I am sure there are plenty of wonderful doggie daycares in the New England area but I know my coonhound and I know she would not do well without her two cat brothers, Henry and Buster, and she certainly wouldn't do well without her owners, especially if she had to stay there overnight. Because she lived in several homes before we adopted her last year, I fear she would think we were giving her up for another adoption if we left her at a boarding facility but if we left her at a family style boarding facility I believe she would be very comfortable.
One family-style boarding facility that I have heard rave reviews about is Saddleback Pet Services and it is located in Northwood, NH, which is less than an hour away from our home in Manchester. This facility won my approval immediately after viewing the above picture simply because it does not look like a typical kennel. Plus, Daisy is used to walking up to the front doors of homes because she normally does that when I take her to work with me and she'd have no fear of this location at all.
It gives me peace of mind that the owner, Nancy (a former veterinary technician), lives on the property with her husband, Hugh Davis, (a veterinary technician) and there is always someone at the house overnight. It is also comforting to know that in the event of a true emergency, they are conveniently located 30 minutes from three major emergency clinics offering high quality medical care.
I was also happy to read about their kennels (as quoted directly from their website) : Our roomy inside kennels allow for each dog to have privacy from their neighbor to help increase their sense of security. A quick step through a small door will bring your dog to their individual outdoor run where they can lie in the sun and get some fresh air.
Each kennel room has a large ceiling fan and a separate thermostat so we can adjust the temperature for the types of dogs we have at the moment. We also have some private areas with air conditioning for breeds that may struggle in the heat. In the winter months, the outside runs have radiant heat to prevent ice build-up so that the areas can be cleaned properly and there are no injuries from slipping.
As a pet sitter who knows that various Manchester area doggie daycares charge extra for playtime, I am extremely impressed that Saddleback does not charge extra for it. I've always thought that playtime should be all-inclusive in the cost of daycare and thank goodness Saddleback agrees with me!
Remember: Family Style Boarding means:
A loving place, never being alone, walks and play, potty breaks all day long, peace of mind, a warm welcome, consistent supervision, eating well, your dog's very own vacation, sleeping soundly, taking their medication ....everything they do at home!!!!!!