© Subject to copyright, Home From Home November 2024
Information on this website cannot be copied without prior permission from Home From Home.
How long has Home from Home been in business?
The business started in February 2020 (read more about our journey here).
What areas do Home From Home cover?
Home From Home cover areas local to Folkestone, Cheriton, Hawkinge, Densole, Folkestone, Sandgate, Seabrook and Hythe.
Is Home from Home licensed and insured?
Yes – Home From Home holds a 5 star rating with Folkestone & Hythe District Council. Our licence number is AW23/22) (1)(Licensed for seven Boarding/Day care dogs). This means Home From Home can have ten dogs in total. Anyone providing a day care or home boarding service must obtain a licence from their local authority so if choosing another care service provider then make sure these details are readily available to you. A registered licence holder should have their licence on display within their home and you should be welcomed to view it.
The names on the Licence are Julia Ann Roullier and Jess Richard Roullier.
Home From Home met 100% of the higher standards level for their license. This means that we only board one dog or dogs from the same household at any given time.
Home From Home also have public liability, professional indemnity, care custody & control of animals, loss or theft of keys insurance policies in place. Home From Home also have chaperone and transportation insurance.
Does Home From Home hold any training certificates ?
Yes - Home From Home have Ofqual Regulated Level 3 Qualification - Professional Day Care and Boarding Certificated.
(Canine care in a professional day care and boarding setting & canine welfare in a professional day care and boarding setting)
Dog first aid” training certificated.
Canine First Aid & Wellbeing .
Dog law certificated.
Dog wellbeing and Pad & Paw Injuries trained.
Home From Home are also DBS checked.
Home From Home are always learning and believe this is key to the business and the welfare of the dogs within our care.
Can I see any reviews for Home from Home?
Home From Home have reviews that are available for the public to read on social media and via this website. Further reviews could be obtained via Home From Home’s current clientele upon request.
Does Home From Home offer a meet and greet?
Home From Home always carry out a meet and greet, prior to any service commencing. We ask that the owner/s visit our property and familiarise themselves and their dog/s with the environment. This is to ensure that all parties are happy and that the owner/s and Home From Home are happy to commence a service.
You will also get the chance to meet our resident dogs.
During the meet and greet, you will be asked to complete forms together with Home From Home and disclose any behaviour issues that the dog/s may have.
These could include, health issues, separation anxiety, dominance, reactive, weather, traffic, dislike of men/woman/children, clean or un clean and more.
You will be sent an email copy of all forms that are completed, along with Home From Home’s terms and conditions and service agreement.
All forms are to be completed and signed in full detail prior to any service commencing.
Would Home From Home refuse my dog/s?
Yes, we have the right to refuse any dog/s.
It is important that at the meet and greet, behaviours such as biting and aggressive behaviour, house training (un clean), excessive barking and noise, destructive behaviour are made apparent to Home From Home.
Who do Home From Home board for and what is required?
Home From Home only board their regular day care dogs. This is for continuity, allowing all dogs to be familiar with each other and are used to mixing with each other.
During your dogs stay, they will be welcomed into our family as our own dogs are. They are treated exactly the same and may settle where they like and that also includes our bed.
We do ask that any boarder comes with their own bed. However Home From Home have a wide selection of beds and there is always enough for all.
Home From Home ask that all day care and boarding dogs have collars/leads/harnesses in good order, together with an up to date ID tag. Home From Home will attach another ID tag with their details, for the duration of any stay.
Home From Home “do not” use extendable leads and request that any dog/s attends with a standard short length lead.
If you want your dog to have specific treats during their stay at Home From Home, then we ask that they are supplied by the owner. Otherwise low calorie Royal Canin treats will be given. Home From Home supply all food and water bowls.
We would ask that your dog/s food is supplied and amounts provided, together with times of meals and any medication that is required.
Home From Home have lots of hard wearing toys and balls but if your dog likes their own toy, then we ask that it is brought along with them at the time of boarding.
