At Stone Mountain Pet Lodge, we understand that your pet’s health and well-being are your top priorities. That’s why we’ve meticulously designed our facility and established rigorous practices to provide a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for every furry guest. We go above and beyond to minimize health risks and ensure a positive boarding experience.
Facility Design Focused on Hygiene (H2)
Our commitment to your pet’s health starts with our facility’s very foundation. We’ve incorporated design elements that actively combat bacteria and promote a hygienic environment.
All concrete surfaces in areas accessible to pets are sealed with a premium three-part epoxy coating. This specialized coating is crucial because it creates a non-porous barrier, effectively preventing bacteria from penetrating and growing within the concrete. The smooth, sealed surface is not only resistant to bacterial growth but also incredibly easy to clean and disinfect thoroughly. This ensures that any potential contaminants are quickly and efficiently removed, maintaining a sanitary environment for all pets.
Airborne bacteria is a significant concern in pet care facilities, often contributing to illnesses like Bordetella. To address this, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge features an advanced air handling system designed to minimize the spread of airborne pathogens. We utilize not one, but four independent air handling systems dedicated to isolating different groups of pets within our lodging wings. Furthermore, our entire facility benefits from eleven independent air handling systems in total. This sophisticated system prevents the recirculation of air between different pet groups, drastically reducing the risk of cross-contamination and airborne illness transmission.
To ensure a fresh and comfortable atmosphere, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge employs Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) systems. These systems continuously draw in fresh outside air, which is then temperature-controlled – warmed in the cooler months and cooled during warmer periods – before being circulated throughout the pet suites. This constant influx of fresh, conditioned air minimizes the reliance on recycled air, further reducing the potential for pet-to-pet airborne pathogen exchange and ensuring a pleasant and healthy air quality within the lodge.
Our commitment to comfort and hygiene extends to the very floors your pet will walk on. Stone Mountain Pet Lodge incorporates in-floor heating throughout the suite areas. This radiant heating system maintains a floor temperature of approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit, providing a comfortable warmth for pets, especially during colder weather. Beyond comfort, in-floor heating promotes quick and complete drying of floors after cleaning. This rapid drying is essential as it eliminates damp surfaces, which are known breeding grounds for bacteria, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.
Practices for Maintaining a Healthy Environment (H2)
Beyond our facility’s design, our daily operational practices are crucial in upholding the health and safety standards at Stone Mountain Pet Lodge.
Following the best advice of the veterinary profession, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge strictly requires all boarding pets to be vaccinated against Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella. These vaccinations are vital in protecting your pet and the entire lodge community from preventable diseases. While vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of illness, it’s important to understand that they are not always 100% effective, and other preventative measures are equally important.
To further safeguard the health of all our guests, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge maintains a strict policy regarding illness. We do not accept pets exhibiting observable symptoms of Bordetella or any other illness, nor do we allow interaction between pets from different households. This proactive approach minimizes the potential for disease transmission within our facility and protects all boarding pets.
Cleanliness is paramount at Stone Mountain Pet Lodge. Our dedicated team performs thorough cleaning and sanitizing of all suites daily. Furthermore, we implement hourly spot cleaning throughout the day to address any immediate needs and maintain a consistently clean environment. We encourage you to tour our facility anytime during our opening hours to witness firsthand the cleanliness and hygiene of our suites.
After each pet’s stay, suites are meticulously cleaned and then rotated out of service, allowing them to “rest” in a fully sanitized state. Lodging wings are also systematically rotated to facilitate regular “deep cleaning” procedures. This comprehensive cleaning and rotation system ensures that your pet will typically be accommodated in a suite that has been thoroughly cleaned and rested. While the rest period is ideally a week or more, it may be shorter during peak occupancy periods, but the commitment to cleanliness remains constant.
Understanding the Realities of Pet Boarding (H2)
Despite our best efforts and stringent protocols, it’s important to acknowledge that no pet boarding facility can completely eliminate all health risks.
It’s possible for pets to contract an illness before, during, or even after their stay at Stone Mountain Pet Lodge. We want to be transparent and state that we cannot guarantee your pet’s health. Vaccinations, while highly effective, can sometimes fail to provide complete protection. Placing your pet in any environment where they are in proximity to other dogs, even healthy ones, and the stress associated with a new experience can potentially increase their susceptibility to illness.
However, it’s also observed that more frequent visits to Stone Mountain Pet Lodge may contribute to strengthening your pet’s natural immunity, potentially reducing their vulnerability to common illnesses over time.
In the event that your pet requires veterinary attention during their stay, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge will promptly engage the services of a veterinarian, ideally your own veterinarian if possible. Please understand that you will be responsible for any associated veterinary fees.
Finally, it is important to note that Stone Mountain Pet Lodge shall not be held liable for any sickness or injury contracted or sustained by your pet while boarding at our facility. This is a standard clause in the pet boarding industry, reflecting the inherent risks associated with group pet environments.
While we cannot guarantee absolute freedom from illness, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge is unequivocally dedicated to minimizing risks and providing the healthiest and most hygienic environment possible for your beloved pet. We invite you to visit us and see for yourself the measures we take to prioritize your pet’s well-being.
