What to Put on a Dog Boarding Emergency Contact Sheet

A dog boarding emergency contact sheet should tell the caregiver who may make decisions, which veterinarian has the dog’s records, and what to do if you can’t be reached. Keep it short enough to use quickly, then attach the supporting medical and vaccination information the facility requires.

This is not the place for vague directions such as “do whatever is needed.” A useful handoff names people, priorities, and limits before anyone is under pressure.

Confirm the facility’s process first

Ask the boarding provider what form, vaccine records, authorizations, and contact order they require. Some facilities use their own agreement or portal. Complete that system rather than assuming a homemade sheet replaces it.

Paws Unleashed USA publishes its current vaccination policy and provides dog boarding information. Confirm current requirements and availability directly before the stay.

List who to call at the top

List your primary phone number, a second way to reach you, and the dates when you may be unavailable. Then name one local backup person who knows the dog and is authorized to speak with the caregiver. Make sure that person has agreed to the role.

Include the regular veterinarian’s name and phone number plus the nearest appropriate emergency veterinary option. Verify the numbers instead of copying an old contact card. Note where the dog’s current records are kept and whether the backup contact can access them.

Describe the dog in usable terms

• Full name, age, breed or mix, color, and identifying features
• Microchip number and registry contact, if applicable
• Current medical conditions, allergies, mobility needs, and relevant behavior history
• Normal feeding routine and any current restrictions
• Equipment that belongs to the dog
• Known handling concerns, escape risks, or situations that require extra space

Use observable language. “May guard the food bowl if another dog approaches” gives a caregiver more to work with than “can be moody.” Do not hide bite, escape, medical, or handling history to make the dog sound easier.

Keep medication instructions separate and current

List only medication that is currently prescribed or approved for the dog, using the veterinarian’s instructions and the facility’s required format. Bring medication in its properly labeled container when the provider requires it.

For a medication handoff, ask the facility and veterinarian for the exact current format and instructions. Do not invent missed-dose rules or authorize changes the veterinarian has not provided.

State financial and treatment authorization clearly

Follow the provider’s agreement for veterinary transport, treatment authorization, and payment responsibility. If the form allows a spending limit or approval sequence, choose it deliberately and discuss what happens if you or the backup contact cannot be reached.

A dollar amount cannot predict every emergency. Make it clear: who is called, which veterinary provider is used when practical, and which signed authorization controls the next step.

Review the sheet before every stay

Dates, medications, phone numbers, and veterinary clinics change. Review the sheet even if the dog has boarded before. Give the backup person a copy and keep one available during travel.

Pair the contact sheet with the dog boarding packing checklist so records and practical supplies arrive together. If this is the dog’s first stay, also review how to prepare for first-time boarding.

A five-minute final check

Before handoff, call or text the backup person, confirm both veterinary numbers, compare the medication list with the containers, and place the sheet where the caregiver expects it. The goal is not a longer packet. It is less guessing if an urgent decision has to be made.

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About the author

David Hunt is the owner of Paws Unleashed USA in Fort Pierce, Florida. His work includes dog training, boarding, rescue and rehabilitation, along with champion-bloodline Belgian Malinois. This article provides general educational information and does not replace veterinary advice or a boarding provider’s current policies.