Camp Guide

Give your pet a vacation while you’re away! More importantly, avoid the guilt of leaving your cherished furbaby somewhere knowing they will be bored and stressed. My 5-acre estate of forest, trails, grass and turf areas offer plenty of room for dogs to roam (with supervision) as appropriate for each dog. In addition to exercise, time in the fresh air helps dogs to relax, affording them the chance to play, exercise, socialize, or just stretch out and relax. I personally provide their care and provide regular updates along the way, so you know how they are doing. There is continuity in care as I see them each day and it offers me opportunity to catch even slight changes larger kennels may not. 

With to move to our home, please know that my care will focus on caring for small dogs (under 30 lbs) as well as geriatric dogs.

For the kitty campers, each cat has a view of the cedar forest and gets a front-row seat to watch the birds on the birdfeeders outside their windows.

Getting Started

Registration: The first step is registering your pet by creating an account for yourself and a profile for each of your pets that you may want to board in the future.  I am overwhelmed with the demand for pet care and this step is important as registration allows me to ask all the questions, I need answers to ensure that I can provide the care your pet needs. While I’m glad to chat on the phone or email, the best way to start the process is to register. You can register by clicking on the BOOK NOW button on my website. Once you do that, the booking portal is unlocked and you’re welcome to send reservation inquiries. I do also respond PERSONALLY via email to each registration so we will have an open line of communication if you’d like to ask further questions.

Book Now

Please review our policies after booking your stay with us.

Camper Fees

My priority is to provide the best care possible for a simple, all inclusive, nightly rate just a like a hotel. You aren’t left wondering how much to pay for to ensure your pet is being given the right “level” of care. There are no deluxe packages, add-ons or extra charges. You won’t find surprise charges for play breaks, Kong breaks, special diet preparation or medication administration. Dogs even enjoy a complimentary deluxe “show bath” and dry prior to checkout so they go home smelling and feeling wonderful. I don’t take deposits and I’m happy to take payment at checkout via cash, check or Venmo.

For the kitty campers, each cat has a view of the cedar forest and gets a front row seat to watch the birds on the birdfeeders outside their windows.

Dogs: $70/per overnight. This is all inclusive and includes social time, play breaks, special diet prep, medication administration and a complimentary deluxe bath/dry prior to checkout.

Cats: $30/per overnight.  This is all inclusive and includes special diet prep or any medication administration.

Important Info Before Camp

  • Drop off and pick up are strictly by appointment only. Life happens and I absolutely try to be flexible where possible but generally the drop off and pick up times in the reservation system reflect my availability so I can appropriately focus on the pets in my care. The key is communication if you need to shift your appointment times. If you have concerns or questions with this model, let’s talk prior to booking to see if I’m the best fit. I absolutely aim to be flexible but just not at the expense of safety or security of those in my care.
  • I ask that pet owners supply their pet’s regular diet to reduce tummy stress (and overall stress) that can come with a change in diet. If a pet runs out of food, I will make every effort to locate the specific type of food they are used to. It’s simply the right thing to do and if you are delayed returning, I will work with you to locate the exact formula you feed if I can get my hands on it. It’s always a safe bet to pack a little extra and even note what exactly you feed. You do not need to individually package each feeding, but instead please just ensure that updated instructions are included. For example, I’ve learned that a “cup” may not be a standard measuring cup so I want to ensure I feed your pet appropriately.
  • VACCINATIONS: Time flies and often owner’s don’t realize that their pet may have expired vaccinations and send me vaccination proof that isn’t complete. Please feel free to wait if you have an appointment pending. All pets must be current on the required vaccinations (details below under Vaccination requirements) I do accept proof of titering. Vaccinations should be administered 2+ weeks from their arrival to ensure efficacy. See below for specific requirements.