Home From Home will always provide daily up dates and pictures for the dog/s owner/s.
Home From Home are not responsible for any damage to beds/toys supplied by the owner/s.
What is required from the owner/s?
Up to date flea, tick and worming treatments with dates.
If the dog/s travel abroad - a current passport together with relevant vaccines. (please note that these change frequently and a full list can be found on the DEFRA website and/or the travel provider). All must be made available to Home From Home.
Please note Home From Home “do not” accept dogs that hold a Titre Test.
If the dog/s are starting their vaccines for the first time (i.e a puppy or a rescue) then they must have all three loading doses of vaccines, before they can attend any service.
A valid vaccination card - showing vaccines against the following:
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Hepatitis & Leptospirosis
Canine Distemper
What happens if my dog/s if found to have fleas?
If a dog/s is found to have fleas, the dog will be treated and any cost reimbursed to Home From Home. If the dog/s is found to be infested, then the owner will be called and advised to collect their dog/s. Failure to contact the owner/s will result in the emergency contact having to act in accordance with the above.
Does Home From Home leave the dog/s at any given time?
Home From Home “never” leave dogs un attended and during the duration of any day care or boarding service, the dog/s will be monitored and supervised 24/7 and updates given to the owner/s.
Does Home From Home offer pet sitting?
This is “not” a service we provide anymore. Please still feel free to contact Home From Home as we will always provide other numbers for insured sitters locally.
How many dogs does Home From Home walk at any given time and what type of dogs are welcomed?
Home From Home never let a dog off the lead, walks will be to a maximum of three dogs per walk.
Any service provider who walks dogs and/or day care/boarding that involves taking dogs out on a lead or to run free, are only allowed by law to take 6 at any one time. “THIS IS THE LAW” and is there to protect both dog walker, the dogs themselves and the public and other dogs.
It is common practice for us to walk our own dogs before business opens.
*****Please note Home From Home do not offer a dog walking service*****
What happens when the weather is hot?
Home From Home carry water within the company vehicle and this is fresh everyday. (if travel with your dog is required).
We also take water on walks if the weather is hot, however we will terminate a walk in the event of extreme heat (and other extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorms), both for the safety of the dog and the walker.
Home From Home will provide indoor play, with snuffle boxes and dog toys.
If the weather is hot, Home From Home have a paddling pool, play tunnels and toys, together with cooling mats and garden sails for shade. If the weather is very hot, garden time is limited to just relief breaks and indoor play given, until the heat of the day has passed.
Home From Home have internal fitted ceiling fans which are on during the summer and in the winter, we have central heating together with underfloor heating.
My dog is elderly and doesn’t need an hour walk?
The answer to this question varies from dog to dog. Many elderly dogs can easily do our longer walks. During the meet and greet session, Home From Home will discuss the specific needs of your dog.
Will Home From Home administer my pets medication?
Yes Home From Home will administer medication, this has to be on veterinary advice and in the dogs best interest/welfare/health reasons and under instruction from the owner and/or vet. All medication that is required to be administered must be clearly labelled, together with instructions from a vet or veterinary practice.
Home From Home will also administer flea/worm/tick medication if the date fulls over a boarding period. All drugs must be supplied the owner and it is not the responsibility of Home From Home to provide flea/worm/tick treatment.
Will I be kept up to date about my dog/s during day care or boarding?
Yes Home From Home make every effort to send videos and photos during the day and always report any issues. At collection a brief hand over will take place.
Home From Home keep a daily log of all dog/s and raise any concerns with the owner/s.
Does Home From Home accept entire/un neutered male dogs?
Home From Home do accept entire males but only after a meet and greet has taken place and the temperament of the male dog accessed around other males and females. This is at the discretion of Home From Home and in the main, all our dogs our male visiting dogs are neutered.
Does Home From Home accept un spayed bitches?
