Your dog has been with you through a lot of years. The puppy who chewed your shoes is now the gray-muzzled friend who naps in the sunny spot by the window and takes the stairs a little slower than before. So when a trip comes up, leaving an older dog behind can feel like a much bigger decision than it used to.

At Evergreen Kennels, we care for dogs of every age at our Churchville and Batavia locations, and we understand that worry. Here is a practical look at how to prepare an older pet for boarding, and how the way we already run our kennels helps senior dogs settle in comfortably.

Start With a Conversation With Your Veterinarian

Before you book, it is a good idea to check in with your own vet, especially if your dog has had any recent changes in health, appetite, or mobility. Your vet knows your dog best and can tell you whether a boarding stay makes sense right now and what to keep an eye on. It is also the perfect time to make sure vaccines are current.

We require Rabies, Distemper, and Kennel Cough for all dogs. Please email your dog's records to evergreenkennelsboarding@gmail.com before arrival so check-in goes smoothly. You can find more details on our FAQ page.

Keeping Their Routine the Same

Older dogs often do best when nothing about their day changes. That is one reason we use an individual feeding program. Your dog eats the food you bring from home, fed twice a day, and we keep to your pet's usual schedule as closely as we can. No sudden diet switch, no guessing.

A few tips for packing food for a senior dog:

• Bring enough of their regular food for the entire stay, plus a little extra in case your plans change.
• Pack it in a plastic container labeled with your dog's name.
• If something needs to stay cold, let us know. We have a refrigerator available.

Medications for Older Dogs

Many senior dogs take a daily pill or two. We can give oral medications for non-contagious conditions. To keep everything accurate, medications need to be pre-loaded in a pill box labeled with the days of the week and AM/PM. If you don't have one, we can provide one for a fee.

A couple of important notes: we do not give injectable medications, including insulin, and we do not force pills. If your dog is on an injectable or is a tough customer about taking pills, talk with your vet about options before you book.

Comfort Matters at Every Age

Senior dogs can be more sensitive to temperature, and they appreciate a calm, comfortable space. Our buildings are heated and air conditioned, and our dog areas have heated floors. Each dog has an individual indoor/outdoor run, so your pet can get fresh air and sunshine. Open runs let dogs see what is going on around them, which many dogs find reassuring rather than being shut away.

At night, we keep night lights on and music playing to help everyone settle down. For an older dog who may be a little uneasy in a new place, those small touches can make a real difference.

Bring a Little Piece of Home

Familiar smells help. You are welcome to bring bedding from home, as long as it is machine washable. Keep in mind that pets sometimes chew their bedding, and belongings are not our responsibility, so leave anything irreplaceable (including a favorite toy) at home. An old t-shirt or blanket that smells like you is often all a senior dog needs.

If you have two older dogs from the same household, they can share a kennel as long as they can eat together.

Gentle One-on-One Time

Older dogs usually aren't looking for a rough-and-tumble play session, and that is fine. We offer 1-on-1 playtime on request: a 15-minute session in one of our large outdoor play yards with a kennel attendant right there with your dog. Your dog does not play with other people's dogs, so there is no worry about a younger, bouncy pup knocking into a stiff old friend. For a senior, that time might simply be a slow sniff around the yard and some attention. See our services page for more.

Experienced, Caring People

Evergreen Kennels is family owned and operated by Bobby and Dawn Vetere, and we have served Western New York for more than 35 years. Bobby is a former Monroe County Sheriff's K-9 Deputy. He is certified in canine first aid by the Veterinary Tactical Group and holds a certificate in Tactical Canine Casualty Care. Our staff are genuine animal lovers who treat every dog like one of their own.

Planning Drop-Off and Pickup

Both locations are open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 11 AM, and Sunday 3 PM to 5 PM. If you pick up on a weekday by 11 AM, there is no boarding fee for that day. After 11 AM, and for Sunday pickups, a boarding fee applies. Check our pricing page for details. We accept credit and debit cards only.

Learn more about our dog boarding near Rochester or our Batavia kennel.