Holiday Hours & Closures

Our office is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

• Boarding drop-off and pick-up are unavailable on these dates, and daycare services will also be closed.
• Our dedicated team will still be on-site to provide attentive care for all boarding guests.
• To ensure safe staffing levels and personalized care during busy times, daycare may be temporarily paused on the days before or after major holidays.

We appreciate you understanding as we work to provide the best experience for every guest.

Deposit Requirements

• A two-night deposit is required to secure all boarding reservations at the time of booking and will be applied to your final invoice upon check-out.
• Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and your pet’s space is not confirmed until the deposit is received.
• There is currently no deposit required for daycare, but advance notice of cancellations is greatly appreciated.

Accepted forms of payment: We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and cash.

Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans can change. Please notify us as early as possible if you need to adjust or cancel your pet’s reservation.

Non-Holiday Reservations:

• Cancellations made more than 48 hours before the scheduled check-in date are eligible for a full refund of your deposit.
• Cancellations made within 48 hours of check-in will result in forfeiture of the deposit.

Holiday Reservations: (Stays including Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Easter, Independence Day and Memorial Day.)

• Cancellations made more than 7 days before check-in are eligible for a full refund of your deposit.
• Cancellations made 7 days to 48 hours before check-in are eligible for a 50% refund of the deposit (the remaining 50% will be forfeited).
• Cancellations made within 48 hours of check-in will result in forfeiture of the full deposit.

Daycare Reservations:
Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your daycare reservation.

For guests with recurring daycare reservations, repeated no-shows may result in your recurring reservation being discontinued so we can accommodate other guests.

Vaccination & Health Requirements

To keep all guests safe, pets must be current on required vaccinations and tests administered by a licensed veterinarian. Reservations are not confirmed until records are received and must include owner and pet names, clinic information, and vaccine/test dates. All pets must be on veterinarian-approved parasite prevention.

Dog Requirements:

• Rabies and Distemper (Distemper/Parvo): every 1–3 years
• Canine Influenza: annually
• Bordetella (Kennel Cough): every 6 months
• Negative Fecal/Intestinal Parasite Test – every 6 months
• Negative Heartworm Test (for dogs 11 months of age or older) – annually

Cat Requirements:

• Rabies and Feline Distemper: annually.
• Negative FELV/FIV Test: once in their lifetime for indoor-only cats, annually for outdoor cats
• Negative Fecal/Intestinal Parasite Test – every 6 months

Updating Vaccines at Chester Animal Clinic

Pets who are established patients of Chester Animal Clinic may have vaccines and routine testing updated during their daycare or boarding stay, provided:

• The services are coming due but not yet overdue.
• The pet has had an annual exam with a Chester Animal Clinic veterinarian within the past year.

If your pet is not yet an established patient, an appointment must be scheduled through Chester Animal Clinic to establish care before boarding or daycare, and you must be present for the exam.

Health & Safety

Pets who are coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or showing signs of illness will not be admitted to boarding or daycare. Pets who become ill during their stay may be examined or sent home at our discretion.

• Reasonable precautions are taken to prevent illness or injury, but West Chester Pet Resort is not liable for incidents that occur despite appropriate care.
• Senior pets or those with chronic or terminal medical conditions may require veterinary clearance prior to boarding. If it is not in your pet’s best interest, boarding may be declined.

*Please note: There are no overnight staff on site.

Medication Policy

We ask that pets needing medications administered while boarding check-in before 10:30 AM to allow proper inventory. Please let us know in advance if your pet will require any medications (such as anxiety, allergy, or arthritis medication) during their stay.

All medications must be:

• In their original prescription bottles or packaging with clear, legible prescription labels  
• Medication will not be accepted in any secondary packaging or mixed within a pet’s food.
• This includes over-the-counter supplements.
• A medication administration form is required to be filled out and signed at check-in.
• A one-time $10 fee will be added to reservations for pets requiring medication during their stay.

Diabetic Pets

Diabetic pets require veterinary clearance prior to boarding. Pets under the care of an outside veterinarian must provide documentation confirming their diabetes is well-controlled. If it is not in your pet’s best interest, boarding may be declined. A $3 nightly fee for diabetic monitoring and insulin administration will apply, in addition to the one-time $10 medication fee.

