Check In/Check Out
We offer flexible arrival and departure times, by appointment, between the hours of 7 am - 7pm. We do emphasis “by appointment” to ensure you get the service you deserve. We guarantee we will be present 15 minutes prior to and after your scheduled time. If you are going to be early or late we ask that you please call, as we are not able to guarantee to be available at earlier/later times. We do allow drop off and pick up on holidays and Sundays and do not charge a "holiday or weekend rate", nor do we require minimum stays for holidays or weekends.
If you are visiting the area and would like to take your dog(s) on your boat, to the park, or hunting, while your pet(s) are in our care, please schedule these visits with us.
Vaccination Requirements
It is our policy to have current vaccination records for every pet in our care. You may bring documentation with you or you may fax/email the records to us at your convenience. Please follow your veterinarian’s health care and vaccination recommendations.
Dogs: The required vaccinations for dogs are rabies, distemper/parvo combination (including hepatitus), and bordetella. Most dogs are current with rabies, distemper, and parvo. However, bordetella is not given unless your vet is aware the dog maybe kenneled or groomed. Therefore, please double check this vaccination. We also recommend you discuss with your vet heartworm prevention and a topical flea and tick remedy.
Cats: Vaccinations required for cats are rabies and FVRCPP.
Other Pets: Please contact us for information concerning care for other pets, i.e. fish, hamsters, pot-bellied pigs, birds, and any other species not mentioned.
Pre-Visit/First Stay
We invite you to make an appointment to view our facility before your pet stays with us. We encourage you to bring your pet(s) (they must be current on the required vaccinations). This will allow them the opportunity to meets us, we can meet them, and they will go home with you the first time they visit. This helps them become familiar with their surroundings and will help with the transition when they stay in our care. The first time your pet stays with us, we will take extra time upon arrival to do everything we can to help him/her to feel comfortable. We typically will sit with the dog until they appear calm and relaxed. Then, we let them out to the exercise area while we offer water and situate their bedding. When they return inside from the exercise area we will once again sit with them. Then we leave them for a few minutes, and go back to check on them to see how they are adjusting to the kennel environment.
Dog Routine
Our days begin between 6 - 7 a.m. All the dogs get out to go potty and we start feeding breakfast to those dogs who eat breakfast. We guarantee your dog will get time outside of his/her kennel a minimum of three times throughout the day although more often than not we get them out of their kennels every four hours. Therefore, on average, dogs in our care get outside for exercise 5-6 times a day, with the exceptions being arrival and departure days, holidays (we share some time with our family on holidays), and Sundays (Holy Day).
After 9 p.m. we begin our bedtime routine. Each of the dogs is let out to potty a last time before bed and then receives one on one personal attention. We make every attempt to continue your pet(s) home routine while (s)he is in our care. We encourage you to bring items which may help comfort your pet. You may want to bring a t-shirt, towel, or pillow case you have worn/used and not washed that smells like you. If your dog normally sleeps in a pet porter or pet bed, bring those with you. If your pet(s) is used to sleeping on your bed, throw an old rug or bath towel on your bed for a couple of nights to bring. Please bring bedding that is washable, replaceable, and be aware bedding might be damaged. As hard as we try to make the dogs comfortable, it isn’t home. I liken it to humans sleeping at a motel. They may have some nervous energy they might take out on their bedding. If we see they are chewing on their bedding we will remove it for their safety.
We use stainless steel bowls because they can be thoroughly disinfect. Therefore, unless you are concerned about your pet not drinking or eating out of stainless steel, it is one less thing for you to pack. If you do choose to bring your dishes from home, we ask they be in a condition which would lend itself to washing, they be unbreakable, and not valuable to you. If your pet requires medication, please bring it with you (in it’s original container)and we will administer it at no charge.
Cat Routine
Fresh water is changed out twice daily (or more often as needed) and the litter boxes are also cleaned two times a day. Each cat also enjoys one on one attention at the end of the day.
We invite you to bring items which may help comfort your cat(s). If your cat sleeps in his bed at home your are welcome to bring it along. If your cat is used to sleeping on your bed, throw an old rug or bath towel on your bed for a couple of nights to bring. We also use stainless steel bowls because they can be thoroughly disinfected. Therefore, unless you are concerned about your pet not drinking or eating out of stainless steel, it is one less thing for you to pack. If you do choose to bring your dishes from home we ask they be in a condition which would lend itself to washing, they be unbreakable, and not valuable to you.
If your cat requires medication, please bring it with you (in it’s original container) and we will administer it at no charge. We have a water free foaming shampoo to clean your cat before your return. It is our policy to have up to date vaccination records for every cat in our care.