Packing for Camp

  • Please ensure that your pet arrives on a leash or in a carrier. If you don’t have a leash, I will have one for you to borrow.
  • I recommend keeping your pet on their normal diet during their stay. I suggest you bring your pet’s usual food, bagged and labeled per serving. Label meals if there are any differences in the meals. I can provide daily feedings of a quality diet if you run out of food or are unable to bring food. I'm happy to accommodate pets who are on a raw or other special diet. If your pet has a nervous tummy when it boards, you may want to research preventative medications from your veterinarian that may help keep that at bay.
  • Medications: Unlike most, I don’t believe in charging for the administration of medications. It is crucial that the instructions are simple so there is no confusion. Often instructions left in the registration portal change so I highly encourage sending current written instructions along that I will post on your pet’s room for easy access. It’s highly appreciated when owners send along medications in the daily pill box (AM/PM) dispensers (for tablet type medications). I do have a refrigerator and can keep injectables or other refrigerated medications.
  • Other Items: You may bring bedding as long as it’s clean, (ideally machine washable). You may also want to bring an article of your clothing which seems to be popular. If your pet has a favorite toy or two, are more than welcome to bring that too. I will ensure they stay in your pets room so there isn’t a risk of it being taken or misplaced. Please do not bring any rawhides or other toys that may be a choking hazard, or food bowls unless you have a pet that relies on a certain type of bowl. I have a LARGE amount of different bowls including slow feed bowls. Any questions, just ask!  I do my very best to keep track of everything and feel awful when an occasional item gets lost. Please understand that I am not responsible for lost or damaged items.
  • Illness Prior to Boarding: Pets exhibiting suspected communicable health problems, coughing, bloody diarrhea, worms, ticks, flea infestations, giardia, etc. will be turned away at drop off and ideally should not even be brought to my home... Absolutely no exceptions for the safety my resident animals and guests. If I suspect potential communicable illness, I will isolate your pet and ask for the pet to visit a vet or to be picked up as soon as possible. If you know your pet has one of these conditions, you MUST disclose it and I ask that you cancel your reservation.

After Your Pet's Stay

Our relationship doesn’t end when your pet leaves. I care very much to know that the WHOLE experience was a good one. While not common, please keep me informed if there are any concerns after arriving home. I also LOVE to see photos of happy pets returning home. I’ve prepared some resources for post-camp as I work with a lot of families that have never boarded a pet before.

Get back into your usual routine as quickly as possible

Pets benefit from routine and familiarity since knowing what to expect helps them to feel more secure. In turn, this can eliminate unwanted behaviors when they first come home, such as overt clinginess, urinating and even scratching or chewing. Don’t make a big fuss about your time apart, just slip back into your usual times for exercise, feeding and any other activities that you share.

Don’t worry if they eat or even drink a bit more than normal

Rest assured, your pet will be fed the foods agreed upon when you checked in. They have access to water constantly! Some pets tend not to eat as much as at home. Some are excited to get back out playing, or for some it is just a typical response to a big change in the environment that they are used to. Sometimes it’s the exact opposite and the excitement and activity can cause a pet to eat more. This is rarely anything to worry about. There will never be surprises as I will keep you informed if I have concerns about their eating which is typically uncommon because I work hard to make them comfortable to eat. I literally feed dogs out of my hand at times, figure out that they enjoy a little hot water added OR determine after trouble shooting with an owner that they may have forgotten to tell me they heat up their food. I want to feed your pet just the way it is used to and that’s the type of care I’m here to provide.

Give plenty of space to rest to recuperate

A great boarding facility will be dedicated to keeping your pet busy and engaged so they don’t focus on being apart from you. This will mean that they will be getting plenty of (appropriate) physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. Chances are, they are going to come home pretty worn out! Think about how you feel after a busy vacation. It’s not unusual for a pet to come home from boarding more tired than normal. Keep an eye on it and you should quickly find that that they return to their normal self. You know your pet best though, and if it is beyond what you are comfortable with, consult your vet.

Monitor bowel movements

As unpleasant as it is, a little diarrhea after boarding isn’t usually a cause for concern. This tends to occur as a result of a little gut inflammation caused by over-excitement at being reunited with you and your family and will typically settle down in a few days. I also discourage it but dogs specifically can try to chow on the grass in the yard. You may even notice a little blood or mucus in stools. However, if your pet has diarrhea and isn’t drinking and/or has other worrisome symptoms, you should arrange for her to be seen by your vet in case there is an underlying cause. Similarly, if the diarrhea persists for more than a day or two, it’s good to check in with your vet. Again, there are no surprises and if your pet has diarrhea during the stay, I will tell you. It’s true, I am ALL over checking out poop so I ensure the safety of all the pets in my care. Larger kennels may not even notice or communicate but I will.

Feeding a bland diet to allow for a tummy to reset can be helpful anytime a pet has an upset tummy. Here is an excellent resource I’ve used for my own dogs. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/six-fo