Kennel Cough Disclaimer

Even with vaccination, dogs can still catch kennel cough through airborne exposure. If symptoms appear within 7–10 days after boarding or daycare, Chester Animal Clinic offers a complimentary exam. 

Treatment and testing are billed separately. Pets diagnosed with respiratory illness must wait 30 days after recovery and receive veterinary clearance before returning.

Courtesy Exams

If your pet develops a medical issue during a boarding or daycare stay, Chester Animal Clinic will provide a complimentary exam to assess the concern. Diagnostics and treatment are billed separately.
Emergencies are treated immediately at the owner’s expense. For other issues, we will contact you for approval before treatment.

Boarding Accommodations

Sharing a Suite:
Pets may only share a suite if they are from the same household. Pets from different households will be boarded separately, even if they are familiar with one another. Our staff reserves the right to separate pets at any time for their safety.

Leashes and Carriers:
All pets must arrive and depart on a leash or in a carrier. We do not allow shock, choke, or prong collars and discourage retractable leashes.

Belongings:
When your pet stays with us, we supply everything! Each guest enjoys their own suite with a private, enclosed patio. We provide cot-style beds and stainless-steel bowls. We also offer slow feeders and elevated bowl stands upon request. Feel free to bring your pets’ favorite toys and blankets/bedding from home and clearly label all belongings with your pet’s first and last name.
For safety reasons, we cannot accept real animal bones, antlers, or rawhide. Our staff may remove any toy or item if it becomes unsafe. West Chester Pet Resort is not responsible for lost, damaged, or destroyed items.

Feeding Policy

If bringing your pet’s food from home, it must be pre-bagged per feeding and labeled with your pet’s first and last name. We also offer Purina EN dry food as our kennel diet at no additional charge. We recommend bringing your cat’s own food as our feline friends can sometimes be finicky eaters when away from home. 

For safety reasons, we cannot accept homemade raw diets. Only commercially prepared or freeze-dried raw foods are permitted, as they have been processed to reduce bacterial risk and ensure a safe environment for all pets and staff.

Daycare guests are not routinely fed unless pre-arranged by the owner.

Playtime Policy

At West Chester Pet Resort, we want every guest to have fun in a way that feels safe and comfortable for them. Our team carefully evaluates each pet’s playstyle to determine where they will be happiest- whether that is in a group setting or enjoying one-on-one playtime.

• Playstyle evaluations help us understand your pet’s comfort level and preferences.
• We make every effort to complete a playstyle evaluation during your pet’s stay if you’re interested in one.
• For your pet’s comfort, we typically do not perform evaluations on the first day of boarding, as new guests need time to decompress and adjust to their surroundings.
• If you’re interested in group play, we recommend scheduling a few days of daycare before boarding so your pet can get familiar with our environment and team.
• Puppies under 6 months of age may participate in group play if they have completed required vaccinations and pass their playstyle evaluation.
• Pets 6 months of age or older must be spayed or neutered to participate in group play. In-tact pets over 6 months of age will enjoy personal play sessions instead.
• Each pet’s play placement is based on their safety, comfort, and overall well-being.

Personal Play:
Guests who are more comfortable with individual attention, or who are not eligible for group play due to age or intact status will enjoy personal playtimes. These one-on-one sessions offer the same amount of exercise, enrichment, and fun as group play. Dogs from the same household may play together if desired. If a pet shows aggression toward staff, they will be placed on patio-access only for their safety and the safety of our team. All feline guests will enjoy personal, one on one time with a team member.

Abandonment Policy

If a pet is not picked up within 10 days of the scheduled check-out date and we are unable to reach the owner or emergency contact, the pet will be considered abandoned.

• In accordance with Virginia law, we are required to notify local animal services or animal control in the case of abandonment, and the pet may be surrendered to their care.

Please ensure your contact information is current and notify us promptly if your return plans change. We are always happy to work with you, but we must act in your pet’s best interest if we cannot reach you.

Thank you for trusting us with your pet’s care!
We are honored to be your pet’s home away from home and are committed to making every visit safe, happy, and filled with love. 🐾