The pet industry is booming, and pet startups are jumping on that demand. In fact, the market is now worth a whopping USD$ 320 billion, showing just how much people love their pets and are willing to splurge on them. Among the services people patronize is dog boarding.
Now, despite how lucrative this business may seem, running one is no piece of cake. As an owner, you know that keeping your furry guests safe and happy is job number one. Unfortunately, things can go sideways, and bite incidents occur. This can be upsetting for everyone involved, especially for dog owners. This also carries significant legal and financial risks for your business.
That’s why you must have an action plan for preventing and effectively addressing bite claims at your facility. Here’s how you can do that:
Preventing Bites
Ensuring the safety and well-being of the canine guests entrusted to your dog boarding business is a top priority. You can implement that by doing the following:
Thorough Screening
It’s really important to screen all dogs carefully before they come to our boarding facility. You need to assess their personality, review their behavior history, and look for any signs of aggression. This will help you determine if they’re a good fit for your facility.
Staff Training
Want a team that can handle any furry situation? Make sure everyone knows the ins and outs of dog behavior. From recognizing aggression to calming things down, training your staff is like having insurance against trouble. Not only does it keep your dogs safe, but it also gives your customers peace of mind.
Secure Facilities
A strong fence and a locked gate are like fortresses for your furry friends. They keep your dogs from wandering off or getting into trouble with others. A safe space is a happy space, and it shows your customers you mean business when it comes to safety.
Supervision and Monitoring
Keep a close eye on the dogs at all times! Your staff should be on the lookout for any signs of trouble and step in before things get out of hand. It’s like having a personal guardian for your furry guests, and it shows your customers that you really care about their pets.
Separate Accommodations
It’s also important to keep dogs in separate areas based on their size, age, temperament, and any aggression issues. This can really help prevent fights. Keep the troublemakers away from the others. By separating dogs that might not get along, you’re creating a safer environment for everyone.
Addressing Bite Claims
Despite all the prevention measures in place, in the worst-case scenario, you may be facing dog bite liability. Now, this may involve some legal proceedings with the help of dog bite lawyers, but it doesn’t mean they’ll do all the work for you. Here’s what you can do:
Incident Documentation
When a bite incident occurs at your dog boarding facility, thoroughly documenting the details is an essential step. Carefully record the circumstances surrounding the event, the identities of the dogs involved, any resulting injuries, and the actions taken by your staff, you create a comprehensive record that can prove invaluable should legal actions arise.
Veterinary Assessment
After any bite incident, you must act urgently and bring all the dogs involved to the vet for examination. This serves two purposes. First, it ensures that any injuries are properly treated. Second, it provides a professional assessment of whether the dog poses an ongoing risk.
The vet’s report becomes part of your incident documentation and can guide your decisions about the dog’s future stays at your facility.
Owner Communication
It’s important to provide a full detail of the bite incident, this includes:
- what happened
- what your team did
- what needs to be done for future boarding
Nobody likes to deliver bad news. But when you’re upfront with pet owners, it shows you genuinely care about their furry family members. If they’ve got questions or worries, don’t dodge them—tackle them head-on. This approach can work wonders in calming frazzled nerves and proving that you’re all in when it comes to keeping their four-legged friends safe and sound.
Review and Update Policies
Every incident, no matter how small, is an opportunity to improve. After addressing the immediate concerns, take some time to review what happened. Ask yourself and your team:
- Could this incident have been prevented?
- Were there any warning signs we missed?
- Do our current policies and procedures need updating?
Use these insights to strengthen your safety measures. This might involve additional staff training, changes to your facility layout, or updates to your screening process.
Legal Compliance
It’s important to understand and follow all local laws about dog bites. This means:
- Know your reporting requirements. Some areas require you to report all bite incidents, even minor ones.
- Understand your liability. Laws vary, but you could be held responsible for bites that happen in your facility.
- Stay up-to-date on any changes in local pet care regulations.
- Consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in animal-related businesses to review your policies and procedures.
By following the rules, you’re not just covering your back legally. You’re also showing clients that you take their pets’ safety seriously.
Insurance Coverage
Finally, make sure your business has appropriate liability insurance. This can provide crucial financial protection if a bite claim leads to a lawsuit.
Review your policy regularly to ensure it provides adequate coverage for your specific needs. As your business grows or changes, your insurance needs might change too.
Final Thoughts
Handling a dog boarding business necessitates the safety and well-being of your furry guests and is a profound responsibility that requires a comprehensive approach. With prevention measures in place and being prepared for claims, you can protect your dogs, your business, and your reputation. This will help you attract and keep loyal customers.
