Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! While your dog may be super friendly with people, or comfortable playing with one or two dogs they knows very well, a pack environment can be overwhelming for some - and that's okay :)

For dogs that prefer the company of people, we offer private one-on-one playtimes with our human staff members at $20/session. Family dogs can participate in these sessions at no additional cost.

Please note that, for the safety of our kennel team, we cannot accept dogs who are human-aggressive for boarding, daycare, or grooming.

If your dog has never participated in group playtime before and you're unsure of how they'll do, not to worry - we schedule an Evaluation Day before first-time boarding or daycare reservations, allowing us to introduce your dogs to some new friends, assess their temperament, and determine whether group play is a good fit for your dog's unique personality.

No! Intact dogs (not spayed or neutered) are permitted to stay at Passage East - please note that there is an additional fee of $10/night (for boarding) or $5/day (for daycare) for dogs 6 months & older. 

Female dogs that are currently in heat are not permitted to board.​

We understand that many veterinarians / breeders may recommend waiting to alter your dog until they are older than 6 months, particularly in the case of larger breeds. However, when it comes to socializing with other pups, the presence of intact dogs - even the friendliest ones! - can sometimes be disruptive in a group setting. 

Our team will update you if your dog begins to exhibit behaviors that put them or other friends in their playgroup at risk. We'll then transition your dog to individual playtime activities ($20 / session) or Premium Boarding to make sure they're still having plenty of fun while here. 

Depending on the veterinarian, most dogs will be fully vaccinated against rabies and have had all 3 distemper/parvo boosters by the age of 16 weeks. If your dog is too young to have received these vaccines, we are happy to recommend a list of pet sitters and look forward to meeting them once they're all set!

Our team is happy to administer most basic medications (ear drops, eye drops, oral medications, supplements, etc) for your dog during their visit. Please be sure to bring any medication in its original packaging with your dog's name & dosage instructions.

If your pet is recovering from an injury or surgery, has an acute or chronic illness that requires complex medical treatment, or is a senior citizen, we may recommend veterinary boarding or in-home pet sitting after assessing their overall health during an Evaluation Day. 

Passage East is a high-energy facility that's tons of fun for dogs who love to play and mingle with other fur friends. While your dog may be a pup at heart, sometimes the additional activity & change to their normal routine can be stressful on them.  We love dogs of all ages, but our highest priority is their comfort & well-being - especially in their golden years! 

Please be sure to go over any concerns about your dog's healthcare needs with our team :) 

Since our guests spend the night snoozing securely in their individual indoor accommodations, we do not have kennel team members working directly with the dogs overnight. 

However, with two senior staff members (including our General Manager) who reside on property, as well as 24/7 Nest security surveillance & professional fire-protection system, you too can rest easy knowing we're ready to promptly address afterhours emergencies (however unlikely).

Whether you're new to the Passage East fam or your dog has been playing here for years, we welcome you to schedule an in-person tour of the property & see where the magic happens :) Tours are facilitated by a manager or senior kennel team member who can also help answer any questions you may have. 

In order to avoid interruption to our guests' playtime & feeding schedules, please note that tours are given during specific hours & must be scheduled in advance. These tours are also human-only - please leave your bestie at home & let us give them a proper introduction on their evaluation day! 

To schedule a tour, please get in touch with our reception team by calling 203-762-7998, texting, or emailing dogsrunfree@passageeastkennels.com . 

Your dog's packing list should include:

• A leash & flat collar (or harness if needed) with identification tags. 
  
• Their usual dry food in a Ziploc baggie labeled with your dog's name & last name (and/or any wet food, fresh food, or toppers). While we do have dry food available, we recommend bringing your dog's own food as sudden dietary changes can sometimes cause upset tummies.
  
• All current medication in original packaging with updated dosage instructions (please don't pre-mix with food!).
  
• A great attitude!

Please leave the following at home! Your pup won't need these on their vacay :)

• Electric or training collars.
  
•  Food & water bowls. We have those! If your dog requires a slow feeder, you can (and should) bring this.
  
• Crates. We have your dog's accommodations ready to go!
  
