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What to look for when picking a kennel for your companion’s home away from homeSTONEY CREEK, Ont. — Slowly but surely, we are moving towards a post-pandemic world.While not out of the woods yet, in many regions the restrictions we have been living with since March are being relaxed and people are once again venturing out (albeit carefully) to live their lives. For people with pets, that may mean looking for a place where your companion can have its own little getaway while you are out trying to make up for lost time.But you don’t want to leave your beloved family member just anywhere. Their health and safety is just as important as other members of the family. You want to make sure they are well cared for, and perhaps even a bit spoiled, during their time away from home.Ogena Solutions, a leading provider of effective, environmentally friendly biosecurity solutions in the animal health sector, suggests asking the following questions when searching for the right kennel:How do the kennels look? Cramped quarters are never comfortable. You want space for your pet to be able to get up and walk around, and certainly enough space for them to splay themselves out for one of their many daily naps. What amenities will the pet get to enjoy? Hopefully the answer is more than food and water bowls.What chemicals are used to clean the kennels? Perhaps the most important question after the pandemic. Cleanliness and sanitation are vitally important, and even if animals are unlikely to catch the COVID-19 virus, there are other pathogens out there to which they are susceptible. Don’t be afraid to ask what kind of cleaning solution they use. Harsh chemicals can be hazardous to animals. If they use Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide — a powerful but mild disinfectant — you are in a good place.What is the cleaning procedure? If the answer is a mop and bucket, just turn around and walk out. Mops will certainly make a floor look cleaner, but from an infection control standpoint mops are the worst option out there. Mops collect bacteria and viruses pretty much as soon as they touch the floor, and when the mop is then put into the bucket for rinsing they can then contaminate the entire bucket of solution, which can then spread the pathogens over the entire floor. Ideally, a cleaning system that uses cleaning wands to spray fresh disinfecting solution and then vacuums the dirty solution away is the best. This greatly reduces the risk of cross-contamination, is more effective and safe. Some models can also be used to clean the animals themselves! Another option is to use sprayer to apply the disinfectant and then using squeegees to move the dirty solution into a drain.What are the credentials of the staff? It is good if the staff looks professional. It is even better if they also have certified training. Some of the best facilities have invested in Fear Free training for their staff, a type of training in which staff learn how best to deal with dogs in a non-threatening manner.Will my pet be bathed and pampered? Being removed from the home they know and love, and away from the people they know and love, can be stressful for your pet. Give your companion the full spa treatment when you are gone. Ask to see the area where pets are groomed and bathed, and check out the shampoos they use. If there is an Anivac Pro-Heat System for bathing the animal, you are leaving your pet in good hands.How will my pet be entertained? Pets need stimulus. The last thing you want is to have them sitting in a cage all day. Ask about the activity routine. See if you can observe some playtime with an animal already in residence. You want to see a supervised play area that is never overcrowded with dogs.Keeping your pet safe and clean is not only important for the animal — it is important for your family as well. Any pathogens your beloved four-legged friend picks up can be brought home from the kennel to the home, putting the entire family at risk. So take the time and do your due diligence; it’s in everyone’s best interest.For more information, please visit ogenasolutions.com. Follow Ogena Solutions on Twitter @OgenaSolutions and Facebook at /OgenaSolutions.About Ogena Solutions:Ogena Solutions, was formed from the company Anivac Corporation which was created in Canada in 2005. Ogena (pronounced “O-Jenna”) Solutions is dedicated to providing complete effective, environmentally friendly bio-security solutions, equipment and protocols as well as ground breaking (patented) animal bathing systems. It currently operates in the animal health sector including shelters, veterinary, pet boarding and daycare, food animal and general farm applications. Bio-security, green technologies and leading edge bathing systems are central to the company’s product focus. Ogena’s own equipment, products and matching usage protocols are respected as being the best and most efficient products available in animal health today.

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