FAQ

We will need to sight a C5 Vaccination Certificate for dogs and a F3 Vaccination Certificate for our feline guests.

If you don’t have copies available we can call and verify with your vet who keep these records.

If your pet has medication or requires additional care options, please make sure this is discussed with reception in as much detail as possible.

Please make sure you have an Emergency contact person, who understands their role and will act on your behalf, can speak English and will be available during your holiday.

Our shared rooms are for those friendly, well-socialised dogs who are happy sharing a spacious room with other dogs for the duration of their holiday with us, including overnight.

We match all dogs in social accommodation with doggy friends of a similar age, size and temperament. All pets are monitored during the matching process by our trained staff who will ensure your dog is matched with their perfect new best friends for their holiday to enjoy play after play together.

If your dog is not so friendly with other dogs, or you’re just not comfortable having them sharing, we do have Private accommodation options available.

Please refer to our Contact Us page.

In addition, our resorts are CLOSED all Public Holidays.

Tours of our resorts are encouraged and welcome between 11am – 1.00pm.

Please call our reception team to book a tour time and day that suits you.

Unfortunately, we can not accommodate tours during any NSW School Holiday period, NSW public holidays or Sundays.

We highly recommend that all pets are covered with flea and tick (including paralysis tick) prevention for the duration of their stay. If your pet is staying longer than the covered period, please bring along another treatment so that we can reapply it on the appropriate day

Yes, of course. We do have adequate bedding and toys at our resorts for our guests but should you choose to bring belongings from home for your dog we can’t guarantee those things will be returned in the same condition after all the fun of tug-of-war and wrestling games we often see when dogs share their things with their playmates.

Cats are welcome and encouraged to bring special toys, beds and belongings as they are not in shared accommodation and fare better when they have some familiar scents around them.

We are more than happy to care for other members of the family besides cats and dogs.

Barnstone Kennels & Cattery staff are also available to look after Bunny Rabbits and Guinea pigs however, as the call for this type of care is not high we ask owners to supply enclosures, food and water dishes and the appropriate diet.

The pick up and drop off service is not available to these pets.

Barnstone Kennels & Cattery does not accommodate for reptiles, amphibians or livestock.

Please refer to our Pet Taxi page to find your nearest locations.

We have the option for Doggy Day Care at our resorts. Your dog will play, socialise with other dogs, and have a fun-filled, action-packed day, ready for a long sleep when he/she gets home.

This is a very popular option for commuters whose pets end up being stuck at home all day bored and destructive while they are at work.

Call to enquire today!

Yes, family or familiar pets can share bedrooms. We also have private accommodation packages available if you would prefer for them to have their own bedroom. We try to cater to all types of requests, so let us know what you would like during your pet’s stay and we will accommodate your wishes wherever possible.

Pets with extreme age or size differences may be required to reserve private accommodation if they wish stay together or the request may be denied for safety purposes.

*Private accommodation may not be available during school holiday times so please speak to our reception staff to discuss.

Please let our Receptionists know of any existing behaviours that you are aware of at the time of your booking. This way we can assess and make arrangements to accommodate to suit your pet’s needs. Private accommodation is available outside of school holiday periods for non-social dogs. Cats, Rabbits and Guinea pigs are not socialised unless it is with like family. Be sure to ask about our assessment days if you are not sure if your dog is social.

In the unlikely event that your dog attacks another dog and veterinary treatment needs to be sought, the owner of the attacking dog will be responsible for any veterinary service fee’s. Barnstone Kennels & Cattery will not take any unnecessary risks with canine socialisation so we expect that owners will notify us of any behavioural issues they are aware of.

We do accept un-desexed pets, however, if they are over 6 months old, they are required to board privately.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept females who are in season (for obvious reasons). It is the responsibility of the owner/s of the entire female to notify Barnstone Kennels & Cattery of their females cycle. If the female comes into season during a stay with us we may have to seek alternative lodgings for the pet at additional costs.

We welcome cat and dog breeds of all types and sizes. Our small dog breeds are accommodated in separate accommodation to larger breeds to ensure that your dog will be matched for socialisation with a similarly sized dog with a similar temperament and age.

