Checklist template

Boarding and daycare operations for pet hospitals

A ready-to-use checklist with 120 items in 6 sections, covering Intake, Housing, Feeding, Exercise, Cleaning, Discharge. Use it as-is in InspectLoop, or adapt it to your own standards in minutes.

  • 6 Sections
  • 120 Items
  • 104 Yes / No checks
  • 6 Scored ratings
  • 134 Points

Use this template How audits work

1. Intake 20 items

  1. Pets boarding at the time of the visit Number
  2. Boarding capacity of the hospital (runs and condos) Number
  3. Proof of the vaccines required by hospital policy (rabies, distemper-parvovirus and kennel cough for dogs) is on file for each boarder sampled Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Proof of rabies and feline distemper vaccination is on file for each boarding cat sampled Yes / No 1 pt
  5. A pet arriving without proof of vaccination is vaccinated with the owner's consent or declined, per hospital policy Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Each pet is checked for fleas and ticks at intake Yes / No 1 pt
  7. A negative fecal test within the last 12 months is on file for each daycare dog, per hospital policy Yes / No 1 pt
  8. The signed boarding agreement authorizes emergency treatment up to a limit chosen by the owner Yes / No 1 pt
  9. An emergency contact other than the owner is recorded with a phone number Yes / No 1 pt
  10. The food brand, amount and meal times are recorded at intake Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Medications brought by the owner are in their original labeled containers Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Medications are counted at intake and the count is written on the medication sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Belongings (bed, toys, leash) are listed on the intake sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The owner is asked about reactivity to other dogs, fence climbing, storm anxiety and food guarding Yes / No 1 pt
  15. A temperament evaluation is on file before a dog's first day in group play Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Dogs in heat and unneutered dogs over the age set by hospital policy are kept out of group play Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Each boarder is weighed at intake Yes / No 1 pt
  18. An identification band is placed on each pet at intake Yes / No 1 pt
  19. A pet that is coughing, vomiting or has diarrhea at intake is examined by a veterinarian before entering the boarding area Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Intake records of 5 boarders sampled Rating
    • All 5 complete 5 pts
    • 1 or 2 with gaps 3 pts
    • 3 or more with gaps 1 pt

2. Housing 21 items

  1. Boarders are housed in an area separate from hospitalized patients Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Boarding cats are housed in a room where dogs cannot be seen Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Cat condos have a perch and a hiding place Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Each run has a raised bed or a mat that keeps the dog off the bare floor Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Run gates are secured with a second latch or clip Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The gap under each run gate is too small for the smallest boarder to pass Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Partitions between runs are solid at the bottom so dogs cannot touch noses Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Pets from one household share a run only with the owner's written consent Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Each run card shows the pet's name, owner, feeding, medications, alerts and check-out date Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Collars are removed in the runs or replaced by breakaway collars, per hospital policy Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Boarding area temperature is between 65°F and 80°F (18°C and 27°C) Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Boarding area temperature (°F or °C) Number
  13. Owner-supplied bedding is labeled with the pet's name Yes / No 1 pt
  14. A second door or gate stands between the boarding area and any exit to the outside Yes / No 1 pt
  15. The time of the last evening check and the first morning check is recorded each day Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Urination and stool are recorded daily on each run card Yes / No 1 pt
  17. A boarder that is coughing, has diarrhea or has not eaten for 24 hours is examined by a veterinarian Yes / No 1 pt
  18. The owner is called the same day when a boarder is examined for illness during its stay Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Boarding cats get time out of the condo one at a time in a closed room Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Senior and arthritic dogs have an orthopedic bed in a ground-level run Yes / No 1 pt
  21. Condition of boarding runs and condos Rating
    • Secure, dry and comfortable 5 pts
    • Secure but bedding or run cards lacking 3 pts
    • Escape risks or wet runs found 1 pt

3. Feeding 20 items

  1. Each boarder's food is kept in a sealed container labeled with the pet's name Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Owners are told at booking which house diet is fed when no food is supplied Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Meals are measured with a measuring cup against the feeding sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Meals are served at the times on the posted schedule Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Appetite is recorded after each meal Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Daycare dogs are brought back to their runs or crates to eat and are never fed in the play yard Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Dogs sharing a run are separated for meals Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Bowls are collected and washed after each meal Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Water buckets in the runs are clipped in place and filled Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Water in the play yards is changed at least twice a day Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Treats are given only where the owner agreed on the intake sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Food allergies are flagged on the run card Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Medications are initialed with the time given on the medication sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Boarders' medications are kept in labeled bins apart from the hospital pharmacy stock Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Raw diets supplied by owners are stored frozen and apart from other food Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Bowls used for raw diets are disinfected separately Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Deep-chested dogs are rested for one hour before and after meals Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Food bins are at least 6 in (15 cm) off the floor Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Boarders that did not finish their last meal Number
  20. Feeding of boarders Rating
    • Fed as the owner instructed, intake recorded 5 pts
    • Fed but not recorded 3 pts
    • Wrong food or missed meals 1 pt

