Fear Free Launches Certification Program for Pet Boarding and Daycare

Fear Free, LLC has launched a certification program for boarding and daycare providers to learn techniques that can help reduce stress and increase calm and safety for both pets and staff.

Since 2016, Fear Free has provided online and in-person education to more than 130,000 veterinary and pet professionals to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress (FAS) in pets. With existing programs for veterinary professionals, animal trainers, groomers and pet sitters, the boarding and daycare program is the newest effort from Fear Free to expand its ecosystem.

“By offering this important educational resource to the daycare and boarding community, Fear Free is able to ensure that our pets’ emotional wellbeing is front and center at all times,” Ruth Garcia, CEO of Fear Free, said. “This brings us closer to our goal of making Fear Free the international standard of pet care and helping pets live happy, healthy, full lives.”

Written by Mikkel Becker, CBCC-KA, CDBC, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, CTC; Robin Bennett, CPDT-KA; Susan Briggs, MA, CPACO; Erin Askeland, MSc, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA; and Nichole TeSelle, KPA CTP, the program’s five-module course ensures boarding and daycare providers are thoughtful in every interaction with boarding and daycare pets—from greetings to kennel introductions to overexuberance or shyness. They will learn how a Fear Free boarding and daycare environment looks, feels, sounds and smells, and they’ll get practical advice on what to do in the moment if a dog or cat struggles during care or refuses to enter or leave their kennel.

Boarding and daycare providers can learn more about Fear Free and sign up for the Fear Free Boarding and Daycare Certification Program at fearfreepets.com. Pet owners can find a Fear Free Certified veterinary professional, trainer, groomer, pet sitter or boarding and daycare provider at fearfreepets.com/directory.