Please not some dog breeds are required to be accommodated in Private Accommodation during their stay. These dogs will still have plenty of activity time and enriched play with our Pet Nannies.

Speak to our friendly reception to find out more information.

Barnstone Kennels & Cattery does not accommodate for reptiles, amphibians or livestock.

In the unlikely event that your pet requires veterinary treatment during their stay we will attempt to contact you or your listed emergency contact on the telephone numbers provided and seek instructions. If we are unable to reach you on the telephone, we will attempt to contact you via the email address provided and seek instructions. If we are still unable to make contact through these methods, we will make a decision based on the welfare and best interest of the pet.

Should your pet require veterinary treatment, they will be taken to  the resort’s local vet for which a fee will be charged for transport and time spent at the vet ($40.00 transport, $25.00 labour per hour, $15.00 van sterilisation). Please note after hours or public holidays incur additional charges ($40.00 transport, $50.00 labour per hour, $15.00 van sterilisation). Should you request to have your pet taken to your treating vet, further charges will apply.

Please note that all veterinary fees are the responsibility of the owner and must be paid on presentation of the invoice.

After your pet’s holiday, it’s not unusual for habits to change and they may require readjusting when they get home, just like us when we return from a holiday.

Some common post-holiday behaviour includes:

• Over excitement: Your pets are thrilled to have you home and to be home so they may run around and go crazy with excitement and delight from being back with their pack. This usually abates in a day or so.

• Exhaustion/Lethargy:  We also often hear from clients that their pet came home and slept for the entire day after their stay. This is not uncommon as their playtime each day begins at 7am and doesn’t subside until 5pm for their entire stay. During their holiday they have more activity and stimulation than they normally do at home so they are ready for a good rest upon their return.

• Food gulping: Once again normal eating habits will resume within a few days, please don’t be alarmed, this is a very common behaviour post- holiday as your pet has been in the company of other pets and is very typical canine behaviour, regardless of how civilized they may normally behave at home.

• Upset tummy: This can usually be attributed to a change in diet while staying with us. We feed all our dogs and cats Royal Canin, a premium dry food which is industry endorsed. You are more than welcome to use your pet’s own food for your next visit, please ask our Receptionist for further details.

• Excessive thirst: Often while having so much fun with friends along with the sensory overload which happens with so many playmates and things to do, pets can forget to drink enough water and this may catch up with them once they return home. This again will settle once a normal routine is resumed at home. It is best not to allow your pets to gulp more than one bowl of water as they can be prone to bloat and vomiting if too much is consumed too fast.

• Weight loss can occur in certain breeds or due to certain behaviours, such as excess activity and even anxiety.  We offer all pets as much food as they comfortably eat without creating a health risk.  Some dogs should consider the second meal option as they will burn calories due to excess movement.  Imagine yourself if you moved for 2 to 3 additional hours a day with the same calorie intake how much weight can be burned off.  We do weigh all dogs on arrival and some of the weight loss candidates will be weighed several times during their stay.  We can’t guarantee weight will not be lost, however, we will ensure we do our utmost to prevent it.

Please remember that it’s important to re-establish all the usual home patterns and follow your normal home schedule. Our pets love following a schedule as it makes them feel safe and secure.

Unfortunately for accommodation facilities, no amount of supervision or hygiene practices can completely eliminate the presence of Canine Cough. While we insist that all our canine guests are adequately immunized before staying with us, this does not stop the presence of canine cough.

Signs include a persistent cough often followed by gagging. If your pet displays any of these signs post-holiday, it is recommended that your pet is kept rested with plenty of water. If the coughing persists or your dog becomes lethargic, please consult with your vet.

At Barnstone Kennels & Cattery should we detect any pet displaying symptoms of K-9 Cough we will isolate them from other pets to stop the spread of this virus.  We also spray our kennel twice weekly with F10sc – F10^®SC is a veterinary disinfectant which achieves a broad spectrum kill of potentially harmful micro-organisms. It is active against bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores. It is an excellent product for achieving a high level of biosecurity effectively and safely as it poses no hazard to humans and is completely safe to use in presence of animals.

