Print Version
Email this story
Comment
A dog-gone good Christmas
 |
| Joe Meyer, morning crew manager at Double-C Pet Supplies on Washburn Way, washes the face of Charger while getting a doggie kiss from Desi Saturday morning. The animals were among 200 pets boarded at Double C for the holiday weekend. |
Published December 26, 2004
By LEE BEACH
A clean bed, food, a walk in the sun, maybe a scratch under the chin - what more could a dog or cat ask on Christmas?
How about a Christmas dinner of dog biscuits, treats and dried vegetables that contained flavors of smoked turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, vegetable medley, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie?
That was the $4.25 special Saturday at Double-C, 4141 Washburn Way, where nine employees were working on Christmas to care for 228 pets boarded there on the holiday.
This is a busy time of year for animal caregivers because this is a time when humans are on the road and need lodging for their pets.
"We'll split up the day, and nine employees will work just half a day," said Joe Meyer, morning crew manager, as he passed by row upon row of portable cages set up for small dogs in the warmer training area.
The Christmas chorus his passage set off was a cacaphony of barks and yips, but it would have been music to the ears of pet owners and lovers.
"I haven't heard Skye all morning," said Kendra Wallace, who brings her pet while she works. "He can't get a word in edgewise."
Meyer carried a kit of supplies as he visited larger accommodations for "families of dogs." Desi, Charger and Tyke, two golden retrievers and a border terrier, greeted him with wild enthusiasm as he arrived to wash their faces and brush them.
In a "quiet room," for older or more sensitive animals, one dog and cat from the same home got special "together time, because they're such buddies at home," Meyer said.
This 20,000-square-foot "inn" was full, but by 10 a.m., "everybody's room's been scrubbed and cleaned. and everybody has gone out for a potty break. That's a lot of trips," said co-owner Jo Anne Carson.
Most of the animals were dogs.
Jennifer Hayes swabbed the floor and said she enjoyed the work. "I love pets; I love working and playing with them. It's just a lot of fun."
Melissa Pecor said the pets get individual attention: "We try to use their names as much as possible, to make them comfortable."
A clipboard at each enclosure gives the pets' and owners' names, special instructions, medications and care the owners have requested. Carson said the business uses nine computers to keep track of all the needs of the pets. The business has doubled in size in 11 years, she said.
Today, 68 "guests" are scheduled to go home, and 90 more will go home by Wednesday.
More are to arrive during the week, and Carson expected the population at Double-C to be 150 on New Year's Day. Some will stay as long as two weeks.
The business also has a few pets that don't belong to anyone. They're dogs and cats from the Humane Society. Double-C donates 10 rooms each for dogs and cats to give them more exposure - Carson hopes they will be adopted, as approximately 3,000 pets have been, through the Pet Connection.
By LEE BEACH
A clean bed, food, a walk in the sun, maybe a scratch under the chin - what more could a dog or cat ask on Christmas?
How about a Christmas dinner of dog biscuits, treats and dried vegetables that contained flavors of smoked turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, vegetable medley, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie?
That was the $4.25 special Saturday at Double-C, 4141 Washburn Way, where nine employees were working on Christmas to care for 228 pets boarded there on the holiday.
This is a busy time of year for animal caregivers because this is a time when humans are on the road and need lodging for their pets.
"We'll split up the day, and nine employees will work just half a day," said Joe Meyer, morning crew manager, as he passed by row upon row of portable cages set up for small dogs in the warmer training area.
The Christmas chorus his passage set off was a cacaphony of barks and yips, but it would have been music to the ears of pet owners and lovers.
"I haven't heard Skye all morning," said Kendra Wallace, who brings her pet while she works. "He can't get a word in edgewise."
Meyer carried a kit of supplies as he visited larger accommodations for "families of dogs." Desi, Charger and Tyke, two golden retrievers and a border terrier, greeted him with wild enthusiasm as he arrived to wash their faces and brush them.
In a "quiet room," for older or more sensitive animals, one dog and cat from the same home got special "together time, because they're such buddies at home," Meyer said.
This 20,000-square-foot "inn" was full, but by 10 a.m., "everybody's room's been scrubbed and cleaned. and everybody has gone out for a potty break. That's a lot of trips," said co-owner Jo Anne Carson.
Most of the animals were dogs.
Jennifer Hayes swabbed the floor and said she enjoyed the work. "I love pets; I love working and playing with them. It's just a lot of fun."
Melissa Pecor said the pets get individual attention: "We try to use their names as much as possible, to make them comfortable."
A clipboard at each enclosure gives the pets' and owners' names, special instructions, medications and care the owners have requested. Carson said the business uses nine computers to keep track of all the needs of the pets. The business has doubled in size in 11 years, she said.
Today, 68 "guests" are scheduled to go home, and 90 more will go home by Wednesday.
More are to arrive during the week, and Carson expected the population at Double-C to be 150 on New Year's Day. Some will stay as long as two weeks.
The business also has a few pets that don't belong to anyone. They're dogs and cats from the Humane Society. Double-C donates 10 rooms each for dogs and cats to give them more exposure - Carson hopes they will be adopted, as approximately 3,000 pets have been, through the Pet Connection.
 |
 |
|
| Washburn Way SUV collision kills pair | Air Guard family tot gets her Christmas wish - a U.S. flag |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
RSS
Rob Mutch wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:15 AM: