Lucky Dog

Published 6:29 pm Saturday, April 12, 2008

One of the many concerns that dog owners face during the holidays is what to do with their pets when they have to go away overnight or longer. You could take your pet with you but that’s not always practical.

You could leave your dog at home and have someone stop in to care for it. But your pet would get lonely and there’s no one there to make sure it’s all right. Regular boarding facilities are often bleak and unappealing.

Now there is another alternative for your pet. Canine Cozy Care Resort offers four-legged guests large, private, indoor suites with all the comforts of home. Your pet can even opt for a luxury view suite with a chance to watch dog movies. A Doggie Limo — a full-size limousine — is available for guest pick-ups and drop-offs.

The facility is the brainchild of longtime dog lovers and dog breeders Allan and Julie Winters. When building the resort, they added all of the extras they knew pet owners would want for their furry friends. It is the same high standards that they would demand for their own pets.

“Canine Cozy Care Resort suites boast radiant floor heating, epoxy floor to eliminate diseases and sheetrock walls that are textured and painted like those in your own home,” Allan Winters said.

Each suite is also individually ventilated so they stay smelling as sparkling clean as they are kept. Dogs get a cot and blanket to sleep on. The couple’s individual attention and exercise are standard and not an extra charge. Suites also feature soothing music.

What both pets and owners seem to like best about the resort is how much it looks like a real house rather than a boarding kennel. There’s no chain-link fencing and raw concrete inside. Everything has been finished to give a feeling of home.

“It is less stressful for the dogs because they are in a very home-like environment,” Winters said. “This is especially nice for dogs that are used to spending time indoors with their families.”

Large, fully fenced outdoor play areas are available for fun and exercise, but if the weather is bad, there is an indoor play area, too. The Winters family thought of every comfort when they built the facility.

While your dog is at the resort, you can schedule grooming services, such as bathing, ear and eye cleaning and nail trimming. All canine guests are checked for signs of fleas when they enter, and treated if necessary, which means the facility remains flea-free.

Canine Cozy Care Resort also offers doggie daycare service. It’s very handy for those times when you have small visitors at home that might stress your dog or when there are contractors working on your home.

The Doggie Limo can be hired for your other canine transportation needs as well. These can include trips to the vet or just a luxury lift to the dog park.

Holiday reservations for Canine Cozy Care Resort should be made soon to ensure availability. The Better Business Bureau-accredited facility is located just off Interstate 5 in Stanwood. There is a dog shop onsite. You can also get hours and more information online at www.cccresort.net or call 360-939-2227.