# How to Send Pet Parents Updates on WhatsApp

> What to send pet parents during boarding and daycare, and when: a simple update schedule, copy-ready messages and a faster way to send them.

By Sahil Verman, founder of petboard · Published 2026-10-18 · Source: https://www.petboard.in/blog/pet-parent-updates-whatsapp-boarding

## In short

Send a short update at fixed times: one photo and one line about food, play and mood. For boarding, send a message at arrival, one update each morning and evening, and a message at pickup. For daycare, send one update in the middle of the day and a message when the pet is ready to go home. Tell the parent your update times when they book. Then they know when to expect news, and they ask "how is my pet?" less often. Use the same few messages every time, so each update takes about as long as taking the photo.

This post is the "what and when to send" playbook. For how to set up WhatsApp itself (WhatsApp Business, quick replies, labels, one group per stay), read [our WhatsApp setup guide for pet boarding](https://www.petboard.in/blog/whatsapp-pet-boarding-business).

## Why do parents keep asking "how is my pet?"

Most parents ask because they do not know when they will hear from you next. A parent who knows "I get a photo every morning and every evening" waits for the photo. A parent who got one photo yesterday and nothing today starts to worry, and they message you.

So the aim is not to send more. The aim is to send at times the parent can expect. A fixed schedule also helps you: you take photos during walks and meals, and you send them together.

## What should I send during a boarding stay, and when?

This is a schedule we suggest. Change the times to match your day.

| Moment | What to send | Example line |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | A short "arrived safely" message, with the pickup date | "Hi Asha, Bruno has arrived and is settling in. Pickup is on 24 Oct." |
| First evening | 1 photo, and how the pet settled | "Bruno ate all his dinner and is resting in his bed." |
| Each morning | 1 photo from the walk or breakfast | "Morning walk done. Bruno ate his full breakfast." |
| Each evening | 1 photo or a short video, food and mood | "Bruno played with Coco for an hour. Dinner done, all calm." |
| Something unusual | A plain message the same day | "Bruno ate half his lunch today. He is drinking water and playing. We will try his dinner at 7 pm and tell you how it goes." |
| Day before pickup | A reminder of the time | "Bruno goes home tomorrow. Is 11 am still a good time for pickup?" |
| Pickup | "Ready for pickup", then the bill | "Bruno is ready for pickup. Here is his bill and stay summary." |

Keep the first night's message short and calm. On the first night, many pets take time to settle. A parent who hears "he is resting" sleeps better than a parent who hears nothing.

![A stay summary page for a pet parent: Bruno the golden retriever's 6-night stay, three care updates, a cost summary of Rs 7,700 and a line saying it was paid by UPI](https://www.petboard.in/blog/screens/parent-stay-summary.webp)
*From petboard's demo account: the stay summary a parent gets at pickup, with the care updates and the bill.*

## What about daycare?

Daycare is shorter, so it needs fewer messages.

| Moment | What to send | Example line |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off | Optional. Only if the parent asks for it | "Coco is here. Have a good day." |
| Middle of the day | 1 photo, play and food | "Coco played in the yard all morning and ate her lunch." |
| Ready to go home | A short message with the pickup time | "Coco is ready for pickup. She had a busy day and is tired." |

If you run daycare every day for the same pets, the parent may not want a photo every day. Ask them once. Some parents like a photo every day. Others like one a week, plus a message only when something happens.

## What makes a good update?

A good update is one photo and one line. Here is what we suggest:

- **Use the pet's name.** "Bruno ate his breakfast" reads better than "the dog ate".
- **Say three things: food, play and mood.** Together, they answer the usual "how is my pet?" question.
- **Send a clear photo, not many photos.** One clear photo of the pet's face is better than ten blurry ones.
- **Keep videos short.** A 10-second clip is enough, and it opens fast on a slow connection.
- **Be honest.** If the pet did not eat, say so, and say what you will do next. It is better that the parent hears it from you than finds out at pickup.
- **Do not send a message late at night**, unless it is urgent.

## Messages you can copy

These messages use made-up names. Change them to your own words.

**Arrival:**
"Hi Asha! Bruno has arrived at our home and is sniffing around his new room. Pickup is on 24 Oct. We will send you a photo this evening."

**Morning:**
"Good morning! Bruno finished his walk and ate his full breakfast. He is happy and calm."

**Evening:**
"Bruno had a good day. He played with the other dogs, ate his dinner and is resting now. Good night!"

**The pet did not eat:**
"Hi Asha, Bruno ate only half his dinner today. This is common in the first days. He is drinking water and playing well. We will try again in the morning and update you by 9 am."

**After a vet visit:**
"Hi Asha, Bruno had a small cut on his paw, so we took him to the vet today. The vet cleaned it and said it is minor. He is walking normally. We will send you a photo this evening."

