Danielle and JC – two of the “boys” favorite ladies.

I took the boys to day camp this morning, and while most readers are aware they attend “Doggie Day Camp” many others do not. For those that think this is the craziest notion in the world, it’s okay –  I have no intention of trying to convert you (not yet!), but if you have a dog that spends a great deal of time at home – alone, you may want to look into this.

I started Harley there at 4 months old because all the text books said “puppies need to be socialized with other dogs.” We have all witnessed two strange dogs in a public place acting like they’ve lost their ever loving minds, barking, pulling, snarling, trying to kill one another AND they’ve never seen each other before (you get the picture, right?). Well most canine books, blame this behavior on (not breed, or owners) “lack of a puppy socialization plan.” Now I agree just like people, there are some dogs out there that are just plain evil (ha!), but because I was determined to get this thing right from jump street, I “enrolled” Harley for a couple of days a week – thinking I would do this for a couple of months, check this off our “to do” list, and that would be that. Well the Pet Resort makes you want to return! The staff is phenomenal and the facility is the human Four Star Hotel equivalent. Even if you don’t have a dog, visit OLDE TOWNE PET RESORT and check it out for yourself.

Whether you want to board your dog or cat; have them bathed or groomed to perfection; let them take swimming lessons (which I highly recommend) for the puppy going to the beach or lake for the first time, or an older dog with achy bones; or if you’re looking to get some extra attention in small classroom settings for puppy obedience; or want to start agility training as exercise for older dogs; this is the place. First impressions are lasting ones – tis true. But acts of kindness are embedded in the heart – they’re the best…

One day I waited for them to bring Harley down from his activity room, and I witnessed the sweetest thing. Ashley and Dannielle were working at the front desk that afternoon and a lady was on hold on the phone. Ashley was on one phone talking with the camp counselors upstairs as Danielle held the other phone waiting and watching the monitor for a particular scruffy little dog to come to the camera. I will admit, I was a little puzzled trying to figure out what they were attempting to do. Did I mention you can log on at any time to their web cam and watch your dog from your PC, or smart phone in actual time? Okay back to the story. So when the counselor held the dog up in front of the camera I heard Danielle ask the owner over the phone if she could see her? For several minutes the staff treated this like some tactical maneuver: “a little more to the right, now back up, hold it, hold still…” I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep quiet any longer (mind you, Harley had come down a while ago and we’re still waiting in the lobby like we missed the bus!).

Once the call ended I asked the ladies what was going on. And they casually explained (as if it was just another day helping their clients), the owner was on her 2nd tour in Afghanistan and boarded her dog with them. She had already been gone over six months and the web cam doesn’t work over seas in a war zone area, so when she can, she will call and they pick this little dog up and hold her in front of the camera to give a solider a little piece of home, a warm tingle in her heart, and perhaps a smile for the rest of the day. This, my friends, is the perfect place for me to leave my “boys” for a couple of hours, a couple of days a week. So check them out – if they’re in your area, stop by, and tell them “the boys” sent you! Have a blast this weekend, we’ll blog again soon.

PS: Would love to post your comments on the boys and their adventures. So scroll down and leave a comment. Share your thoughts, feedback, topic suggestions, ask questions,  whatever…