Boarding and daycare vaccination requirements: what to bring, by state

Voocie Team · September 24, 2026

What vaccinations do boarding facilities require?

Nearly every boarding facility and doggy daycare in the United States requires proof of three core vaccinations before accepting a dog:

• Rabies — required by law in all 50 states. You need a current certificate showing the vaccination date, expiration date, lot number, and the veterinarian who administered it. A 1-year or 3-year vaccine is accepted depending on your pet's vaccination history and state law.
• DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) — the core combination vaccine. Most facilities require this to be current within the past 1–3 years, depending on the vaccine protocol your vet uses.
• Bordetella (kennel cough) — the most common facility-specific requirement. Most boarding facilities require bordetella within the past 6–12 months. Some accept the injectable version; others prefer the intranasal. Ask the facility which form they accept before booking.

For cats, the typical requirements are rabies and FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia). Some catteries also require FeLV (feline leukemia) testing or vaccination.

Which requirements come from the state, and which come from the facility?

This is where it gets confusing — and where most pet owners get tripped up.

Rabies is the only vaccine universally required by state law. Every state has a rabies statute, and boarding facilities are required by law to verify current rabies vaccination before accepting an animal. The specific timeline (when the first vaccine is due, when boosters are required, whether a 3-year vaccine is accepted) varies by state.

Everything beyond rabies — bordetella, DHPP, canine influenza, leptospirosis — is typically set by the individual facility, not the state. Facilities set their own policies based on their veterinary advisor's recommendations and the diseases common in their region.

That means two facilities in the same city can have different requirements. Always call the specific facility and ask for their vaccination checklist before booking — don't assume your last facility's list applies.

What changes state to state?

The biggest state-level differences involve rabies law:

• First rabies vaccine timing: Most states require the first rabies vaccine by 12–16 weeks of age, but the exact age varies. Some states allow a 3-month window; others are strict at 4 months.
• 3-year vs. 1-year rabies acceptance: Most states accept a 3-year rabies vaccine after the initial 1-year booster, but a few counties or municipalities still require annual rabies vaccination regardless of the vaccine label.
• Rabies certificate format: Some states accept digital certificates; others require the original paper certificate signed by the administering veterinarian.
• Additional state-level requirements: A handful of states require additional vaccinations or health certificates for boarding — especially for facilities that also operate as kennels or shelters and fall under state Department of Agriculture oversight.

We've built a boarding requirements page for every state with the specific details. Find yours:

• California boarding & kennel requirements
• Texas boarding & kennel requirements
• Florida boarding & kennel requirements
• New York boarding & kennel requirements
• Pennsylvania boarding & kennel requirements
• Illinois boarding & kennel requirements
• Ohio boarding & kennel requirements
• Georgia boarding & kennel requirements
• North Carolina boarding & kennel requirements
• Michigan boarding & kennel requirements

Browse all 50 state boarding requirement pages →

What documents should you bring to a boarding facility?

When you drop off your pet, the facility will ask to see proof of vaccination — not just your word that the vaccines are current. Here's what most facilities accept:

• Rabies certificate: The official certificate from your vet showing the vaccination date, expiration date, vaccine manufacturer, lot number, and the veterinarian's signature. This is the one document every facility requires without exception.
• Vaccination record: A printout or digital record from your vet showing DHPP, bordetella, and any other required vaccines with dates administered and expiration dates.
• Vet contact information: Many facilities want your vet's name and phone number so they can verify records or reach your vet in an emergency.
• Medication list: If your pet takes any medications, bring the name, dose, and schedule — plus enough medication for the stay, in the original labeled container.
• Emergency contact: Your phone number and a backup contact in case you can't be reached.

Some facilities accept vaccination records digitally — emailed from your vet or shared from a pet health app. Call ahead to ask. If you use Voocie, your pet's vaccination record is already in one place: every vaccine date, lot number, and vet visit that was emailed to your pet's private Voocie address is filed in the health story. You can share the record link directly with the facility or pull up the details on your phone at drop-off.

How far in advance should you check vaccination status?

At least two weeks before your boarding date. Here's why:

• Bordetella needs time to take effect. Most facilities require bordetella to be given at least 48 hours — and ideally 7–14 days — before boarding. A same-day bordetella vaccine doesn't count at most places.
• Vet appointments book up. If your pet needs a booster before boarding, you need time to schedule the visit, get the vaccine, and receive the updated certificate.
• Some facilities require records to be on file before check-in day. They want to review the records in advance, not sort it out at the front desk during the morning rush.

Pull up your pet's vaccination record now and check the expiration dates. If anything is due in the next 30 days, schedule the booster before you book the boarding stay.

What about canine influenza, leptospirosis, and other extras?

Some boarding facilities — especially larger ones and those in areas with recent outbreaks — require additional vaccinations beyond the core three:

• Canine influenza (H3N2/H3N8): Increasingly common as a boarding requirement, especially in urban areas and after regional outbreaks. Not required by any state law, but many facilities in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco have made it mandatory.
• Leptospirosis: Some facilities in rural or flood-prone areas require this, especially for dogs who swim or spend time near standing water.
• Fecal test: A few facilities require a negative fecal exam within the past 6–12 months to screen for intestinal parasites.

Again, these are facility decisions, not state mandates. The only way to know for sure is to ask the specific facility for their current checklist.

The real problem: pulling records from three different vets

Here's where most pet owners hit the wall. Your dog's rabies vaccine was given by your regular vet. The bordetella was given at a vaccine clinic. The DHPP was from a previous vet you switched away from two years ago. Now the boarding facility wants all three on one record, and you're making phone calls the week before your trip.

This is the exact problem Voocie solves. When each vet emails your pet's visit summary to the pet's private Voocie address, every vaccine — regardless of which clinic administered it — lands in the same health story. The rabies certificate from your regular vet, the bordetella from the vaccine clinic, the DHPP from your old practice: all in one place, all with dates and lot numbers, all shareable with one link.

No phone calls. No faxes. No "can you email me a copy of the records?" two days before drop-off.

FAQ

Can I board my dog without a bordetella vaccine?

Most facilities will not accept a dog without a current bordetella vaccination. While bordetella is not required by state law, it's required by facility policy at nearly every boarding and daycare operation in the country. Kennel cough spreads quickly in group settings, and facilities protect their other guests by requiring it.

Do I need a health certificate for boarding?

For standard boarding within your home state, a health certificate is usually not required — proof of current vaccinations is enough. However, if you're boarding in a different state (for example, dropping your dog at a facility near your vacation destination), some states require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for animals crossing state lines. Check the destination state's requirements before traveling. For international travel, see our pet passport and travel documents guide.

How do I get vaccination records from a previous vet?

Call the previous vet's office and request a copy of your pet's vaccination history. Most practices will fax or email it within a few business days. If the practice has closed, contact your state veterinary board — they may be able to direct you to where the records were transferred. For more details, see our guide on how to get your pet's records from any vet.

What if my puppy hasn't finished their vaccine series?

Most boarding facilities require the full puppy vaccine series to be complete before accepting a puppy. This typically means all DHPP boosters done (usually by 16 weeks of age) plus rabies. Some facilities will accept puppies who are in the middle of their series with a letter from their vet, but this varies. Ask the facility directly.

Does my cat need bordetella for boarding?

Bordetella requirements are much less common for cats at boarding facilities, though some catteries do require it. The standard cat boarding requirements are current rabies and FVRCP. Ask the specific facility — cat-only boarding facilities may have different protocols than mixed-species kennels.