Survey Reveals Most Pet Owners Consider Kennel Boarding a 'Necessary Evil'; Pet Care Industry Shortcomings Spawn Improve...( BERKELEY Calif. Feb. 7 /- Amid th...),Health

BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the gamut of pet care choices today, one survey has found that pet owners deem kennel boarding a "necessary evil," with more than three-quarters of the 1,100 respondents overwhelmingly preferring at-home professional pet care for the convenience, safety, overall well-being and peace of mind it affords pets and their owners.

"Owners are increasingly regarding their pets as bona fide family members whose well-being and safety is paramount," said Paul Mann, founder and CEO of FETCH! Pet Care -- America's most trusted name in professional pet sitting and dog walking services.

"Indeed, owners have become far more discerning about who cares for their pets and how. Despite conventional thinking, however, all pet care services are not alike."

With approximately 63% of U.S. households, or 71 million homes, now owning at least one pet, consumer demand for safe and reliable pet care is at an all-time high.

Americans, of course, have a choice. Available options range from the "old way" -- using a neighbor's kid, friend or family member or checking pets into a kennel or boarding facility -- to 21st Century at-home pet sitting and dog walking service provided by professionally trained, screened and licensed national providers.

Why do pet owners apparently regard kennel boarding pets in such a harsh manner? Almost half of the survey respondents had indicated their "biggest concern about kennel boarding" was that "it puts my pet's emotional health at risk, including depression, separation anxiety, and stress from alpha dogs."

Nearly one-fifth indicated their biggest kennel boarding concern was because "it puts my pet's physical health at risk due to transmittable airborne diseases," while almost one-quarter conceded that "it makes me feel guilty and anxious knowing my pet is in a kennel."

The majority of survey respondents felt "overnight sitting or daily visits in the pet's home"
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