Pet with Special Needs
Aggressive dogs
Dogs who are aggressive to other animals but friendly to people pose no problem in the kennel setting. Each run is private and therefore all dogs are kept separate unless their owner enrolls them in group play. Hickory Springs is also prepared to deal with dogs who are aggressive to people. Owners of such dogs set their pet up in the run and then retrieve them from the run at pick-up. Because we have indoor out-door runs, we can provide aggressive dogs with quality care without putting our staff in danger.
Geriatric Residents
Many of our beloved visitors are in the later years of life. Our inside-only section is where these dogs can receive the closest monitoring and non-fluctuating temperatures. Thick bedding is provided for our older boarders, especially those suffering from painful and weak hips.
Medically Fragile Pets
Many of the pets who board with us require the administration of medication. Unless instructed otherwise we wrap pills in liverwurst – few dogs refuse this tasty treat. Clients should bring all medications in their original prescription bottles and discuss their pet’s medical needs at check-in.
“Must Walk” dogs
The vast majority of dogs who are completely house broken at home are comfortable going to the bathroom in the outside portion (concrete floor) of their kennel run. There are a few dogs who will not use their run. We carefully monitor if and how often the dogs go to the bathroom. If we notice a dog not using their run we make them a “must walk” which means we leash walk them three times a day.
Nervous/timid boarders
It is not unusual for first time boarders to exhibit some trepidation. It generally takes 24-48 hours for especially nervous pets to adjust to the kennel environment, often much sooner. Our staff is fully prepared to recognize the signs of nervousness and then take action to mitigate it. We do our very best to pay special attention to such animals and help them adjust to their home away from home.
Picky Eaters
We are very familiar with dealing with boarders who lose their appetite during their stay. Barring any allergies, we do everything we can to get your pet to eat. The owners have been known to make homemade roasted herb chicken and rice if that is what it takes for a resident to eat. Owners should inform the staff at check-in of any known food allergies.
