The unregulated business of boarding kennels in S.C.

[gtxvideo vid=”4wFG2zyZ” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/4wFG2zyZ.jpg” vtitle=”Kennel loophole”]

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WOLO) — For many of you, Fido is another member of the family, but you can’t always bring him or her on vacation with you. Checking the pup into a local boarder is a popular option, but there’s something you should know before you pick a place. Kennels in South Carolina are unregulated. They’re subject to the same set of rules as any other business. That means there’s no one checking-in to make sure they’re clean and safe. That responsibility lies on kennel and pet owners. One Lexington woman found this out in the worst way possible, when she had to put her 14-year-old dog, Sophie, down after she stayed at a kennel for a week. Lisa Cribb could not bring her two dogs, TJ and Sophie, on the family vacation last July, so she checked them in to a kennel. A week later, she checked them out with a bad cough. Both TJ and Sophie were up to date on their vaccinations. Cribb reached out to ABC Columbia because she wants you to know what she learned through the ordeal. According to the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, kennels are not regulated by law. In order to run a boarding kennel, all you need is a business license from the counties and municipalities offices in your area. DHEC tells ABC Columbia it has no regulatory oversight when it comes to boarding dogs. We contacted a popular animal hospital and boarding facility to find out what you can do as a pet owner. Dr. Tim Loonam owns Grace Animal Hospital, a veterinary clinic and boarding facility. No one’s looking over his kennel business, but the clinic is regulated, so he applies the same standards to his pet lodge. Dr. Loonam says after researching options, tour your top pick. Check out the kennels and outdoor area. Be looking for clean, well-lit and comfortable spaces. If possible, bring your dog to stay for a day. “Air circulation is a big thing that people don’t think about,” he says. “You want a certain number of air exchanges per hour, so I want a place that’s well ventilated.” Dr. Loonam says this is especially important for reducing your dog’s risk of picking up an upper respiratory infection, like kennel cough. “But there’s always gonna be that one that comes in, like a child in daycare, and if you vaccinate the entire group, you lessen the risk.” His kennel staff check records to make sure dogs have actually had the required vaccines. In a business with no oversight, it’s up to kennels to self-regulate and pet owners to do their homework. The Humane Society of South Carolina Executive Director Wayne Brennessel says you would do the same for your child. “Why not the same thing as a pet owner going to put your pet in a pet care facility?” Brennessel says. Animal lover Cribb says she thinks kennels should be watched more like day care centers, but until then she will continue being the watchdog for her furry family members. Unfortunately, there’s no third-party association that’s keeping check on this facilities. So it’s up to you to check social media, the Better Business Bureau and word-of-mouth to make an informed decision.