Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun! 

11th October 2015

Good pet-parents want to do the best for their fur babies, and that includes finding the perfect pet-sitter when boarding is a necessity. Recently PetStayAdvisor fans Gail and Mike found themselves in a quandary. Roxy, their beloved ten-year-old Golden Retriever, had always stayed in her own home with her grandma, and had never boarded in a kennel. She needed daily medications and special food. After an online search, ‘Camp Pet’, (not its real name) ‘a fun-filled all-inclusive resort for dogs’ was high on Gail and Mike’s list. So with Roxy in tow, they set off for a guided tour.

The Doggy Vacation Resort Tour

They met the camp owner in the reception area, where Roxy was given a treat and the tour began. There were ten Doggy Villas, each consisting of a climate-controlled sky lit room featuring a low sprung bed and a mounted TV out of paws’ reach. A doggy door led out to a long fully fenced run. Roxy wouldn’t be spending much time there though, as she would have a full day of ‘camp’ activities.

Bow-wow Beach was a crystal-clear filtered pond surrounded by a white sand play area. One look at that water was all Roxy needed as she plunged in and happily retrieved a large yellow rubber ducky. Coaxed out of the pond, Roxy rejoined the tour when she heard she would visit The Snack Shack twice daily for healthy treats. She would also have a daily hour in The Gym, a former horse arena now filled with giant rolling balls and an obstacle course with stairs, tunnels and slides of all sizes. A morning or evening leashed walk would be taken through Woof Woods Walking Trails, and Roxy would also enjoy twice daily room service meals and health checks, as well as regular one-on-one with a counsellor. Gail and Mike were sold, and with some help from the owner, they arranged Roxy’s daily schedule:

• Room-service Breakfast
• Gym
• Snack Shack
• Villa nap and TV time
• Bow-wow Beach
• Snack Shack
• One-on-One time
• Room-service Dinner
• Woof Woods Walk
• Villa TV time and Bed

My how time flies when you’re in puppy paradise!

Drop-off day went swimmingly. Roxy spotted Bow-wow Beach on her way into camp and nothing could dissuade her from taking a refreshing dip. Gail and Mike left her playing water-fetch with her counsellor – Roxy never looked back. Pickup day arrived two weeks later, and Roxy, fresh from The Spa, waited impatiently in the reception area. She was happy to see her pet-parents, but definitely more interested in watching her dog pals through the window – playing fetch on Bow-Wow Beach!

Along with their invoice, Gail and Mike received a photo album containing pics of Roxy’s camp adventures and a glowing report card on her daily mood, food, activities and health.

“Yes, it did cost more than a regular kennel, but our peace of mind and her happiness were so worth it,” her pet-parents reported. You too can find some or all of these fun features at many Australian boarding kennels. Our advice? Search online, read the reviews, check referrals and visit ahead of time so there are no last-minute surprises.

After all … dogs just wanna have fun!

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