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A small pet-to-staff ratio also is important, said Christine Emming, a graphic designer who boarded two pets earlier this month at a kennel in Golden. Poppy, a two-year-old, 26-pound French bulldog, went home with bloody sores on her paws from excessive licking that Emming said staff members never noticed.

One of the kennel’s selling points was a web camera, which Emming used daily to check on her dogs. She enjoyed seeing how they played with others but rarely saw a staff member. “I want someone to look at the dogs to make sure they’re doing well (and) thriving,” she said.

Industry-wide, many kennels are unmanned at night, which can leave pets vulnerable. In 2006, more than 1,000 dogs, cats, birds and reptiles died in fires at pet stores, veterinary clinics and kennels in North America, said Laurie Loveman, an author and fire safety professional who campaigns for improved kennel conditions.

In Colorado, kennels are not required to have fire alarms or sprinkler systems, but some are investing in such equipment. “I know I’d feel more comfortable if my pet were in a kennel that sprinkled,” said Sparky Shriver, an Arvada fire marshal.

When comparing facilities, national organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the boarding kennel association publish consumer guides.

The majority of kennels cater to dogs, but there are also exclusive facilities for cats and exotic pets. An increasingly popular alternative is pet sitters, who stay in homes or visit pets during the day.

Heather Kirby, a pet sitter since 2004, said some of her best clients have cats that could not be touched for days after boarding at kennels. Kirby, who works at the Animal Wellness Center in Denver, is comfortable with what some people call “fierce cats.”

“In the clinic I’m the one who holds the vicious dogs and mean kitties,” she said. “It’s stressful having mom and dad leave as it is.” When pets are kept at home, “the only additional stress is having me come into their environment.”

National groups like the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters train and certify pet sitters, who can be bonded and insured. The website lists 12 Denver members, four of whom are certified.

While fees vary, Kirby charges $15 for drop-ins and about $40 for overnight stays that include walks or playtime, plant watering and mail pick-up.

She has stayed with birds, cats and 12 boa constrictors, and relies on word-of-mouth marketing. Because of high demand, she is home an average of four nights per month, and said clients refer to her as the phantom pet sitter because “they can’t tell we’ve been there, but their pets are relaxed.”

Joe Lyman with the boarding kennel associationacknowledges that pet sitting is a growing business. He questions how one person can compete with the services offered by fancier kennels.

“The days of concrete slabs with chain link fences have almost run (their) course,” he said. “People are willing to pay to have their dogs pampered.”

In comparison to the plush nests provided by some kennels, state veterinarians ensure that basic boarding requirements are met — from cage space to cleanliness.

A quick Internet search illustrates the disparity between Colorado kennels, from large indoor/outdoor runs with special bedding and rubber floor mats — a gentler surface for pets with joint problems — to facilities that could be mistaken for minimum-security prisons.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture inspects kennels every 18 months and keeps files on complaints and violations, said Kate Anderson, the department’s pet-care program administrator.

Anderson takes her four pets with her when she travels. She advises pet owners looking into a kennel to “tour the facility, meet the staff, and observe what they do before you need them.”

An influx of entrepreneurs has revolutionized the kennel industry. Flat screen televisions, movie nights with special treats, nature walks and pools are signs of Americans’ increasingly close relationship with their pets.

Kennel services offering nighttime tuck-ins with bedtime stories sometimes cost an additional fee. Some people chuckled when the tuck-in service was introduced, but it is popular because it mimics home environments where parents read to kids.

Instead of bedtime stories, Camp Bow Wow offers dogs fleece blankets, cots and classical music. Accommodations plus all-day play and campfire treats (frozen peanut butter with cookies) are included in cabin fees at the chain, which has 14 franchised Colorado locations.

Although nature walks are not offered at Camp Bow Wow, dogs get plenty of exercise with all-day play and can rest in a lounge with stuffed pillows, said Janet Forgrieve, the company’s director of communications. “Trust me, they go home very tired at night.”

While some experts favor pet socialization in kennels, others argue that exposure to disease and aggression should sway owners toward home care. “All pets do better with pet sitters,” said Aubrey Lavizzo, owner of the Center for Animal Wellness. Although his facility has kennel space, Lavizzo encourages clients to keep pets at home. “It’s much better for them,” he said, “to be in their natural environment.”