[Dailydrool] boarding--doggie day day care or kenneling

[Georgia Powers]

Hi-- we are going away for 12 days in late June and I am obsessing  
about where to board Eugene. We have left him a few times at a local  
doggie day care where he is out freely playing all day and then just  
kenneled at night. He loves being around other dogs, but the last time  
he was there for an extended stay, he did come back with a little  
stomach virus that cost me $300 plus in vet bills ( granted, I could  
have just let him work it through his system, but I'm always one to  
run to the vet.) All dogs at the day care need to be current on  
vaccinations as well as have a negative fecal, but as our vet said,  
sometimes they just pick stuff up, just like a human day care.

I have been having second thoughts about boarding him there this  
summer because I worry about the heat and him overexerting himself,  
although I think the place is well run and has been in business now  
for about 4 years and has many regular clients . My other alternative  
would be a conventional kennel--I hate thinking about him just sitting  
in a run, but I feel the potential for overexertion and possibly  
picking something up would be less. My daughters want to just take him  
with us, but since we are going to Greece, I don't think that is an  
option!!!   So--kennel or free play day care--that's my choice. Would  
love to hear any opinions/suggestions.  Thanks!!!! Georgia and Eugene.