By Mike McKenna
There’s an old saying that goes, “All dogs go to heaven.”
While anyone who’s read Stephen King’s Cujo might have concerns with that, most of the dogs you’ll ever meet are loyal, loving, comforting and fun. Dogs become more than our pets. They become our family.
But just like some of our family members, we can’t always take them everywhere we go. That’s why Happy Tails Haven Pet Boarding is a dream-come-true for local dog and cat owners. The cage-free facility includes 24-hour staffed care (and cuddling) for boarding pets.
Happy Tails Haven is located in the former Pet Ranch, a log cabin home turned into a pet-boarding-facility mid-Valley, just north of the Sun Valley Animal Center.
Emily Parker had been the lead caregiver at “The Ranch” for a decade when the property was sold and set to close. Emily, who grew up in Bellevue, knew how important the facility was to so many local cats and dogs. So she decided to step up and save the place. Thanks to help from her family, friends and co-worker, Jonny Hankins, Happy Tails Haven opened up last fall.
“It’s really an amazing place,” Emily said. “The dogs love it. It’s a little doggie oasis.”
The facility is really much more like a home than a traditional kennel and even includes a small pond in the fenced-in backyard. The main house is completely dog-friendly, including the furniture. A dog-door to the backyard is open during the day, so the dogs can pretty much do whatever makes them happy.
Happy Tails Haven can board up to 10 dogs at a time, all of which are vetted for temperament before being allowed to stay. As Emily explained about their regular four-legged guests, “The dogs are like an old friend group reuniting.”
The cat room includes two different rooms, “suites and condos,” with large windows and a common room. With staff on the property 24 hours a day, seven days a week, none of the pets are left alone—or without affection.
“Dogs and cats are like my part-time pets,” Emily said about her work at Happy Tails Haven. “I completely love them like my own. This is a real ‘feel good’ job.
“One of the only real problems with dogs is that they often go to heaven too soon, so making sure their time with us is fun and not fearful a is big priority for many of our clients.
“Dogs and cats need a home-away-from-home when their owners are away. Their lives are too short to be confused or scared on a concrete floor,” Emily said. “It’s tough to enjoy your time away if you’re worried about your dog. We offer somewhere safe and comforting. We’re here for both the pets and people, to make sure you can enjoy your trip and so can they.”
While Happy Tails Haven is a bit more expensive than traditional kennel costs, the dogs and cats are certainly better off for the investment in their happiness. “It’s a real dog heaven, especially in the summer,” Emily said.
Since it’s probably true that all dogs go to heaven, it’s nice that they can see how it feels by staying with the caring folks at Happy Tails Haven.
Find out more at HappyTailsHaven.net or call 208-720-0164.
