[nana911]

oh you poor dear, having to use a boarder, and one you can't see first hand before. Since it's near the place where the reunion is taking place I would think that someone in your family lives near there? Would they be willing to go in person and check it out? I've never boarded my girls but I do occasionally board the boys. The facility I use isn't cheap but they love it. First thing I did was tour it. There is no odor, whatsoever. You'd never know there were animals there. That tells me it is very clean. They refuse to board without proof of UTD shots and bordatella has to be every 6mths. They let us bring whatever blankies, toys, food etc that we want to make them comfortable. They have individual suites (ours stay together) with their own TV, bed and access to outside run. They are walked several times daily and twice a day they are taken to a one acre fenced in grassy area to run and play, but not with other dogs, just themselves. We have dropped in unexpectedly and caught them doing the promised activities. All this to say that there are good kennels out there. We're not far from a large air force base and there are military personnel that when deployed have been known to board their dogs there for months at a time. If you can get a friend or family member in the area to go check it out in person and perhaps they'll also know someone who has used it.

And even in the best of facilities, when you come back you'll want to check for fleas and whatnot.... ya just never know.

good luck