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Pets get a vacation at Howlin’ Moon
Published 11:58am Thursday, December 22, 2011
For those in need of a place to board their pet during their holiday vacation, the Lake Martin area now has a pet resort for dogs and cats of all sizes.
The Howlin’ Moon Pet Resort opened Friday, Dec. 16, on Gardner Fairy Road in Dadeville.
Owner Patti Harrelson said opening a pet resort has been her dream for many years. Now that she’s retired, after 25 years of teaching special education classes in Dadeville, she finally decided to do it.
She and co-owner Karen Newman began building plans for the pet resort in April after hiring a contractor.
Harrelson said they are proud of their facility and are now ready for pets to fill the kennels.
The Howlin’ Moon Pet Resort has 10 dog kennels for small, medium, large and extra large dogs, weighing from one to over 100 pounds. The dog kennels include beds made with fleece blankets, carpet to lie on, as well as access to the outside. Outside access leads to the dog’s own covered space as well as an entire area to run and get exercise with other dogs they get along.
Boarding prices vary by a dog’s weight, but no price is over $20.
Cat boarding is also available for $13 a night, and the kennels include several areas for jumping and climbing, scratch poles and toys to play with.
Day care for dogs and cats is half the price of boarding fees.
Harrelson said the pet resort is willing to work with people on pricing.
Pet owners who have two dogs that can share the same kennel a 25 percent discount is applied to the boarding fee.
Along with the pet resort, Harrelson and Newman own Lake Martin Pet Sitting where they go to people’s homes and take care of their pets while also bringing in their mail, watering plants and doing other odd end jobs while the pet owners are away.
Harrelson said if someone uses both the pet sitting and pet resort services they can also receive a 25 percent discount.
Harrelson said she has worked with animal rescue for about 11 years and has a passion for working with animals.
Because of her passion, she said she has incorporated several services to her resort, which make it pet friendly as well as a home away from home.
Such services include a self-service hydraulic tub for pet owners to give their pets a bath, Harrelson said pet owners can use their products, brushes, clippers, etc., and it’s half the price than if the pet resort does the grooming.
Harrelson said bath services include cleaning of ears, eyes, teeth and nails as well as a brush.
Amanda Patterson who said she has nine years of training in the pet care industry does grooming and pet training.
Special pet resorts services also include a playroom where pets can watch movies, sit and look out windows or lay in several choices of dog beds.
Pet owners can bring their own pet food, Harrelson said, or the pet resort will provide all natural food for them at an additional cost.
Harrelson said she hopes one selling point will be that she lives on the premises of the resort, making her available at any time for all of the pet’s needs.
Along with the pet resort’s services, Harrelson said they offer pet transport and will take animals to the veterinarian, buy their the food, or if someone has an emergency and can’t get their pets to the resort, they will go and get the animal.
Overall, Harrelson said The Howlin’ Moon Pet Resort will not just be a place where dogs stay in their kennels all day. She said the staff would be active with the dogs, spending time with them and walking them regularly.
Alexander City resident Myra Cash said she is excited about the new facility.
“We’ve been needing a place like this on Lake Martin for a long, long time,” Cash said. “People want to leave their pets where they know they’re being taken care of … Most places, when you take them to the vet, they’re in a small crate situation, crowded in and only taken out a couple times to use the potty, and that’s not healthy. So this is going to be wonderful. Patti has done a bang up job.”
The Howlin’ Moon Pet Resort is located at 333 Gardner Dairy Road, Dadeville.
