Dog owners hit with £46 million vet bill after their dogs return from kennels

Direct Line campaigns to regulate kennel standards – Animal Welfare Bill

Dog owners are having to shell out £46 million* throughout the lifetime of their pets due to poor kennel conditions, according to new research by Direct Line Pet Insurance.

The research highlights that of the 5,400,000 pooches in the UK, 300,000** have had to go to the vet as a result of a stay in kennels at a cost of more than £150 each on fees. Over one in 10 dogs (12%) had contracted an illness and 4% sustained an injury from their time in the kennels.

This despite the fact that 87% of dog owners who used kennels inspected them before making a booking and almost a third (32%) visited more than one before choosing what kennel they thought was the best.

However, although 47% of dog owners paid up to £100 on their dog’s stay, nearly half (48%) did not know how long their dog was kept in its cage during the day and one in five (20%) found dirty conditions in the kennels they visited when initially trying to decide.

The findings also highlight that 26% of owners felt that insufficient attention was paid to their dog during its stay and 20% felt that, based on its appearance, their dog had had little exercise.

Nearly half of dog owners (46%) have left their pet to stay in kennels at some time during their life. The majority (93%) used kennels whilst they went on holiday, often leaving their dog for two weeks at a time (48%).

72% used kennels as they were unable to leave their dog with friends or family, 46% because they could not leave it with their neighbours, and 47% simply wanted their dog to be looked after by professionals.

The Animal Welfare Bill is currently being considered by Parliament to ensure the protection of all animals by consolidating over twenty pieces of legislation – some of which date back to 1911. When it becomes law, it will be revising the Boarding Establishments Act 1963 in order to bring it up to date with the higher standards required of kennels and catteries today.

Chris Price, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, comments:

“As a keen supporter of the Animal Welfare Bill, Direct Line is urging the Government to provide greater clarity regarding plans to regulate boarding kennels. We believe that better enforcement of standards should be made mandatory.

“We recommend that pet owners base their kennel selection on word-of-mouth from a friend or another trusted source, and have the appropriate pet insurance to ensure that their pet is covered in the unfortunate event of it needing treatment.”

Peter Eastwick-Field, a leading veterinary surgeon comments:

“We believe too many boarding establishments are falling below acceptable standards in basic care – for instance very few dogs are even getting enough exercise during their stay. On average we see 1-2 dogs a week in the practice during the summer months as a result of time spent in the kennels. Vomiting, diarrhoea and kennel cough are a few of the illnesses commonly related to boarding establishments.”