Pets aren't just animals, they're part of the family. Would you put your kid in a cage while you're taking a vacation or sitting out a termite tenting? Maybe some kids deserve it, but not your dog or cat.

Many veterinarians, if they don't offer boarding services themselves, can recommend such services in their area. They range from simple kennels to swankier “;pet hotels,”; and we looked at a couple of the latter.

On the Leeward coast, up in Lualualei Valley—where the school buses go to die—is Tradewinds Cat Cabanas. If the facility looks good enough for humans, it once was.

“;We have this rental unit on our property, and when the renters left a few months ago, we had trouble getting a new tenant in this economy,”; said owner/operator Sandy Van. “;And then our vet mentioned that there was nowhere on this side of the island to board cats.”;

  Pet 101 for local dog owners

 

A local non-profit group educated the pet owners on how to care for their dogs.

[ Watch ]

 

With that light bulb blinking on over her head, Van converted the elevated apartment into a cattery. Double-decker cages were installed, each with a window view from the two-story structure, as cats like looking down on things. There's plenty to look at, too, as Van's primary occupation is training quarter horses in the backyard corral. The property also has a purpose-built kennel with enough space for a dozen dogs, each with its own sleeping area and dog run.

Cat Cabanas has gigantic scratching posts and things for cats to climb on, and there's generally a radio or VCR playing to provide background comfort. Water is bubbled and filtered, as cats prefer running water.

Van allows visiting cats to socialize only when there's a chaperone.

“;You shouldn't leave stranger cats alone with each other,”; she said. “;They might take a swipe at each other.”;

Cats are also fast and sneaky. She's modifying the kitchen entrance so that it's a kind of double-door air lock to prevent cats from streaking to freedom.

Basic day rates are $15.95, and $19.95 for an overnighter. Up to three cats can share an entire room for $39.95. Call 696-4900 or visit tradewindsqh.com.

RIGHT IN THE heart of downtown is di Ventus Dog Hotel & Spa at 923 Keeaumoku St. Owners Yoshimi Takizawa and Kenji Takahashi board dogs in addition to providing “;spa”; services such as grooming, ear cleaning and flea abatement.

“;We like the location, in the middle of the city, and with a parking lot,”; Takahashi said. “;We do day care and overnighters, and operate a kind of dog kindergarten so they can socialize.”;

That is, they train the dogs to play well with other, in addition to potty training and dealing with barking problems.

“;The middle room is like a big family living room, just like people have at home, and there's an outside patio area to romp in,”; Takahashi said.

Although dogs have been known to stay for a couple of months in boarding kennels, di Ventus often has guests for only a couple of hours, typically while the owner goes shopping at nearby Walmart or Ala Moana Center.

Rates are based on a sliding scale depending on the dog's weight, ranging from about $15 per day to a high of $70 for the family Clifford.

Call 983-3855 or visit diventusdog.com (although the Web address seems to be down right now).

Check quality of facilities and rules on pet socializing

Advice on pet boarding:

» Visit the facility first, and don't be afraid to drop in unannounced and ask to look around. Do the animals seem happy? Does the pet food look good, and is there enough room for them to frisk? Not the least important is the attitude of the staff—do they seem to like the animals they're caring for?

» Atmosphere: Is the facility well lighted, cheerful and roomy, or is it dark, squalid and noisy? Ask yourself, Would I want to stay there?

» Know that there's a difference between a kennel and a pet hotel. Essentially, pet hotels have rooms for your pet, which might cut down on stress, but they're accordingly more expensive.

» What are the rules on “;socializing”;? Some operators like to let the animals mix it up on occasion, particularly dogs, with their pack-animal mentality. But you never know when a disagreement will turn into a nip or bite, unless there's a person there to monitor the proceedings.

» Give the facility a trial run for an overnighter, particularly if you're thinking about boarding your pet for an extended stay. Keep in mind, though, that animals aren't thrilled with change, particularly cats, so don't test-run a dozen pet hotels.

» Price matters, naturally, so see whether your pet hotel offers coupons or will accept competitors' coupons, and sometimes you can negotiate a discounted price for longer stays. Also look for hidden costs in the contract, as some places might charge separately for food, etc. And don't whine if a pet hotel seems to be as expensive as a human hotel. They aren't, and human hotels don't need staffers there to make sure you don't bite other guests.