Guineas boarded today!

[Dusty_bugs]

So my newly bonded pair have gone to a boarding house today so I can go to London on Sunday for xmas.. 2 minuts after they were out the house and I was floating around like a lost sheep.. The house was so empty!

:laluot_24:

The boarding house guys sounded amazing, a young couple run business, cctv where they post short videos on facebook, heated sheds with 10ft hutches, each med is 50p (adds up to £3 a day for leeland alone!).. the total cost for the 21st - 28th was £111. Is that average? I didnt mind paying of course, its their only income and they do an amazing job!

They wouldnt let me drop off because they recently moved to a new place and the old rules at the old place were that they would drop off and pick up only. They will allow visitors in January but it frustrated me that they wouldnt let me drop off the pair just 1 week before January starts.. and as it would cost me about £20 more when I'm still at home. But that's my only niggle. I shouldnt complain too much anyway, and it was my fault overall because notice was so short. I could have picked sunday pick up times if I got the date I was going sooner, but that required my partner to book the tickets and he had convinced himself he couldnt do it sooner than last Tuesday! mallethead

But anyway, Just the waiting game now. I sit here pretending I'll be greatful not to have to wake up to do leelands meds tomorrow morning but it will be a juicy lie. I miss her and newby Vincent already!

:laluot_29: :laluot_20: :laluot_23:

 

[Teejay]

Wow, that's expensive! We tend to give meds free of charge....we do state in our T&Cs that we reserve the right to charge for intensive nursing, but in practice, we never do.....more fool us, we'll never get rich!

We charge £5/day for a bonded pair, so your bill with us would've been £35. But then we don't offer 10ft hutches or CCTV (if only!).

Did you view the facilities before you made your booking? It does seem very strange that you weren't allowed to drop off or collect your piggles.

I'm sure they'll be fine though, and I hope you have a lovel Christmas with your family.

x

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Wow, you're prices sound really good! They are a 'luxury' cattery, but cater for all small animals inc. reptiles and birds and as it is just the two of them I know they must work from the crack of dawn to the middle of the night! He said the reason they used to pick up and drop off was because they were part of a residential area where multiple visitors couldnt be accomodated. The new place is an old pub so much bigger. I wasn't able to be shown around (which he was hugely apologetic for) was because it was still having building works done and much of it was under scaffold. I went there to drop off my form ( which begged the question why is was unacceptable to be on site with my animals).. but I think it's just down to standardising things, liability etc. etc. less family and more businessy. The guinea hutches weren't of course being constructed, they were completed a while back but to get there was probably a bit messy so he regretfully declined.

The treatments for Leeland take me 10 minutes a day then night but used to take an hour or more because she was so wriggly back then and the meds more intensive. There are about 4 different meds spread over 6 treatments each day.

And as for the cage size.. my piggles wont want to come back! What have I done?!?! haha

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I charge the same as you and make no extra charge for administering meds. I even cut nails at no extra charge for boarders.

I encourage everyone to come and see my facilities before booking and chat with prospective clients at length about their animals needs, personality, food preferences etc.

Wow, that's expensive! We tend to give meds free of charge....we do state in our T&Cs that we reserve the right to charge for intensive nursing, but in practice, we never do.....more fool us, we'll never get rich!

We charge £5/day for a bonded pair, so your bill with us would've been £35. But then we don't offer 10ft hutches or CCTV (if only!).

Did you view the facilities before you made your booking? It does seem very strange that you weren't allowed to drop off or collect your piggles.

I'm sure they'll be fine though, and I hope you have a lovel Christmas with your family.

x

 

[Claire W]

Aww bless them.

It does sound expensive unless they charge more because it is over the Christmas period?

I take my girls to a local 'small animal hotel'. The owner lives on a farm and has converted one of the barns in to accommodation that houses hutches and 2 giant runs. She charges me £5 a day for all four piggies and that includes all veggies. We just take our own dry food.

