer than thirty days. If you do require a stay of thirty days or longer, we do require a deposit of half the boarding bill upfront. We also recommend bringing plenty of their food, lots of various toys and treats to keep them occupied, and a bed or blanket to comfort them. If there is someone you trust that can take them out for the occasional walk or day trip, that helps kennel stress immensely! 

What days are you closed?

Animal Magic will be closed to the public on New Year’s Day, Canada Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, to allow our staff time with their families. Grooming staff may be active on these days if they so choose. Only base crew will be on site on these days to ensure the kennelled dogs are well taken care of. If there is an emergency that requires you to pull your dog from boarding on these days, please call us at 250-248-8700 and we will make arrangements for your dog to be picked up.