It is always a dilemma when
traveling what to do with our furry, four-legged “kids”. We had used a kennel once when our dog,
Brody, was a pup with quite unsatisfactory results. Since then we had always been extremely lucky
to have available young adults who would stay at our home and give our pets
good care in the comfort of familiar surroundings while we traveled.
Then I
was faced with a real crisis! We had
scheduled a trip and I was without a caregiver!! They had all married or become unavailable, and
so I was forced to investigate boarding options. My vet recommended a kennel,
and of course I delayed until the last minute to make a reservation. It was only a week before we left and we had
no other options. I visited and it was
clean and well managed; I could tell they were caring folks. Because of my procrastination the inoculation
for kennel cough would have to be given through a nose spray…ugh! To use his own food it would be an extra
charge, as would allowing him “play time” in the fenced in play yard. I wondered how Brody would handle being
sandwiched in between those BIG dogs with all that barking? He was used to being the Prince of his own
one-dog domain with his own cushy pet bed and a yard that smelled only of him
(oh, maybe the cats but they don’t count!)
I was
losing sleep over this when my eye happened to see a familiar paw print in an
unfamiliar ad in the local paper. It was
for Nannimals and I called first thing.
It was my good fortune that Kathleen Harpley had just opened her business
of in-home pet care and I was so impressed that I signed on immediately. That was 8 years ago and, like a fine wine,
we have aged well together.
Kathleen
and/or associates have become like family…familiar with all the idiosyncrasies
of our dog and two barn cats and handling all their medications with ease. I can call her in time of emergency, and she
steps in to handle all their needs until I return. If we are traveling I know that they get
excellent care in the comfort of their own familiar surroundings. When I return
there is a full report of all her visits and observations. An animal would never be fooled by a human
being who tried to “pass” as an animal lover; you can tell by the way my “kids”
greet her, that Kathleen and Co. are indeed Good Friends!