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Klip’N K-9’s employees Mickey Babcock (left) and Santana Molina groomed Sophie the dog Tuesday.
When pet owners go away for the holidays, they are not always able to bring their furry family members along. This often leads to pet boarding.
Leaving pets in an unfamiliar place may be difficult for owners, but Klip’N K-9’s employees Mickey Babcock and Santana Molina assure owners that their pets are well taken care of while they’re away.
“Here, we have the kennel ready for them before the pets even come in,” Molina said. “Once they get here, we help them to get settled in.
They also have a plan for newcomers.
“If a dog comes in that hasn’t been boarded before, we’ll let them out on a leash and introduce them to other dogs so they become more comfortable with them,” Babcock said.
Even when employees are away, Molina said the owner has eyes on the place at all times.
“There’s monitors outside, so pets are monitored at all times,” she said. “Ashley (Werth) and I have an app on our phone where we can see what’s going on when we’re not here.”
Babcock recommends that owners bring items that are familiar to their pets to make them feel more at home.
“If an owner brings something in for the pet, like a blanket or a toy, we have baskets for them to use,” she said. “Each pet has their own basket. This place is very clean, and it’s very organized.”
As of Tuesday, Klip’N K-9’s was boarding 10 dogs and one cat, but they can board up to 14 animals. Other local businesses that offer pet boarding are West Texas Animal Clinic and Dog Trot Boarding and Grooming.
“We’ve been boarding pets for about 35 years,” Dr. Charles Church of West Texas Animal Clinic said. “We do the usual stuff: fix them up, take care of them, make sure they’re fed. Sometimes owners will bring special treats or medications when they leave their pets.”
Over the Christmas holiday, the animal clinic boarded about 25-30 pets, and the number of pets they can take in depends on the sizes of the animals, Church said.
“Our regulars will call and make reservations in advance, but we try to take in as many as we can,” Church said.
Dog Trot Boarding and Grooming owner Carla Bradshaw said that there are benefits to boarding pets.
“With myself, I’m here with them 24/7,” she said. “Pets like to socialize, and there’s somebody here with them. They have their own facility, there’s an exercise yard, and it’s secure.”
Bradshaw has been boarding pets for about 18 years, and has advice for pet owners who might consider boarding.
“I would advise pet owners to go and check out the facility,” she said.
According to Klip’N K-9’s employees, the number of pets boarded spikes over the holidays.
“Most people call in advance to reserve a place, but we do have some people that show up at the last minute,” Santana said. “We’ll take them in as long as we have room for them.”
When keeping other people’s pets, Babcock said it’s important to be prepared for anything.
“Last week, we had a mama dog, who delivered her puppies here,” she said. “It was unexpected, but it was fun. We have some pretty savvy people on our team who have a lot of canine and feline knowledge. We have a few medical supplies on hand, and most of the girls who work here have worked for Dr. (Charles) Church (of West Texas Animal Clinic). Ashley has close contact with Dr. Church in case of emergencies.”