Home From Home do accept un spayed bitches but please see below regarding bleeding and seasons.
What about bitches that are in season?
Home From Home “do not” accept bitches that are in season (unless prior arranged with Home From Home). This is for the welfare of all the dogs within our service and also our resident dogs. Every effort should be made by the dog owner to inform Home From Home of any suspected season or spotting. We also do not encourage owners to send their dogs to daycare/boarding if they are suspected of or having a phantom pregnancy.
How do Home from Home Transport any animal in their care?
Home From Home do not transport dogs but if there is a need for travel, the dog/s would be secured by harness and seat belt. Home From Home adhere to Rule 57 of the highway code. This states “when in a vehicle make sure dogs or other others animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you when driving or injure you/themselves if you have to stop quickly”. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage, dog guard are all ways of restraining animals in cars. It is the law and can carry a heavy £5000 fine. If the provider cannot offer any of the above they are breaking the law and also invalidating their insurance.
Do not be afraid to ask your pet care professional about transportation of your animal, together with operating procedures and protocols together with insurance to chaperone or transport an animal.
What happens in an emergency or if my dog becomes unwell?
In the event of an emergency, every effort will be made to contact the owner and/or the emergency number.
In the event of sickness or diarrhoea, dog/s will be isolated away from other dogs within Home From Homes care and this also includes resident dogs. The owner will be asked to come and collect their dog/s with immediate effect.
If the dog/s need medical attention, Home From Home will call the owner/s. If no contact can be made, the emergency contact will be called. If Home From Home are unable to make contact on the numbers held, they will attend the veterinary practice of choice or if unable to get an appointment will attend their registered veterinary practice. (details of these can be provided by Home From Home to the owner/s).
Home From Home will always seek medical intervention and act according to professional advise given by a vet.
Home From Home are not liable for any vet fees incurred and if any payment has to be made, this is required to be reimbursed by the owner/s.
What boundaries do Home From Home have ?
The property is double gated, with a secure garden that has 6ft fence panels and 10ft trees to its perimeter.
Can Home From Home terminate my dog/s day care or boarding?
Yes Home From Home can terminate day care or boarding. This is not something that Home From Home ever intend to do but if a dog/s show signs of distress and/or aggression, it would be deemed that the service cease in the dog/s best interest.
In this event, an explanation would be given along with proof.
The owner/s would be contacted and failure to contact them, would result in the emergency contact being called.
Do I need to sign a contract?
Yes, you would be required to sign all Home From Home’s forms. These are held by Home From Home and can be viewed at any time by the client upon request.
Please also make Home From Home aware of any changes to contact details and then Home From Home can correct any forms held. It is your responsibility to update us of any changes. (for example, you may change mobile provider and telephone number).
You will also be sent the forms electronically prior to any service commencing. Home From Home will also provide you with an emailed copy of all the forms that you sign to commence any service.
What is your cancellation policy?
If the owner cancels without 24 hrs of the allocated date, full payment will be due.
All boarding cancellations should be at least 72 hours’ notice, boarding deposits are non refundable.
Please be aware that short notice cancellations do not enable Home From Home to fill the allocated space.
If I am on holiday or sickness, do I pay a retainer?
Yes the full daily fee would be payable if any sickness reported is less than 24 hrs, Also a retainer would be payable, if you require your allocated day care space to be held for a period of time until your return.
This applies to owner/s on long term sick or where their work enables them to have long periods of leave. Home From Home can not hold a space available indefinitely without a retaining fee.
How will I be billed by Home from Home?
You will be sent an invoice prior to the date of service. The payment will be due on the date shown on the invoice and full bank details are provided. Full Terms & Conditions available on request.
What type of payments are acceptable to Home from Home?
Home From Home accept BACs payments or cash. Full Terms & Conditions available on request.
I still have questions?
Call Julia on +44(0)7813 965564 or email homefromhomefolkestone@gmail.com