What do boardings and daycares ask for before a stay?

Each boarding sets its own list; we found no Indian law or city rule that says what it must ask for ¹²³. In the six Indian boarding policies we read, all asked about vaccinations, five named the kennel cough vaccine, and three checked or treated for ticks at check-in ⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹. Some boardings want a vaccine given days or weeks before the stay, so talk to your vet as soon as you book ⁴¹².

Who sets the rules: Each boarding; no Indian law we found lists what it must ask for¹²³
Asked about by all six we read: Vaccinations, usually shown on the vet's card or records at check-in⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹
Kennel cough vaccine: Asked for by five of the six; one wants it given at least 72 hours before⁴⁵⁶⁷⁹
Ticks: Three of the six check or treat for ticks at check-in, sometimes at your cost⁴⁷⁹
Vets' advice: Don't leave vaccines to the last minute, especially kennel cough¹²

Is there a law?

Not one that sets the list. The Pet Shop Rules, 2018 cover shops that sell animals, not boarding ². The Animal Welfare Board of India's list of circulars has no advisory on boarding ³.

The Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017 count a 'boarding kennel operator', someone who keeps pet dogs for a short stay, among breeders ¹. Their kennel standards say a dog that has, or may have, a contagious disease must be kept away from healthy dogs ¹. They don't list the vaccines a boarding must check.

So the boarding's own list is what applies. Ask for it in writing when you book.

What six Indian boardings ask for

Boarding (city)	Vaccinations	Kennel cough	Ticks	Other rules
A charitable hospital's boarding (Delhi)	Carry the vaccination card ⁴	Compulsory, given at least 72 hours before ⁴	Vets check for ticks, fleas and worms; tick and flea shampoo at the owner's cost ⁴	No pups or kittens under 4 months, aggressive pets or females in heat; book 2 weeks ahead; cats in a separate area ⁴
A boarding in Gurugram	Rabies and the combination vaccine (DHPPiL) up to date; bring the records ⁵	Required ⁵	Not stated ⁵	If your dog falls ill they call you and work with your vet or theirs; suggests a trial stay first ⁵
Another boarding in Gurugram	Rabies and the combination vaccine (DHPPi), with up-to-date records ⁶	Required ⁶	Not stated ⁶	Says a handler is on site round the clock ⁶
A dog hostel in Indore	Rabies and the combination vaccine (DHPP) ⁷	Required ⁷	Tick and flea treatment at check-in ⁷	No pregnant dogs, dogs in heat or dogs with a contagious disease; vet on call ⁷
A kennel in Hyderabad	Latest vaccination records at admission, with a photo of you with your pet and your ID ⁸	Not stated ⁸	Not stated ⁸	Vet on call round the clock; extra charge for a pet with a disease or a female in heat ⁸
A dog hostel in Chennai	Owner to make sure of vaccination and screening before admission ⁹	Required ⁹	Tick clearance before admission ⁹	Not stated ⁹

Why kennel cough comes up, and why timing matters

Kennel cough spreads fast among dogs kept close together, as in boardings, daycares and kennels ¹³. The vaccine lowers the chance of illness and makes it milder, but it doesn't give complete protection ¹⁰¹¹.

Boardings set their own gap between the vaccine and the stay: one Delhi boarding asks for at least 72 hours, and PDSA, a UK vet charity, says many kennels and daycares ask for two to three weeks ⁴¹¹. Ask your vet early which vaccines your pet needs and when, and check the boarding's gap before you pay ¹².

Boarding a cat? WSAVA's vaccination guidelines time some cat vaccines around a cattery stay, so ask your vet early for a cat too ¹⁰.

Questions to ask before you book

Which vaccines do you need to see, and how many days before the stay must they be given? Get the answer in writing.
Will you accept the vet's card, or do you need a certificate? Take a printed family record as well, so the dates are easy to read.
Do you check for ticks at check-in, and who pays if my pet needs treatment? One Delhi boarding gives every boarder a tick and flea shampoo at the owner's cost ⁴.
What happens if my pet falls ill? Will you call me first, and which vet will you use, mine or yours? PDSA's vets suggest agreeing this before you leave ¹².
Is someone on the premises at night?
Do you keep a pet that seems unwell away from the others ¹?
Can I send my pet's own food? A sudden change of diet can upset the stomach ¹².
Can I see where my pet will sleep before I book? PDSA advises visiting in person, not relying on a website ¹².
For the staff, write down food, medicines and your vet's number; the sitter handover checklist works for a boarding too.

When you bring your pet home

Checked against vet sources. Not yet reviewed by a vet.

A cough from kennel cough usually starts 3 to 14 days after contact with a sick dog ¹¹.
Have your vet check your dog if the cough is severe or lasts more than a few days. Tell the clinic about the cough when you arrive, and wait outside until you're called ¹¹.
Puppies, older dogs and dogs that are already unwell can get more serious signs, such as a high temperature or not eating. Call your vet ¹¹.
Keep a coughing dog away from other dogs and public places ¹¹.

Not fully clear yet

Official sources disagree or leave gaps on these. Confirm before you rely on them.

None of the six policies lists cat vaccines separately; one Delhi boarding keeps cats in a separate area ⁴. Ask the boarding or cattery which cat vaccines it wants.
The 2017 rules list 'boarding kennel operator' among breeders ¹, but their registration duty is written for breeding and for housing dogs for sale. Whether a boarding-only business must register with the State Animal Welfare Board isn't clear; ask your state board.
We found no city licence for boardings with health rules. Hyderabad's trade licence fee sheet charges by floor area and road width and has no animal rules ¹⁴; Bengaluru's trade licence site was down for migration when we checked on 5 Oct 2026.
Boardings change their rules. The six policies above were read on 5 Oct 2026; check the current list with the boarding.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026. Facts checked against the official and veterinary sources below by Thapki. Not yet reviewed by a vet. Written with AI help from the sources below and checked against them line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves each page before it goes live.

Spot something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.

Sources

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, G.S.R. 496(E): rule 2(1)(c)–(d) and Second Schedule para 23(6) (PDF) · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, via Animal Welfare Board of India · seen 5 Oct 2026
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, G.S.R. 844(E): definition of 'pet shop' (PDF) · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, via Animal Welfare Board of India · seen 5 Oct 2026
Circulars (full list) · Animal Welfare Board of India · seen 5 Oct 2026
Holiday boarding kennels and cattery (the hospital's own rules) · CGS Hospital (CGS Charitable Trust) · seen 5 Oct 2026
Dog boarding in Gurgaon: FAQ (the boarding's own rules) · Bark N Stay · seen 5 Oct 2026
Pet boarding near Gurgaon bus stand: FAQ (the boarding's own rules) · Ms Happy Pet · seen 5 Oct 2026
Dog hostel requirements and FAQ (the boarding's own rules) · Dogsvilla · seen 5 Oct 2026
Boarding information: terms and conditions, needs for boarding (the boarding's own rules) · Close To Home Kennels (CTHK) · seen 5 Oct 2026
Home page: admission conditions (the boarding's own rules) · Hostel for Dogs · seen 5 Oct 2026
2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats: non-core vaccines and boarding cats (PDF) · World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), Vaccination Guidelines Group · seen 5 Oct 2026
Kennel cough · PDSA (UK veterinary charity) · seen 5 Oct 2026
Pet boarding, kennels and holiday care · PDSA (UK veterinary charity) · seen 5 Oct 2026
Kennel cough (professional version) · Merck Veterinary Manual · seen 5 Oct 2026
Trade licence fee rates (PDF) · Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation · seen 5 Oct 2026