FAQ

Just like hotels, kennels and catteries offer different levels of services and prices. It’s important to visit any facility you are considering, meet the team and get a feel for what kind of experience your pet will have. We always invite pet owners to come to Chalkwell to inspect the facilities and ask questions before making a booking.

• The kennel and cattery should look and smell clean. You should not be able to smell disinfectant.
• Bedding should be clean. We wash and change all bedding daily (which is why we can’t accept bedding brought in from your home).
• The building should be warm and dry. Chalkwell is heated to keep your pet cosy in the winter months.
• Dogs should have access to an outside exercise area. Our canine guests have their own covered outside run and use of ten large play areas.
• Kennels and catteries should insist on up-to-date vaccinations with the exception of Kennel Cough.
• A good kennel and cattery should be able to mirror your food and feeding regimes at home. Ask to see the stock room and discuss what food will be provided for your pet.
• The team should be able to administer medications if needed and as per your instructions. Here at Chalkwell we do this for your pet at no extra cost.
• Costs should be clear and transparent with no hidden costs. Our simple ‘all-in’ cost includes everything our site has to offer your pet
• The ratio of staff to pet is a good indication of how much individual care your cat or dog will receive

We strive to offer the very best service to you and, more importantly, your pet. To that end, we only take firm bookings. It means we never have to turn people away while we wait for confirmations and we can be fully prepared for every new arrival at Chalkwell.

We have pets boarding with us 365 days a year and we continue our high standards of care at all times. However, our office is closed for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and we close at 12 noon on all other Bank Holidays. We will always work to find a mutually convenient time with you to drop off and collect your pet during working hours.

Yes – our team is trained and experienced at administering prescribed medicines including injections. It’s all part of the service.

Unfortunately, we can only arrange collections during office hours. If you are running late or unforeseen circumstances prevent you getting here on time, give us a call as soon as possible. During the holiday season when we are very busy, we may need to discuss the possibility of getting a friend or family member to come and pick up your pet or extend your pet’s stay to the following day.

To ensure we can accommodate and care for all the cats and dogs on-site, bookings at Chalkwell are by the day. This means any pet still at our premises at 9am in the morning will have their booking for the entire day and this will be chargeable in your final bill. This also offers our customers maximum flexibility as they can pick up any time between 9am and 6pm.

To ensure we can accommodate and care for all the cats and dogs on-site, booking at Chalkwell are by the day. So if you bring your pet in at 6pm just before we close the office, we still have to charge for the whole day. We would, however, encourage you to come in earlier so that you can settle your pet in, speak to our friendly team and allow your cat or dog to get used to their new, temporary home before the evening.

The vast majority of dogs have a fantastic time at Chalkwell and love their stay. We occasionally see dogs who are not as happy in a kennel setting and in these instances we will always contact the owner. Our high carer to pet ratio here means all pets get plenty of one-to-one attention, especially if they seem a little quieter than normal. We are also happy for owners to call at any time during office hours for an update on their pet.

There is much debate in the veterinary world about the efficacy of the Kennel Cough vaccine to protect a dog from all the different viruses and bacteria that cause the illness (much like human ‘flu). Following veterinary advice, our policy is that we don’t insist on Kennel Cough. However, for those dogs vaccinated, we have a six week rule in which we ask for a six week period between vaccination and your dog’s stay at Chalkwell. This is based on veterinary and vaccine manufacturer advice that dogs can shed the virus (and so be contagious to other dogs) for up to six weeks post vaccination.

Of course. However, we would advise that you didn’t bring anything of sentimental or high value as your pet may not keep it in one piece.

As we change and wash all bedding every day we ask that you don’t bring in your pet’s personal bedding. This will save you the time and effort of washing bedding when you having picked up your pet and are back home.

Dogs from the same family are allowed to socialise in our play areas but we prefer to keep unfamiliar dogs separate to give them their own time and space, as well as one-to-one interaction with their carer.

While we don’t walk our dog guests off-site, we do have ten large exercise areas where the dogs go out several times each day. We want all dogs to have as much exercise and stimulation as they want, and we feel confident the combination of our play/exercise areas, sensory garden and all the one-to-one time with our team offers them a fantastic level of exercise and interaction each day.

We feed whatever you feed at home and we supply the food, unless it is a prescription diet. It’s all part of the service and included in the price. Please let us know if you change your pet’s food after making a booking as we’ll need to know in advance what your pet likes to eat.

We are situated in Northamptonshire, 3 miles from Rushden and 3 miles from Higham Ferrers.

From Bedford head north towards Rushden on the A6. Just south of Rushden turn right into Avenue Road (signposted Newton Bromswold) and follow the signs to Newton Bromswold. At the end of Avenue Road at the T junction turn right. We are about 1 mile further on the left just outside the village.

From Northampton, Peterborough (A45) or Kettering (A6) join the A6 towards Bedford at Rushden. At the 3rd roundabout south turn left towards Newton Bromswold. Follow this road for about 2 miles. We are on the left just outside the village.

Please click on the Location link for a detailed map and directions