FAQ
Can we come and have a look around?
We encourage anyone to come and have tour of our kennels & cattery, we understand leaving your pets somewhere new can be very daunting so we will do all we can to settle those worries. Our viewing times are 7 days a week 10:00 to 12:00, all we ask is to let us know which day you are coming, so we let our staff know to keep an ear out if they are inside cleaning, or on the field.
Does my dog have to have a settling in stay?
The simple answer to this is yes. Kenneling can be quite daunting for first timers and this is the best way for them to meet us, smell the smells, hear the sounds and experience what a fun thing it is to come and stay at Truthwall Mill. We have had customes come to us that thought they could never go away on holiday because their dog was nervous, shy, or was a rescue with trust issues after a terrible start in life, but after a few stays, their dog is pulling them to get in. Settling in stays really make a huge difference. They give us a chance to gain your dog’s trust, help your dog to feel safe and content, and are a far gentler introduction.
What age can my puppy come and stay?
We have a minimum age policy of 5 months to come and have a settling in stay (one day or night) and 6 months for a longer stay.
What do I need to bring?
For both cats and dogs the most important thing is their vaccination card, without this we are unable to board them. You will also need to bring enough food for their stay, switching your pets food abruptly can cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite, this could in turn make them unhappy and unsetted and lead to a visit to the vets and additional fees, this is why we don’t provide food. Other than that we can supply everything but you are more than welcome to bring some toys, bedding, a favourite blanket and anything you think will make them feel at home.
My pet is on medication, is this okay?
Yes we can administer most types of medication such as anitbiotics, epilepsy/heart/steroid/kidney related tablets, thyroid medicine, eye ointment and ear treatments. We do not charge extra for giving your pet medication. On arrival we will fill out all of the details for medication and adhere to specific times, dosage etc. Please ensure there is at least enough medication for your pet for their whole stay, we do recommend that you provide a bit more than they need in case your plans change while you away and you have to extend the collection date. If ham, cheese or chicken is required to wrap a tablet in, please bring that with you! Similarly for cats, if you add drops to Lick-e-lix or tuna, do pop some in a bag when you come. We always have a qualified animal first aider on site.
How do we pay?
We accept cash, bank transfer or cheque. Details will be provided once you have you have booked and can be made on collection, arrival or in between.
I don’t have a car, can you provide transport?
We are happy to collect and deliver animals as long as you are within 10 miles of the kennels. We have our own fully insured van with crates and cat baskets. Within 5 miles there is a £15 charge each way and between 5-10 miles the charge is £20. This is dependent on staffing availability however, so do please mention this at the time of booking so we can be sure that this is possible.
Are the kennels and cattery heated?
Yes, every dog kennel has its own heater and the same for a cats, should the animals be sharing a kennel then there will enough for one each. These are on every night over the winter.
Can my animals share a kennel or pen?
We have some double and triple kennels and cat pens available, all animals sharing must be from the same household. There is a 10% discount for dogs sharing. If you have one or two of each, just to clarify, we can not have dogs and cats sharing - they will be in different buildings!
Is the property secure?
Yes, everywhere is locked and secured when staff leave in the evening and we live on site at the other end of the drive, so there is always someone around. We do a night check & all of the animals get a tasty treat and a cuddle, before shutting all the internal doors for the night and locking the front and back doors to the kennel block and to the cattery. When fetching dogs in and out of their kennels into the central corridor, the doors at either end are always shut and bolted, so we can be sure a dog cannot exit the building without one of us and without being on a lead. The front doors to each of our catteries, like the kennels, can be locked from the inside as well as outside, so that we can let the cats (one by one) out to explore whilst we clean them daily, but a cat cannot exit the building. We also have CCTV which covers the whole site 24/7 and alerts us of any movements during the time the business is closed.
Can I bring my dog or cats own bed and toys?
We welcome you to bring your dog or cats own bed and toys but cannot accept responsibility for any damage/loss whilst they are with us. We have plastic beds and plenty of soft bedding and we also supply toys.
What vaccinations do I need? If I haven’t kept up to date with boosters can I restart and still board with you?
We require all pets to be fully vaccinated and up to date with their boosters prior to arrival.
