Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Birmingham

Six dog day care and home boarding businesses are listed for Birmingham, all licensed, or self-reporting a licence, through Birmingham City Council. None publishes a vaccination schedule, a stated insurance position or a full breed policy on this site, because those are matters each business sets for itself. This guide sets out what is worth asking before you book.

Vaccinations and kennel cough

Every business listed here will ask what vaccinations it requires before taking your dog, and most ask to see proof close to the stay. This site does not state a vaccination schedule or a waiting period for any of them, since requirements vary by business and by vet — ask directly which vaccinations are needed and how long before the stay proof is required. Policy on kennel cough cover varies too, and is the business's own to explain.

Checking the licence

Only two of the six, Fur Family Pets and Au'roar'a, are confirmed against Birmingham City Council's own published register, each with a licence expiry date shown on its listing. The other four either self-report a licence that could not be matched with confidence to a register entry, or, in PetStay – West Midlands South's case, operate as a franchise office whose individual carers are licensed separately by their own home council. A self-reported licence is not the same thing as one confirmed against the council's own list, so ask to see the actual certificate whichever category a business falls into.

Breed policies

A business may ask about breed restrictions or conditions, including for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate. No specific policy is stated here for any Birmingham business unless it has confirmed one, and this directory cannot verify a dog's exemption paperwork — that is a conversation to have directly with whoever will be caring for your dog.

Insurance

None of the six is shown as insured on this site unless it states that itself, and even then it is shown as the business's own claim rather than something this directory has checked. Ask to see evidence of current cover if it matters to you.

Questions worth asking

• Can I see your current Birmingham City Council licence, and what does it cover?
• What vaccinations do you require, and how long before the stay do you need to see proof?
• What is your policy on kennel cough cover?
• Do you have any breed policies, including for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate?
• Do you state that you hold public liability insurance, and can you show evidence of it?
• For a home-boarding network like PetStay, who exactly will be looking after my dog, and can I meet them first?

See our guide to how Birmingham City Council licenses dog boarding for more on what its register shows, and our choosing guide for what each business offers.