I am surprised you wasn't allowed to visit the facilities first if I am honest. We were encouraged to visit before making our first booking. They just request that you book an appointment first and don't show up unannounced. They offer collection and drop off for an extra small charge.

I am sure your babies will be fine but I do suggest you ask to have a look around before you go again.

 

[Iceprincessx]

I charge the same as you and make no extra charge for administering meds. I even cut nails at no extra charge for boarders.

I encourage everyone to come and see my facilities before booking and chat with prospective clients at length about their animals needs, personality, food preferences etc.

I charge the same as teejay with no extra charge for meds. My facilities are 6ft by 2 ft and I'm only across the water from you in the wirral!

 

[Dusty_bugs]

OOh Ice Princess I had no idea! I will certainly have to remember this post.

I'm in Aigburth, so these guys were relatively close to me and know my vet which is good if there were any problems with Leeland. That was the decider for me.. and it was totally a rush job because my OH took so long to book. I didn't know that browsing the boarding home was the norm! But I do now!

He did say I could come back anytime (not to board I think to look). And his website is crammed with photos. They even put your pets up on facebook in short videos so you can see your pet. But last year they had 56 small animals in at one point so were rushed off their feet! Can't imagine what that must have looked like!

I hope I havent painted these guys out to be rip off merchants. They do charge double on eves and xmas day and its £8 a day.

He really was VERY interested in all the details, as if he was keeping them for good! And couldnt keep his hands off giving leeland a stroke.. Just loved her. Apparently guineas are their all time faves

Maybe next time I will give you a look in IceP? rolleyes

 

[Teejay]

I charge the same as you and make no extra charge for administering meds. I even cut nails at no extra charge for boarders.

I encourage everyone to come and see my facilities before booking and chat with prospective clients at length about their animals needs, personality, food preferences etc.

Ditto, we also offer all of the 'extras' to boarders, normally free of charge (I honestly can't ever remember charging anything over the regular boarding charge).

 

[Teejay]

Hi Dustybugs. What's their website address? Just curious! We had 51 boarders on our busiest day this year (August 3rd...that day will be forever etched in my memory), but we still made sure we had time to show potential new customers around. I do find it very strange that they expect people to leave their precious pets without even showing them around the place beforehand, but if that works for them and their customers, then so be it.

Tracey x

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Hi Tracey, its http://www.bowringparkcattery.co.uk/

I honestly think it's because of the move, they are still doing building works on the old pub. Plus I turned up at 7pm, the place was pitch black outside. It was out of hours and he may have been worried about the health and safety side of it.

There is a facebook page. Catteryhotel / the pets country manor I think.. It's got a crest with a cat on one side, a rabbit on the other and a guinea on top wearing a crown. They already put a photo up and they post 30 second videos. Alot of the photos are of the new built areas, if you're curious.

I know it's easy to slam these guys for doing things more expensively/without showing me around in the middle of the night, especially when most boarders on this forum would be proud of their rates and extras.. But John and Vicky have given me the greatest confidence in leeland and Vincents security and happiness and that's all I can ask so close to xmas and with so few recommended places in Liverpool (I didn't know about ice princess' boarding at that point!) I thought I would give them a whirl.

 

[Iceprincessx]

I think it's very hard to find someone to leave your beloved pets with. I'm the worlds worse. So as a pet boarder I encourage people to come and meet us and see the facilities. I also keep them updated through text, email and Facebook. We also don't charge any more for anything Christmas, medication or anything. We also don't take it more than 4/5 guests at a time to ensure they all get the time and attention they deserve.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

I'm sure you're furries will be ok - personally, I would have needed to see the place beforehand and do find it odd they collect/drop off etc. My questions would have been as thick as a book for their care/needs etc. as my piggies are my pampered babies rolleyes
I haven't had a holiday since having my piggies as I won't leave them but there are some fab boarders around whom I would trust
Hope you get back to us with loads of praise for the owners, it's only from peoples experiences that others can be aware of who to go to and who to avoid.
Enjoy your break and hope you babies have fun too