Routine vaccinations for dogs required are a triple vaccine for Parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis (often called DHP or DHPPi) – every 3 years - plus yearly boosters for Leptospirosis & Kennel Cough. Kennel cough is not mandatory however it is highly recommended; if you do get it done please ensure that it is at least 2 weeks before arrival as this is a live vaccine, otherwise we cannot accept your pet for boarding.
If your dog has not been vaccinated before or has missed their booster and has to restart the course, this is given by your vet in 2 parts, usually 4 weeks apart (we cannot board the dog in our kennels until 7-14 days after a restart of vaccinations).
Routine vaccinations required for cats are leukemia, panleukopenia, calcivirus (commonly known as “cat flu”) and FVR (an upper respiratory tract virus causing conjunctivitis, salivation and mouth sores). Your vets will advise on the best combination, but usually your cat will be given two vaccinations annually to cover all of the above.
If a cat has to restart its vaccinations at any time in his/her life, these are given in 2 parts, a few weeks apart. They will need both before they come to us.
Do you provide food?
We do not provide food so you will need to bring their regular food with them for their stay. The reason we do not provide foods is switching your pets food abruptly can cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite, this could in turn make them unhappy and unsetted and lead to a visit to the vets and additional fees. Animals are happier continuing their usual diets.
When are the animals fed?
We feed the animals between 7:30 & 8:00 in the morning and in the afternoon between 16:00 & 16:30. If there are any variations of this required let us know and we will be more than happy to accommodate.
When will my dog be walked?
Your dog will be walked three times a day, morning, lunchtime and again after tea in the afternoon. The rest of the time they have acess to their own individual outdoor covered run.
Do you let dogs off the lead?
No, we cannot walk dogs off lead as it can be a risk for other dog’s safety and their own safety.
We use standard 1.5M slip leads but are happy to use strtetchy leads, a harness, halti, or use the lead in a figure-of-eight configuration if this is what they are used to and walk better. If this is the case it would be best to provide your own harness/halti for us to use, as it will already be fitted to your dog, although we do have a few spares.
We are hoping to have a secure dog play area for those that like to run and play with others ready for autumn 2024.
What is the daily routine?
7:30am - both buildings opened up and breakfasts given to all animals staying with us. Internal doors opened for the dogs at this point, giving them direct access to their covered outdoor runs. The radio us turned on and clean any overnight messes.
8:30am - dogs are taken on their first walk of the day after they have had some time for their food to settle, and on returning them to their kennel, we shake out and remake their beds and top up waters. Walks continue until mid morning.
11am - we move onto the cats, letting them out one-by-one for some fuss and to explore while we clean. Litter trays are emptied, pens are washed, water tipped away and fresh given, plus deep cleans of any pens vacated that morning.
Midday - we go back to the dogs, cleaning every kennel, scrubbing floors, fresh water, fresh bedding, deep cleans of any that have been vacated that day, and taking the dogs out for their second walks of the day.
2pm - we lock up the kennels and catteries and let everyone have some quiet time.
4pm - its teatime and some dogs and cats will be collected by their owners at this time. Litter trays are checked in the cats for any further cleans, kennels are made up for dogs coming in the next day, and other jobs like laundry - we get through a lot of washing!
5pm - the dogs get their third walk of the day, with another refresh of bedding if its raining/muddy and waters topped up if required. In the winter months heating is turned on around 6pm.
8pm (winter)/9pm (summer) - its bedtime, everyone gets a cuddle and a treat, doors are all shut, lights out and radio switched to ‘Classic FM’ on low.
What happens if my pet becomes ill whilst we’re away?
We will make all possible attempts to contact you and/or your emergency contact. We will then either book an appointment with your vet or our designated vet which is Rosevean in Penzance and proceed with them. All vet costs incurred are the resposibilty of the owner.
Do you take dangerous dogs or dogs with behavioural difficulties?
The best thing to do is to call us and have a conversation, we are more than happy to help with any dog and put something in place, be it settling in sessions, simple walks or one night stays to help build trust, we will do what we can. Unfortunately we are unable to take any dog on the dangerous dog list due to our insurance policy, these include the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and the XL Bully.