If you’re an “animal person,” it’s safe to assume that your pet is part of the family. As much as they demand belly rubs, walks, bowl refills and litter box or habitat cleanings, those cute creatures often have their owners in the pad of their paws.
In return, we as humans are on the receiving end of unconditional love – a best friend at all times. Cats and dogs have been companions to humans for several thousand years, but with the busy lives we lead today, there are times when it is not easy to be a pet owner, simply because we can’t be around them all the time.
Traveling for business, for pleasure or even just being away from home for most of the day can complicate things when it comes to pet ownership. Luckily, pet boarding and day camps provide a much-needed solution.
Depending on your pet’s physical and social needs, along with your budget, the sky’s the limit in Mount Pleasant when it comes to pet boarding and daycare. Running the gamut from general boarding and daycare to lounging in the lap of luxury, the amenities seem endless: luxury-brand dog-sized couches, outdoor play, indoor play, group play, one-on-one play with employees, sizable, caged enclosures, cage-free enclosures, medical care, grooming options, sound-resistant environments, pools, doggy ice cream treats and even TVs that play animal shows and movies, to name a few. Some boarding and day care facilities even allow you to log in and watch your dog having fun on a live camera.
“We have been taking Hera to the Pooch Palace for 11 years, and couldn’t be happier,” Jenn Keeney said of her Portuguese pointer. “She’s a very active dog, so having a dog sitter stop by sometimes wouldn’t be enough. She seeks out human affection and loves her time there. She knows it when we say ‘Pooch Palace’ and gets so excited to go there.”
One of the things that was important to Keeney when finding the right day camp and boarding for Hera was the staff-to-pet ratio and the staff’s involvement with the campers and boarders. “Hera plays in the zero-entry pool and loves to run on the AstroTurf. The staff is constantly throwing tennis balls, spraying hoses for the dogs to play in or blowing bubbles.”
Now that she’s advancing in age, Keeney says Hera still loves to go, but chooses to balance her high-energy activities with a lot of lounging on dog-sized couches in the air conditioning.
While boarding and day care for dogs is always in demand due to their hands-on requirements for food, exercise and doing their doggy business, many boarding and day cares in Mount Pleasant also have cat-specific accommodations.
For those whose pet family members are a little more unusual than a cat or dog, Exotic Vet Care’s trained professionals offer specialized care for birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and other exotic animals.
“Knowing how to handle and interact with these pets is crucial to their care, as they can be delicate and prone to injury in inexperienced hands,” explained Kerry Bateman, practice manager at Exotic Vet Care. From understanding specialized dietary, care and environmental needs, to being attuned to subtle changes in behavior that can indicate illness, the level of care is as unique as the pets that are boarded. “Our staff is trained to provide personalized and attentive care to each species and individual we board,” Bateman said.
No matter what kind of pet you own, your pet’s safety while you’re away is a top priority. Plan to have your pet vaccinated according to the facility’s standards before you try one out. “I feel reassured that Hera is in good hands because her day care enforces their vaccine requirements,” Keeney said. “Also, they required a test visit when we first started, which helped us feel more comfortable that the other dogs she is around also passed the test visit.”
If you’re a pet owner, consider giving your furry friends – or feathered or scaled companions – a chance to live their best life while you are living yours.
By Anne Toole
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