Barnstone Kennels & Cattery will make all attempts to prevent any outbreak of Canine Cough, however like Human colds and Flu’s the virus is unpredictable even in the cleanest environment. Barnstone Kennels & Cattery will not be held accountable in the event that an animal contracts the virus but will make every attempt to make sure the pet is comfortable and treatment is sought.  Any veterinarian fee’s will be billed to the corresponding owner.

• French Bulldog
• Pug
• British Bulldog
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffon
• Pekingese

There are others on the list but as mentioned above, these are some of the more known or popular.  This breed of dog can have breathing health related issues and are also very prone to problems during heat and excitability.

Barnstone Kennels & Cattery understand that these breeds have special needs and takes all measures to ensure their health and well-being, however they can be prone to life threatening issues in a very sudden and short amount of time.   Many airlines have strong travel guidelines and restrictions in place with Brachycephalic dogs and cats because of the delicate  upper respiratory tract anatomical anomalies.

We advise that veterinary check ups should be considered prior to checking in and consideration by the owner during warmer months to ensure optimum pet health.

Geriatric or senior pets often require special considerations when they board, especially if you are travelling during the busy holiday periods. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and routine, and do best when they can maintain a consistent daily pattern. Seniors may be more set in their ways, and any disruption to their schedule may cause additional stress to an ageing body.

At what age, exactly, is a furry friend considered a “senior” or “geriatric” pet? The actual age varies depending on breed (with larger breeds aging more quickly than smaller dogs), but generally any dog over the age of 7 – 9 years will be noted as a senior pet and any cat 8-10 is considered a senior guest.

Older guests will typically require more attention from our staff, or even veterinary care, during their stay as they generally have more pre-existing medical conditions than our younger pets. For example, heart conditions, diabetes, kidney and/or liver dysfunction, low thyroid, arthritis and other joint problems, are commonly seen in senior pets.

Some conditions may be underlying and not previously diagnosed prior. When older pets experiences higher than usual levels of stress (in this case, due to changes in their environment and schedule), their body will react and any underlying symptoms may begin to show.

Therefore, before making arrangements for your senior pet to board, first make an assessment as to his/her overall health and temperament. It may also be a good idea to book your pet in for a veterinary health check just prior to checking in to ensure that all is well (or at least stable) with his/her health.

If your senior pet has a number of medical conditions, gets very stressed in new situations or is not an experienced boarder, you may want to consider alternative options such as a home pet-sitting service. If you do need to board your pet outside of the home and they have a serious or unpredictable medical condition, your veterinarian may be a better choice, as they will be able to spot an impending crisis quickly and take the appropriate action.

If, however, your pet is relatively healthy, happy and active, if he/she has boarded previously, and if he/she has an outgoing personality with a relatively laid-back reaction to new things, then you may choose to board him/her at Barnstone Kennels & Cattery. In choosing this option, we would recommend that you take a tour of our facility to give you the opportunity to ask questions and express any concerns as far as the care of our senior citizens.

What do we need from you?

• To ensure our facilities are suitable for your pet, a fit-to-board letter must be provided every three months from your vet
• An Aged Care Form will need to be completed once your booking has been created, our team will be in touch with you to provide you with this form

Due to the extra care that is essential for older pets, an aged care fee of $5 per day will be applied on top of your booking.

• • • Offer plenty of opportunity for your senior pet to get out and walk around/receive individual attention. This will help keep his/her joints mobile and avoid any uncomfortable stiffness and allow our staff to monitor their health very closely.
  • • Work with you to provide any special dietary needs.
  • • Administer any medications according to veterinary directions.
  • • Allow extra time for our staff to interact with and assist dogs that have hearing and/or vision deficits.
  • • Have quiet areas for lodging away from the general commotion of the younger pets.
  • • Take the time to make your dog more comfortable if he/she appears overly anxious or stressed.
  • • Seek immediate Veterinary attention should your dog stop eating, appear distressed, or experience any bouts of vomiting or diarrhoea.

