At Rivermist, the health and safety of your pet is our top priority. To ensure the best possible care, we are unable to accept pets with certain medical conditions or those requiring specific medications. We strongly recommend seeking care from a veterinary boarding facility or specialized in-home care for pets with these needs. Please note that these conditions are subject to change; we encourage you to contact us directly to confirm any concerns.
The following conditions may affect a pet's eligibility for boarding:
As pets age, they are more susceptible to the effects of stress, which can negatively impact their immune system and increase the risk of illness. We reserve the right to decline services for pets based on their age or health status at any time to ensure their well-being.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our health and safety policies, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to provide the best care for your pet.
At Rivermist, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our guests, especially senior pets or those with special health needs. To provide the best care, we require a health assessment when booking a stay for any pet, particularly those over the age of 10. This assessment helps us understand your pet's current health, any special care requirements, and any recent changes in their condition.
1. Provide Information at Booking
When you make a reservation, we’ll ask for key information about your pet’s health. This includes basic details such as their age, breed, weight, and any recent changes in their behavior, appetite, or mobility. You’ll also provide us with any medications they may be on and whether they’ve been to the vet recently.
2. Assessment Form
After reserving your spot, our customer service team will fill out an assessment form with the information you provided them and forward it to our management team.
3. Vet Records
We’ll then reach out to your vet to obtain the most recent medical records to ensure we have a full understanding of your pet’s health history.
4. Confirmation & Evaluation
Based on the information provided and the vet records, our team will review whether your pet is suitable for boarding with us. If any concerns arise or additional information is needed, we may reach out for clarification.
5. Familiarization Visits
For dogs we have not seen in the last six months, we may require a familiarization visit before their stay. This helps ensure they are comfortable in our environment and can safely navigate the facility.
6. Reservation Confirmation
We’ll confirm or adjust your pet’s reservation based on the evaluation. Our goal is to provide the best care possible, and we may suggest additional steps if necessary to ensure your pet’s comfort and safety.
We will keep you informed at every step of the process and are always happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Your pet’s health and happiness are our top priority, and we are dedicated to providing the best care for them during their stay with us.
Yes! We welcome senior pets and understand they often require extra care and attention. To ensure we can provide the best possible care, we have specific policies and limitations in place. While our staff is experienced in caring for older pets, we do not have veterinarians on-site or provide overnight care. Because of this, we assess each pet’s individual needs to confirm we can safely and comfortably accommodate them.
For boarding purposes, we generally consider pets over 10 years old as seniors, but this varies by breed. Large breeds may be considered senior around 5-6 years as they have different developmental markers.
At Rivermist Pet Lodge, we welcome pets of all ages but have certain age restrictions in place to prioritize their safety and well-being. We are unable to accept pets under 12 weeks of age or over 15 years old for boarding or grooming.
Very young puppies and senior pets are more vulnerable to stress-related health complications, which can be difficult to manage without on-site veterinary care. To ensure your pet receives the best possible care, we recommend seeking a veterinary boarding facility or specialized in-home care, where they can receive immediate medical attention if needed. Our goal is to prioritize your pet’s comfort and safety, even if that means referring them to a more suitable environment.
We are unable to accept pets with moderate to serious medical conditions that require specialized care or could compromise their safety and well-being in a non-medical boarding environment. For full details, please refer to our boarding policy above or give us a call—we’re happy to help!
At Rivermist, we prioritize the health and well-being of every pet in our care. While we’re happy to hear that your pet’s condition is well-managed at home, we must consider whether the boarding environment is a good fit for them. Our facility is high-capacity, with lots of walking on uneven surfaces and stairs, which can be challenging for pets with certain health conditions, even if they’re stable at home. To ensure your pet’s safety, we assess each pet’s individual needs before confirming their stay.
Rivermist is one of the few facilities located in the countryside, offering outdoor play on turf and grass yards. While this is a major draw for many pet owners, it can pose challenges for pets who are older or have physical injuries. Our services require pets to be able to walk unassisted on uneven surfaces and navigate stairs. Pets with activity restrictions are not recommended for boarding with us. While we can regulate activity during individual playtimes for pets that can walk on a leash politely, please note that we cannot prevent dogs from jumping or being active in their private rooms.
If your pet’s condition worsens while staying with us, we will immediately reach out to you and any emergency contact you’ve provided. Your pet’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we reserve the right to seek medical attention if needed, with or without your consent. Should a veterinarian determine that your pet requires more specialized care, we may transfer them to a medical boarding facility to ensure they receive the proper treatment for the remainder of their stay. Rest assured, we’ll keep you informed and involved every step of the way.
We are happy to administer pre-approved oral and topical medications and supplements during your pet's stay. However, all medications and supplements must be provided in their original packaging with clear dosage instructions. For safety reasons, they cannot be pre-packed with your pet’s meals. If we discover medications or supplements mixed into pre-packed meals, we will contact you to confirm the name and dosage. The items will be removed, properly documented, and administered separately as directed.
If your pet is on a special diet, we ask that you bring their food when boarding. To ensure proper portions, we ask that you pre-bag dry food by meal. For your convenience, we offer a pre-bagging service for a small fee if you prefer not to do it yourself.
Currently, we do not provide overnight care. However, pets are safely housed in private, climate-controlled rooms. Our staff is onsite from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to ensure your pet's well-being. In the event of a medical emergency, we have established emergency protocols to ensure your pet receives the appropriate care and attention.
To ensure the best care for senior pets, we have a policy that boarding stays for dogs and cats aged 12 years and older can only be booked up to four months in advance. Senior pets often require specialized care, and their health and needs can change more rapidly than younger pets. Limiting advance bookings helps us ensure they’re fit and comfortable for boarding. We understand that advance planning is important, and we will always do our best to accommodate your needs within this timeline.
Yes, we require a health assessment for senior pets and those with special needs to ensure the best care. We’ll ask for information about your pet’s age, breed, weight, current medications, and any health changes. All dogs must have up-to-date Rabies, Distemper, Bordetella, and we recommend the Canine Influenza vaccine. All cats must have up-to-date Rabies and Feline Distemper. We will contact your vet for their most recent medical records to get a full picture of their health. If we haven’t seen your dog in the last six months, a familiarization visit may be required. After reviewing all the information, we’ll confirm or adjust your pet’s reservation.
A familiarization visit is a pre-scheduled visit before a boarding stay that helps us assess your pet’s comfort level and address any potential concerns. This process reduces the risk of stress-related health issues during boarding and gives us a chance to handle any special needs before their stay. We often require familiarization visits for dogs aged 11 years or older if they haven’t stayed with us in the past six months. These visits help your pet adjust to our environment and make their actual stay more comfortable. You can choose between a single full day of daycare or an overnight stay.
If your pet’s health changes prior to their stay, please notify us immediately. We may require a new health assessment to determine if they are still eligible for boarding.