• Dog beds. We have tons of comfy bedding for your pup to snooze away on.
  
• Rawhides or bones that can splinter easily. No choking hazards, please! Try our Frozen Peanut Butter Kongs or homemade Frozen Treats instead!

• Anything super valuable or sentimental. We'd never forgive ourselves if we misplaced your pup's favorite toy or blankie in the laundry.

We have designated hours for pick-up and drop-off in the morning & afternoon to allow our full kennel team to focus on helping our guests have fun midday :) Please see below:

Monday - Friday

Morning: 8 AM - 11 AM 

Afternoon: 3 PM - 6 PM

Saturday-Sunday

Morning: 9 AM - 11 AM 

Afternoon: 3 PM - 5 PM

Please note that there is an additional half-day charge of $27 per dog for afternoon pick-ups, unless your dog is receiving a grooming service that day.

For afternoon drop-offs, please try to bring your dog at least 30 minutes before close if possible.  

​If your dog is scheduled for a grooming service at the end of their visit, please plan to pick up during our afternoon hours or wait for a call from our team in order to avoid picking up a soggy doggy!

If you're absolutely unable to drop-off/pick-up during our regular hours and need to do so between 11AM - 3 PM, please contact us in advance & we'll do our best to arrange for a staff member to meet you. Please note that an additional fee may apply.

We currently do not offer late pick up, but are happy to release your dog to a designated person of your choosing during regular operating hours.

Please let us know the contact info of your designated pick-up person in advance as well as provide us with a credit card to use for processing payment.

Great question! Passage East has Nest cameras at several points throughout the property for security & oversight, but not live webcams. To guarantee daily pictures of your dog, we recommend signing up for our Premium Package (2 extra play sessions + frozen treat for an additional $33 day) or any of our Extra Playtime services ($20 for each one-on-one playtime or mini playgroup). Photographic evidence of your dog having an absolute blast will be texted or emailed to you each day they are signed up!

Additionally, we frequently post pics to our Facebook page of the pups enjoying group playtime, as well as update our Instagram with videos & other adorable footage. If your dog participates in group socialization, be sure to follow us on those platforms to see if we caught your best friend in action!

Please note that - while we do our best! - we may not always be able to get pictures of every single dog or all the playgroups that take place during a given day. Pictures may take 1-2 days to get posted, and sometimes dogs just aren't quite ready yet to pose for the puparazzi (especially if they are a little shy). 

That said, we also understand how hard it is to be away from your dog and want every human customer to feel as comfy & confident as the pups in our care. If you have any concerns about your best friend or just want to check in, we welcome you to reach out to our lovely reception team by email, phone, or text anytime. We'll answer as soon as we can during business hours after getting the scoop from our kennel team!

While our team does everything possible to prevent accidents, dogs who love to romp and play together can also share germs & get boo-boos. 

Our first step in the event of any observed illness or injury is prompt communication - we'll try all available methods (email, phone, text) to get in touch with you or your emergency contact. 

Dogs with contagious symptoms (coughing, sneezing, runny nose, pink eye, etc.) are immediately separated from playgroup & relocated to medical isolation. For the safety of all our guests and for your pup's speediest recovery, we will recommend you arrange for someone to pick up your dog early if possible. 

For dogs with minor injuries (hot spots, superficial cuts or scrapes, abrasions), we can typically provide basic first aid here, modify activity levels if needed, & continue to monitor them closely for the remainder of their stay. 

For anything that requires more thorough medical attention, we will first discuss a plan of action with you and do our best to take your dog to their usual vet - if that's not possible, we'll try a local vet or an emergency vet (if outside of business hours). Depending on the vet's recommendation, we may ask you to arrange for your dog to be picked up by a friend or neighbor or finish the remainder of their boarding at the vet.

Although we do not have a staff veterinarian, we are fortunate to be located within short distance of many trusted local vets & to enjoy close, long-standing working relationships with these amazing professionals :) 

Our reception staff is always happy to answer questions & looks forward to sharing info that will help you better understand your pet's care. 

The number to call: 203-762-7998

The number to text: 855-615-2144 

Thanks for reading, friend!