4. Exercise 23 items

  1. Each dog is taken out at least three times a day, with times and initials on the run card Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Dogs walked outside a fenced area wear a slip lead in addition to their collar Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The play yard fence is at least 6 ft (1.8 m) high with no gap at the bottom Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The play yard is entered through two gates so one is always closed Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The yard and fence are inspected for holes, damage and foreign objects before the first group each day, with the check recorded Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Today's play groups are written down, with dogs grouped by size and temperament Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Dogs in the largest play group today Number
  8. Employees supervising the largest play group Number
  9. The number of dogs per employee in each group is within the ratio set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  10. A play group is never left without an employee in the yard Yes / No 1 pt
  11. The employee in the yard carries a slip lead and a device to interrupt a fight (air horn or spray) Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Yard employees asked can describe how to separate fighting dogs without reaching for collars Yes / No 1 pt
  13. A rest period in the runs is scheduled at midday Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Outdoor play is shortened above the temperature set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Shade is available in the outdoor yard Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Flat-faced breeds (bulldogs, pugs) have shortened outdoor time in warm weather Yes / No 1 pt
  17. The yard surface drains, with no standing water or mud Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Feces in the yard are picked up as soon as they are seen Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Toys in the yard are washable and undamaged Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Dogs in group play wear a flat quick-release collar or none (no choke chain, prong collar or harness) Yes / No 1 pt
  21. Paid extras (additional walks, one-on-one play) are initialed on the run card when done Yes / No 1 pt
  22. Bites and injuries in group play recorded last month Number
  23. Supervision of exercise and group play Rating
    • Groups matched and watched at all times 5 pts
    • Supervised, but groups too large or mixed 3 pts
    • Dogs left unsupervised 1 pt

5. Cleaning 17 items

  1. Runs are spot-cleaned as soon as they are soiled Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Dogs are moved out of the run before it is hosed or disinfected Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Feces are removed before the run is hosed Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Runs are washed with detergent before disinfectant is applied Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Runs are squeegeed dry before the dog returns Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The disinfectant used between boarders is labeled as effective against parvovirus Yes / No 1 pt
  7. A run is fully disinfected at check-out before the next boarder moves in Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Mops, squeegees and buckets for the boarding area are color-coded and not used in the hospital wards Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Hair traps in the floor drains are cleared daily Yes / No 1 pt
  10. A cat's condo is spot-cleaned during its stay rather than fully stripped each day Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Boarders' own bedding is washed separately and returned to the same pet Yes / No 1 pt
  12. The play yard is disinfected on the schedule set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Owners of boarders are notified when a case of kennel cough is confirmed in the boarding area Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Boarders with coughing or diarrhea recorded in the last 30 days Number
  15. The daily cleaning checklist of the boarding area is initialed for each day of the last week Yes / No 1 pt
  16. No odor of urine or feces is noticeable on entering the boarding area Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Cleanliness of the boarding area and play yard Rating
    • Clean, dry and odor-free 5 pts
    • Clean runs but odor or wet floors 3 pts
    • Soiled runs or yard 1 pt

6. Discharge 19 items

  1. Pets go home with a coat free of urine and feces Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Belongings are returned against the intake list Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Leftover food is returned to the owner Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Leftover medication is counted at discharge against the medication sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  5. A report card on appetite, stool and activity is given to the owner Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Any vomiting, diarrhea, injury or weight loss during the stay is disclosed to the owner at pick-up Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Pets staying more than 7 days are weighed at discharge and the weight is compared with the intake weight Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Extras on the invoice match the extras initialed on the run card Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The pet's identification band is checked against the record before the pet is released Yes / No 1 pt
  10. A pet is released only to the owner or to a person named on the boarding agreement Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Photo identification is checked when someone other than the owner collects a pet Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Dogs are brought to the lobby on a leash by an employee Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Cats are returned in their own carriers Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The run card is filed in the patient record after discharge Yes / No 1 pt
  15. First-time boarders receive a follow-up call or message the day after going home Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Complaints received after a boarding stay are logged with the response given Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Name of the boarding lead Short text
  18. Overall boarding care Rating
    • Boarders safe, fed, exercised and recorded as agreed 5 pts
    • Care given with gaps in records or extras 3 pts
    • Escape risks, missed meals or unsupervised groups found 1 pt
  19. Corrective actions required in boarding and daycare Comments

About this template

This checklist is part of the InspectLoop template library. Yes / No checks score 1 point when met; ratings score the points shown for each option. The overall score is the percentage of points earned, with N/A answers excluded. In InspectLoop you can add photos, assign corrective actions, require sign-off and compare results across sites.

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