[KARENNN]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

That was my first reaction to this thread, that I would never board my dogs there. Yet I have two friends who've boarded dogs there. One has used the facility several times, very successfully. I'm told the kennel offers regular tours. I think I'll go have a look for myself.

When you go for the tour, ask if you can see the "back" where I was told the dogs are put for their outside time, but that I was not allowed to see. They also said that the dogs are rotated so they get to go out every couple hours, yet when I was there no dogs were out and they had a full house! I peeked out the window and saw the back yard.....all stones, no grass and runs that are in the direct sun. The front looks nice, but I would not want my dog to be put out back!
A 24/7 webcam showing the inside as well as the back would assure owners that their pets are being cared for!

[duffysmom]

I'm attaching another discussion we had on this forum regarding this facility. Judge for yourself.

Poor Pet Care at the Village Paw Spa

[agypsyfoot2]

My dogs have been boarded there 3 times so far this year, and will be again over Thanksgiving. No problems, Happy dogs, happy owner.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by agypsyfoot2

My dogs have been boarded there 3 times so far this year, and will be again over Thanksgiving. No problems, Happy dogs, happy owner.

Then why bring up this old thread??? It's all negative comments and is only bringing her business down.

[graciegirl]

I agree Gerryann.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

There have been too many complaints about this facility; something's wrong and I would never allow my pet to board there. The fact that this is your first post is suspect in IMHO.

I agree. It is suspicious.

Duffysmom was responding to a person, not the OP, who had only posted TWICE ever and both were in support of this pet care.

Duffysmom is someone I have learned to trust as someone who loves animals.

[renielarson]

How can you tell if a pet facility is competently, reliably, honestly, caringly, lovingly, professionally taking care of your beloved animals while you are away? (Sorry for any words that weren't spelled or used correctly.)

It's one thing to tour the facility and listen to the spiel of the owner/caretakers. It's another thing what actually goes on while the pet is in their care. How do you know, for a fact, what goes on behind closed doors?

[CFrance]

I wish I wish I WISH someone would open a Camp Bow Wow here. We've used them in three different cities, and they are the best in the business. Plus they don't allow non-neutered dogs, which solves a lot of aggression problems.

That said, there is a new place, Pet Lodge and Spa, in Leesburg that seems to be run well. I can only speak for the day care, but it's a very calm facility due to the fact that the rooms have half walls. In another place we were using, the walls were chain link fencing. The dogs in the different areas could see each other, and the barking and aggression was nerve racking. We walked in there one day to find our dog backed into a corner by two other dogs. And nobody policing this. (We could see through a window into the play area.) Our large dog is well socialized and confident, but is not one to enter a fray, and will shut down and turn the other way around aggressive dogs. We discovered that there was an employee there who would take him into the kitchen with her while working to get him out of the room. I appreciated that but decided this wasn't the place for our peace-loving, quiet guy.

The indoor play areas at Pet Lodge are roomier, and the outdoor area is covered in artificial "dog grass," which in our dog's case cuts down on the skin allergies he can get from the Florida grasses and dirt. We've liked the place so far.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by brightspot01

How can you tell if a pet facility is competently, reliably, honestly, caringly, lovingly, professionally taking care of your beloved animals while you are away? (Sorry for any words that weren't spelled or used correctly.)

It's one thing to tour the facility and listen to the spiel of the owner/caretakers. It's another thing what actually goes on while the pet is in their care. How do you know, for a fact, what goes on behind closed doors?

You can't tell for sure, brightspot, and that's why the places with cams are preferable to us. Also, you can judge by how your dog reacts to the place the second time he goes there, and also by how he reacts when you get him home. At Camp Bow Wow, for example, our dog came home acting like he never left home. At another place (in another city), he came home and moped for three days, didn't want to get in the car for a while after.

[renielarson]

Why do any of you think you have the right to be judge and jury regarding the OP's 1st post? Regardless of whether it's valid or not, isn't the point.

I read the post as an eye opener and heads up. I thank the OP for bringing boarding animal abuse to our attention. I hope that all of you with animals will be more cognizant when boarding your animals, wherever.

However, it's one thing to tour a facility and listen to the spiel of the caretakers. It's another thing what actually goes on behind closed doors. As a retired teacher, I heard that same phrase about my children and their family. It's so true.

If nothing else, think about your animals and what they might be experiencing in any facility while you are away. It's not always as it seems. Sadly, you'll never know because your animals can't talk.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by brightspot01

Why do any of you think you have the right to be judge and jury regarding the OP's 1st post? Regardless of whether it's valid or not, isn't the point.

I read the post as an eye opener and heads up. I thank the OP for bringing boarding animal abuse to our attention. I hope that all of you with animals will be more cognizant when boarding your animals, wherever.

However, it's one thing to tour a facility and listen to the spiel of the caretakers. It's another thing what actually goes on behind closed doors. As a retired teacher, I heard that same phrase about my children and their family. It's so true.

If nothing else, think about your animals and what they might be experiencing in any facility while you are away. It's not always as it seems. Sadly, you'll never know because your animals can't talk.

You can know. Know your dog, and you can know--the same way you knew when something wasn't right with your kids--by observation.

[graciegirl]

...

[keithwand]

I just googled them and the business is for sale.

We stopped in looking for boarding for Ben and Jerry and there were not many dogs there.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by keithwand

I just googled them and the business is for sale.

We stopped in looking for boarding for Ben and Jerry and there were not many dogs there.

They were for sale last April, too.

[designerko]

I know The Village Sitters to be wonderful people and have used their other services....I would not hesitate to use them for watching my dog when the occasion arises.

Originally Posted by VillageSitter

Please feel free to check out our website, The VILLAGE SITTER. We come and take care of your pet in your home. No worries about your pet being stressed since they remain in their familiar setting and no worries about illnesses or fleas being brought home from a kennel atmosphere. We are Village residents who love animals like they were our own.