NRI dog boarding in Kerala: long-term and monthly care while you are abroad

Many Kerala families have someone working abroad, and the family dog is often the hardest part of the plan. This page is for:

• Families where one or both parents work in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait or Bahrain, and the dog stays behind in Kerala.
• Families relocating to the UK, Canada, Australia or Europe who need care for months while visas, housing or pet import paperwork are sorted out.
• Parents or relatives in Kerala who have been looking after an NRI family's dog and need a break, or can no longer manage a large or energetic dog.

Neolokam is one dogs-only farm, with a stream for play and a splash area, three Malayali staff on site and 24/7 human care.

Long-term boarding is charged per day, at ₹444 for a standard dog, ₹555 for a dog that needs additional care, and ₹666 for heavy and giant breeds. Monthly boarding is personalised to your dog and costs ₹9,999 to ₹17,777 a month. Families with two or three dogs can choose multi-dog monthly boarding at ₹8,888 per dog for two dogs or ₹7,777 per dog for three. All prices are plus 18% GST, and the team confirms the final rate after your dog's assessment.

Dogs are grouped by temperament, so a calm senior is not thrown in with a crowd of young Labradors. Meals are home-cooked, and you can also leave your dog's own dry food if your dog is used to it.

Daily photo and video updates are part of every stay. Most NRI families keep in touch through WhatsApp on +91 77363 90719, which works from anywhere and leaves a record you can scroll back through.

To make updates easy across time zones:

• Tell the team your country and the hours you are usually free, so messages that need a reply reach you at a sensible time.
• Name one person abroad and one person in Kerala as contacts, so there is always someone who can answer quickly.
• Agree in advance which things the team should message you about straight away, such as your dog going off food, and which can wait for the daily update.
• Ask the team how payment from abroad works before the stay starts, so renewals do not get stuck on a bank holiday.

Neolokam needs a trial visit and temperament assessment; up-to-date rabies and core vaccinations with the record; current tick and parasite prevention as advised by your vet; and dogs must be comfortable around other dogs. Plan the trial visit for a week or two before you leave, not the day before your flight, so there is time to fix anything that comes up.

Screenshot this list and work through it:

• Vaccination card with current rabies and core vaccinations, plus a photo of it saved on your phone.
• Tick and parasite prevention given as your vet advised, with the date written down.
• Your vet's name and number, and a summary of any medical history, allergies or past surgery.
• Any medicines, with written instructions from your vet.
• A list of your dog's habits: feeding times, food it refuses, fears such as crackers or thunder, and commands it knows.
• The name and number of a family member in Kerala who can make decisions if you cannot be reached.

Pickup and drop-off for confirmed boarding are available by appointment from the 16 localities listed above. If your dog is with relatives somewhere else, ask the team what can be arranged.

Many NRI families come back to Kerala for Onam, Christmas or the Gulf school summer holidays. Farm visits are by appointment between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM daily, so message the team as soon as your flight dates are fixed.

• If you want your dog home with you during the visit, agree the pickup and return dates with the team early. Holiday periods are busy.
• If you are travelling around India during the visit, your dog can stay on at the farm, since most domestic flights from Trivandrum will not take a dog.
• Update the vaccination record if a booster is due while you are home.

If you are planning to take your dog abroad later, start the paperwork months ahead. Our guides on travelling with a dog from Trivandrum and taking a dog from Kerala to the UAE explain the steps.