FAQs

Check ins: 8am-11am 7 days per week by prior appointment only. Front gates open and close at these times automatically. The gate can not be manually opened from the road. Check outs: 4pm-6pm 7 days per week by prior appointment only.

No (with one exception). The front entrance gates close and lock outside of the above times. Council kindly allows us to be open for your convenience on weekends, public holidays, even at Christmas and New Year. However we must have quiet between the hours of 11am-4pm. This enables our lovely neighbours, our boarding guests and Mike and Ros to have a few hours of quiet rest as well as time to run free around the carpark and lake area. If you arrive outside of our open hours hours, it will not only disturb us, our boarders, but also our neighbors and you will be very unpopular. If you arrive early, there are lovely cafes and children’s playgrounds in Wingham where you can be entertained. Thank you for your understanding and for respecting our hours. If you are travelling more than 4 hours to get here (ie from Sydney or beyond), we can in some instances and with a minimum one week’s notice, meet you in Wingham or Taree during the middle of the day. Please apply to request this but consider this: if everyone on our database did that, it will equate to three requests per day – and Ros and Mike are just one couple working 7 days a week to do the very best for your pets. They also deserve a few hours off to cook lunch and have a little rest!

At Christmas, we are unable to accept any items to return, however your pet will appreciate a throwaway item (such as a T-shirt or nightie) with your scent on it. We provide hygienic and cosy beds and bedding including cuddly blankets and a wide variety of toys.
Outside of peak holiday times, if you wish to bring other items and would like them returned, they need to be clearly labelled. As we cannot guarantee the return of items or their condition, please don’t bring precious items.
Unlabelled items will be given to charity.
As we rarely use leads because of our style of training and handling, we do not require you to leave your leads or harnesses.

It depends on the time of year.  We are unable to take any entire dogs over our peak periods of Christmas, New Year and Easter. If you have an entire female, you would need to provide contact details of someone who could collect your dog if she comes into season. There is a 10% surcharge to board entire dogs.

Yes please, so that we can check your pets skin and body daily (for paralysis ticks, hot spots, allergies etc), we need fur to be free of knots and as short as practical for their breed. Please ensure feet and nails are short too.

1. A hungry pup with their own wet and dry food in a labelled, disposable container.

2. A throwaway item (such as a T-shirt or nightie) with your scent on it.

3. For your pup’s first visit, please bring their bed, washed and labelled.

We provide hygienic and cosy beds and bedding including cuddly blankets and a wide variety of toys.
If you wish to bring other items and would like them returned, they need to be clearly labelled. As we cannot guarantee the return of items or their condition, please don’t bring precious items.
Unlabelled items will be given to charity.
As we rarely use leads because of our style of training and handling, we do not require you to leave your leads or harnesses.

Please don’t! In fact, It’s best you don’t feed your pet prior to check in. This way, we can use our food & tasty treats to make friends with your pet.
We’ll also give them a tasty breakfast once they settle into their own space. And, travelling in the car on a full stomach isn’t a good idea! If you’d like to send your pet off with some goodies, label the takeaway container or packet and we will give it to your dog to help them settle in.

Once you are a regular customer, the best way to book or amend bookings is by text on 0414 198857. We will always respond to your text and try to do this on the same day if you message us before 5pm. As we are a very small business, we don’t have a receptionist but will return calls once we have attended to the animals in our care and our customers. Sometimes this may take 48 hours. Ros & Mike respond to messages between 8am-11am and 4pm to 6pm every day except Tuesday.

Many dogs with special requirements enjoy the comfort of our air conditioned home where they are with us day and night. To do this, your dog must be able to sleep through the night. To be sure we are a good fit for your dog’s needs, book your dog for a 2-hour familiarisation (see inspections below).

If your pet has been through our early puppy socialisation programme or has been confinement trained before 12 weeks of age, they will likely be fine with boarding. If not, we suggest you bring your dog for a 2 hour familiarisation. We will introduce your dog to our property and assess the best accommodation for them as well as their ability to mix with other dogs. Often dogs will be fine after this time. Some will not and we will advise you if your dog needs another day’s famil, or if they are not suited to boarding. We will only board your pet if we believe it will be comfortable and content during their stay.

We will only board your pet if we believe it will be comfortable and content during their stay. If your pet has been through our early puppy socialisation programme or has been confinement trained before 12 weeks of age, they are more likely to be able to adapt and even enjoy boarding. If not, they may find it difficult. We find Staffies and German Shepherd Dogs find boarding particularly difficult due to the bond they have with their family. If you have a GSD or Staffy and would like them to be considered for boarding, please book your dog in for a 2-hour familiarisation. During this time, we will introduce your dog to the features of our our property and assess if we are a good fit for them to board with us.

Yes! Book your dog in for a 2-hour familiarisation and assessment from 8.30am-9am most days. We will introduce your dog to our property’s fun features and assess the best accommodation for them.Often dogs will be fine after this time. Some will not and we will advise you if your dog needs another day’s famil, or if they are just not suited to boarding. We will only board your pet if we believe it will be comfortable and content during their stay. If your pet has been through our early puppy socialisation programme or has been confinement trained before 12 weeks of age, they are more likely to be able to adapt and even enjoy boarding.Just fill out a new booking enquiry, let us know if you can bring your dog weekend and/or weekdays and we will let you know our next available date for a familiarisation.

