Boarding facilities vary enormously in welfare quality, and the stress of separation from familiar environments and people is a significant animal welfare issue that is often underestimated.
Boarding welfare is determined by both facility quality and individual animal characteristics. Social dogs in well-run playgroup facilities may thrive. Anxious, senior, or ill animals may experience significant distress in even high-quality facilities. Cats particularly suffer in boarding environments — they are territorial, stress-sensitive, and poorly adapted to the novel smells and sounds of kennel settings. Welfare assessment for boarding should be individualized: the right facility type for one animal may be wrong for another. Home-based pet sitting is generally lower stress for most animals when a trusted sitter is available.