Pet boarding facilities

We’re moving to Houston this summer with 4 dogs and a cat. We’re coming from a state with no regulation of pet boarding facilities, and the local facilities are questionable at best. Even with questionable practices, all of these facilities operate at or over capacity. We even had video footage leak from a local facility of an employee hitting and kicking dogs.

Fortunately, we have had the luxury of my MIL staying at our house when we travel, but, of course, we won’t have that when we get to Houston. We are very particular about how our pets are cared for; I know that no one will do things my way, but I have high standards nonetheless.

So I have a few questions.

• In the near term, what does the pet boarding landscape look like in Houston? Are most facilities typically full?

• Are there reliable sitters on Rover? Coming from a more rural area, there weren’t many, but I know my critters would be more comfortable staying home, especially the cat.

• I will research this some more, but I’d love if anyone knows whether Texas has regulations on these facilities. For example, in Colorado there is a mandated staff to dog ratio. Depending on how saturated the market is, I may be interested in opening my own facility in the longer-term.