Your pet’s rate is quoted PER DAY, not per night, so your pet can be checked in/collected any time of that day (within our hours) and your rate will be the same. So you will always have a minimum of two days. Unlike an hotel where you pay to sleep, here you pay Ros & Mike’s time to care for your pet during each and every DAY they are here. So, staying Saturday night means we will care for your dog for two days, Saturday and Sunday. This way of charging is Pet Industry standard.

8am-11am in the morning session and 4-6pm in the evening session, by prior arrangement only. If you are not here by 6pm, we will keep your pet safe until the next day and you can make arrangements to pick up during our morning or afternoon open times. You will be required to pay for the entire extra day – see how are the number of days calculated, above.

No problem, just text us 24 hours prior to your intended pick up time and we will keep your dog until then. Also text us the time of your arrival, within our hours of 8am-11am or 4pm-6pm.

Just like any professional, we like to make appointments and plan our day so our customers can avoid queues and so we can walk and swim the dogs when we are not expecting customers.

Yes for cats, no for dogs, with one exception. When your dog arrives for the first time, we spend much of the morning bonding with your dog and meeting his or her needs, be it a game of fetch, some training, a swim or a scratched bum. Once dinner time has come and gone, your dog will be relaxed and content to settle in to kennel for the night. If you bring your dog in the afternoon, they will not be able to have time to settle in, the other dogs will bark at your dog and your dog will likely bark all night. If your dog has been staying with us many times, you are welcome to request an afternoon check in at least 48 hours prior to their boarding. If this is approved, please bring your pet as close to 4pm as possible so we have time to introduce them and feed them before tucking them up for the night. For cats, we will accept a cat at 4-5pm if you are unable to bring them during our morning check in.

If possible, yes but if your dog isn’t used to wearing a collar, there is no need for one so long as your dog is microchipped with your up to date contact details.

Payment is by direct debit, EFTPOS or cash on check in. Please do not direct debit until you have been given your total amount owing. If you choose to pay via eftpos, Mastercard or Visa on check in your bank surcharge will be passed on to you – a savings or cheque account incurs a 20c fee, credit cards incur 1.75%. You can also bring cash on check in if you prefer.

No, we take off all cat collars on check in.

So long as you have a letter from your veterinarian giving clearance, that is fine. Otherwise, if your pet is showing any medical issues on check in, or if your pet has fleas, you will be asked to visit the local vet before your pet can be checked in.

You may bring your own food or enough to transition your pet onto ours, or provide enough for the entire duration of your pet’s stay. Please bring it in a plastic container with a scoop, labelled with pet’s name and required amount (ie half a scoop 2x per day). Wet food can be in individual labelled bags for freezing, or all in one container.

As we buy all our food wholesale and (while we don’t mind!) it is actually more work to give your pet their own special meal, so we can not offer a discount. Some kennels will actually charge more for dogs on a special diet, but we do not.

We feed all our dogs with high premium kibble (Usually Black Hawk ) and supplement this with chicken or high quality roll. Cats can graze on a range of premium kibble (Advance Multi Cat) and a variety of wet food is provided including chicken, beef and fish of various brands as we know how fussy cats can be!

No, just like a hotel, we charge per 24 hour period per day. This also means your pet will still have their room when you’re held up on the highway or your plane/train is late when you return.

If you can work your schedule so that you check your pets in during our morning hours and pick them up in our afternoon hours, you’ll be getting the full 24 value for each day. If you choose to pick up in the morning, you will still pay for that day. (See above).

Yes, we can administer tablets and injections such as insulin. Prescribed medication must be in the original vet or pharmacist packaging with spares. Tablets must be cut into the required size, ie halves or quarters. We do charge for the time it takes us to medicate your pet and chart it.

Sure, if it’s not at a peak period and if you let us know 48 hours prior to your amended pick up time.

Yes we have a roundabout at the top. Our drive is 1km long and metal so if you are concerned about driving up it just let us know at least 2 days in advance and we can meet you on the road.

Yes, from 8am-11am or 4pm-6pm by prior appointment only

1-30th May every year (as there are never public or school holidays during this month).

Our pre-Xmas  annual leave changes slightly each year as we ensure we are here for your school and public holidays. 
2024 leave is 

We take annual leave twice a year at a low occupancy times. They are happy to work 7 days a week over Xmas and other peak periods so you can take your holidays. If you need your pet boarded during their annual leave time, we suggest you try Forster Tuncurry Boarding Kennels and Cattery. The rest of the year, you can be assured that Ros and or Mike (usually both of us) will be here to care for precious pet. To ensure we have availability for you, we suggest you check with us before confirming your travel arrangements.

https://winghampetmotel.com.au/terms-and-conditions

Sure do! We love caring for your pets, socialising puppies and encouraging you to train your dogs! Thank you for entrusting us to care for your precious pets, we so appreciate your support.