It is critical to your pet’s well being that you advise our staff of any health problems or concerns. Be honest. Barnstone Kennels & Cattery is here to provide the best care possible for your senior pet, but may not be able to do so if we are not aware of pre-existing conditions.

Remember, we do not know your dog as well as you do, and subtle differences in behaviour or habits that may be indicative of a developing problem may go unnoticed if you do not inform us of what is and isn’t normal for your pet.

It is also extremely import that you leave a forwarding phone number where we can contact you in the case of an emergency. We also ask, where possible, that you provide an additional contact number for someone local and who will be able to make health-care decisions for your pet if we are unable to reach you on the number provided.

In the event of an emergency, Barnstone Kennels & Cattery must be familiar with your wishes in terms of what action you would like us to take. We also ask that your veterinarian be authorised to provide information to our pet care staff if our facility has questions or concerns about the health of your pet. Vets respect patient privacy in a similar fashion to human doctors, and unless you have given your approval, they may not be able to provide the information that we need to make an informed decision about the welfare of your pet.

There are a variety of alternative options available to care for your senior pet while you travel. We ask that you make an informed decision based on his/her overall health, temperament and needs, that way, it can be a relatively stress-free and enjoyable experience for both you and your senior pet.

We are of course happy to administer medications your pet may require whilst on their holiday with us, however there are a few extra steps to take.

When a pet is on medication there are a few things you will need to let us know prior to arrival:

• Medication name
• What condition the medication is treating
• Clear instructions on when we need to administer and how often
• Any precautions we may need to take when administering or handling the medication

Be sure to keep all medications in the bottle administered from your vet with the vet label intact. This gives us the most accurate information on the medication we are administering your pet.

If your pet is on a number of different medications controlling serious conditions, we may suggest considering alternative accommodation options such as a home pet-sitting service or veterinary boarding. Some health conditions can be heightened by stress in new environments and schedules, which can trigger further illnesses and complications for your pet.

Please contact reception to discuss if you have any concerns.

Please note there is a medication administration charge starting at $6.50 per administration. Fees will apply for medication needing to be administered out of hours.

All dogs must have at least a C5 vaccination, all cats to have at least a F3 vaccination. No refunds or credits will be given should these not be up to date by time of booking.

• A 40% booking confirmation fee of your pet’s total stay is required upon making a booking. Your pet’s stay cannot be confirmed until the booking confirmation fee is paid. Please note: ALL bookings require the booking confirmation fee to be paid at the time of making the booking.
• The booking confirmation fee is not refundable; however, we understand not everything goes to plan. If more than 30 days cancellation notice is provided, we will gladly transfer your booking confirmation fee as a credit to your pet’s next holiday (valid for up to 12 months).
• If cancellation notice is provided 30 days or less of your booking, you will forfeit 50% of the booking confirmation fee and the remaining 50% we will gladly credit to your pet’s next holiday valid for up to 12 months (these conditions are not negotiable).
• If cancellation notice is provided 30 days or less of your booking during the Christmas or Standard Rate periods, you will forfeit 100% of the booking confirmation fee (these conditions are not negotiable).
• All Doggy Day Care bookings cancelled within 24 hours are not refundable. If more than 24 hours cancellation notice is provided, a credit will remain on your account for future use.
• All credits are non-refundable and will expire after a 12-month period.
• All prices are subject to change without notice. Please note that the prices we provide are an estimate of your booking and that there may be a price rise before your booking comes around. Any increase in your booking order will only be between 50c to $1.50 per day, per pet increase. Prices may increase each year to keep up with CPI and our increasing costs.
• No refunds will be offered for early collections.
• If a refund is granted, an administration fee of 15% of the refund amount is charged (refund processing time is up to 14 weeks).
• By making an application for a refund the customer acknowledges and accepts that the payment of any refund is done as an ex-gratia payment at the sole discretion of BSK.
• Any extensions to the original accommodation period will be paid at the time of extending the stay.
• Terms and conditions of accommodation are emailed to you prior to your pet’s stay. No refund will be accepted should you not agree with our terms and conditions at check-in.
• Payment options include Cash, Eftpos or Credit Card.