**Ready for pickup:**
"Hi Asha, Bruno is ready for pickup. See you at 11 am!"

## How do I keep this from taking hours?

- **Pick two update times and keep to them.** For example, 10 am and 6 pm. Take the photos during the walk and the meal, then send them all at the update time.
- **Send each parent their own message.** It takes a little longer than one group message, but no parent sees another parent's number or another pet's photo.
- **Save your messages.** In the WhatsApp Business app, quick replies let you type a short code to bring up a saved message. [Our setup guide](https://www.petboard.in/blog/whatsapp-pet-boarding-business) explains how.
- **Agree on the schedule at booking.** Say: "You will get a photo every morning and evening." This one sentence prevents most "how is my pet?" messages.
- **If you have staff, give them the times too.** Then one person is not doing all the updates.

## What is different in India?

**Updates come from your own number.** Parents in India expect a message on WhatsApp, from the person who has their pet. When you send from your own WhatsApp, the parent sees a number they know and can reply to it.

**Payment can go to your own UPI ID.** At pickup, a bill message with a UPI link lets the parent pay you from any UPI app.

**Parents' phone numbers are personal data.** India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 defines personal data as "any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to such data" (section 2(t)). Section 8(5) says a business must protect the personal data it holds "by taking reasonable security safeguards to prevent personal data breach" ([the Act as published in the Gazette](https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-09/DPDT_11082024.pdf), checked 18 October 2026). Parliament passed this Act in 2023. Most of its duties, including this one, start in May 2027. Following them now is good practice. In practice, this is one more reason not to put all your clients in one WhatsApp group. This is a summary, not legal advice.

## How does petboard help you send updates?

petboard prepares the messages. You send them from your own WhatsApp. petboard does not send any WhatsApp message by itself.

**1. The arrival message is ready when you check a pet in.** When you check a pet in, petboard shows "Send check-in message" with a message already written. It says the pet has arrived and, for a boarding stay, gives the checkout date. Tap "Send to" and the parent's name. WhatsApp opens with the message in the parent's chat, and you press send. To choose the chat yourself, such as a group, tap "Send to anyone".

**2. Your own words, saved once.** In Settings, under "Messages", you can write your own "Check-in" and "Ready for pickup" messages. Tap a tag, such as "pet name", and petboard fills in the real name each time. After you save them, a checked-in pet's card in Bookings shows "Send check-in" and "Ready for pickup" buttons.

**3. Photo updates from the Updates page.** Open Updates. Add photos and a note, choose the pets, and tap "Prepare share". Then send it from your own WhatsApp.

![A photo update screen on a phone: a short note about playtime, 2 photos, the dogs Bruno and Cookie tagged, and a Share via WhatsApp button](https://www.petboard.in/blog/screens/whatsapp-photo-update.webp)
*From petboard's demo account: a photo update with the pets tagged, ready to send from your own WhatsApp.*

**4. Report cards.** In Settings, under "Comms", set up a "Visit Report Card" with a few questions, such as food and mood. Tap "Use a starter card" to begin with ready questions. You answer the questions in each update. Parents can see the report cards on the stay page.

**5. Update times for your team.** In Settings, under "Comms", add "Update Windows", such as Morning and Evening. If a staff member does not send an update for their pet before a window ends, your Dashboard shows an alert. You can turn these alerts off.

**6. The bill, with a pay link.** When you check a pet out, petboard prepares the bill message with a link to the stay page. The parent can save the bill as a PDF there. If you have added your UPI ID and money is still due, the message also has a pay link to your own UPI ID.

## Try it with your next booking

[Sign up for petboard](https://www.petboard.in/signup). Your first booking is free, and you need no card. Add one real booking, check the pet in, and send the arrival message from your own WhatsApp. Then send your first photo update from the Updates page.

Boarding pets at home? See [petboard for home boarders](https://www.petboard.in/for/boarders). Running daycare? See [petboard for daycare](https://www.petboard.in/for/daycare).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does petboard send WhatsApp messages to parents by itself?

No. petboard prepares the message. When you tap to send, WhatsApp opens on your phone with the message ready, and you press send. Every message goes from your own WhatsApp number.

### How many updates should I send in a day?

There is no fixed rule. Our advice: for boarding, send one update in the morning and one in the evening, plus a message at arrival and at pickup. For daycare, one update in the middle of the day is often enough. Tell the parent your update times when they book, then keep to them.

### Can I send an update to a WhatsApp group instead of one parent?

Yes. In petboard, 'Send to anyone' opens WhatsApp and lets you choose the chat yourself, and that chat can be a group. Do not use one group for all your clients, because every member can see the other members' phone numbers.

### What should I do if a pet does not eat?

Tell the parent the same day, in a calm and plain message. Say what the pet did eat, what you will try next, and when you will update them again. Parents usually prefer to hear it from you first.

### Can parents see their pet's updates on a page?

Yes, after checkout. The checkout message petboard prepares has a link to the stay page. That page shows the bill. When the stay has report cards, visits or a medicine schedule, it also has a link to the pet's updates.

### Do I need the WhatsApp Business API to send updates?

No. petboard opens WhatsApp on your phone with the message ready, so you send it from your normal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app. You do not need Meta business verification for this.