Country Acres Kennels is one of the largest boarding and training kennels in the United States with space for over 300 dogs and cats as well as other pets including, birds, fish, hamsters and rabbits, just to name a few.   Our family has been in the animal business for four (5) generations and we have been at our current location for over 35 years.  We have the experience, space, professional staff and first class facilities that pets need.  Looking at it from the animals point of view, “Country Acres Kennels is a  Tail Wagg’in  kind of place.”

We are very proud of our animal oriented staff and facilities and we take our clients’ trust in us very seriously. We encourage our clients to tour the Kennel anytime the pets are not being fed.  Unlike many other kennels, we don’t have any “Staff Only” signs anywhere. We want our clients to see where their pets are going to stay and understand exactly what we can and cannot do for them while they are in our care.  A Kennel Manager resides on the property.

Country Acres Kennels is a hotel, day spa and training camp for pets.  Although we have veterinarians on staff, we are not a veterinary hospital, and we don’t allow sick pets in the Kennel.  When you go on vacation you don’t book a room at a hospital, you book a room at a hotel.  Healthy pets should not be stuffed in little cages in the back room of a hospital with sick pets.  They should be at the Country Club playing and having fun with all their friends.

At the Kennel dogs that enjoy the back yard have large covered outdoor runs where they have plenty of room to run around, smaller indoor runs are available for dogs that stay in the house all the time. We have the space dogs need.  Owners are encouraged to personally put their dogs into their dog runs and cats into their condos when they bring them in. This helps pets feel more secure.  Upon returning owners are again encouraged to go into the Kennel and get their pets out of their run or condo.  This helps owners feel more secure.  Again, we don’t exclude owners from going anywhere in the Kennel. We run a 1st Class operation and we are proud to show it off. We are animal people and we understand the bond between you and your pet(s).  We would not leave our pets anywhere that we couldn’t see and inspect and we don’t expect our clients to either.

For dogs that enjoy additional play and exercise optional Play Times are available at a small additional charge. We take dogs out into large play yards and play ball or Frisbee and during the summer they can go swimming in one of our Doggie Swimming Pools.  Should you have any special requests just tell us when you check your pet(s) in and we will do whatever you want.  Just like any other hotel, you can have whatever level of facilities and service you desire, as long as you are willing to pay the charges. 

Cats and other pets have separate facilities away from the dogs.  Cats have built in two story condos with plenty of room for food, water, litter box and toys.  We let cats run around in the cat room while we are cleaning and feeding; however, we don’t take them outside for obvious reasons.  We have several staff members who are “Cat People”; so they spend a lot of time with the cats.  As you know, dogs have masters; cats have “Staff.”

Pets can occasionally get sick or hurt at the Kennel just as they can at home or anywhere else.  We do everything possible for the well being of pets in our care. However, it is outside our power or your power to totally control everything a pet does.  Since all pets are required to be properly vaccinated prior to boarding and we do not board sick pets, we have a very low incident rate of problems, less than (0.01%).  Most of these are minor in nature and are solved with a little TLC and some first aid crème or a spoonful of Kaopectate.   More serious problems are seen by one of the staff veterinarians and if necessary transferred to a veterinary hospital.  Any emergency veterinary care needed for pets in our care is charged to the client. We cannot and do not make any promises or guarantees that a pet cannot get sick, injured or even die while at the Kennel.  Should a problem occur we do promise that we will do everything possible to help your pet, just as you the owner would do at home. However, we cannot and do not accept any responsibility for anything outside of our ability to control.

KENNEL POLICIES:         

1.  All charges, including any veterinary charges, must be paid in full prior to pets leaving the Kennel; we don’t do any billing.   There is a 2 day minimum boarding charge on all pets staying overnight.  Any additional services such as training, grooming, playtimes, medication, veterinary expenses, etc. are charged over and above the base boarding charge.  We will do anything our clients wish to pay for as long as it is not harmful to the pet.  “You got the money, we got the time.”

2.  For sanitary and parasite control reasons we provide carpet in all the runs which we wash every day.  We do not allow clients to put their own blankets etc. in runs as these would be impossible to keep clean.  Dogs can choke on toys and bones, so we can’t put them in runs either. 

3.  Kennel office hours for check-in and out are: Monday - Friday 7:00A.M. - 7:00P.M.. Saturday 7:00A.M. - 4:00P.M.. Sunday 4:00P.M. - 7:00P.M.. Check-out time is 12:00 noon.  Boarding is charged for the day pets come in regardless of time.  Pets checked out prior to 12:00 noon are not charged for that day.  The only exception is Sunday. The Kennel staff is here all day cleaning, feeding, walking and caring for all the pets; however, the office staff only comes in from 4:00P.M. - 7:00P.M..  Pets picked up on Sunday are charged for Sunday.  The charge would be the same if the pet was picked up before 12:00 noon on Monday. 

4.  Dogs are fed  Showcoat Lamb and Rice dog food., which is one of the best foods available on the market.  Cats are fed Purina cat food.  If you want your pet fed something different, bring it pre-packaged per serving in zip lock bags. We will be glad to give it to him/her at no additional charge. Daily afternoon biscuit treats are given to all the dogs.

5.  All pets must be current on vaccinations prior to boarding.  This includes Bordetella for all dogs.  Vaccinations take 7-21 days to take effect, so have your pet properly vaccinated well in advance of coming to the Kennel. We don’t board sick pets.

6.  There is a $5.00 daily charge for all medications given at the kennel. 

FAQ:

Q.  I’ve heard bad stories about kennels.
A.  There are good and bad kennels, veterinarians, dog groomers, and lawyers etc.  There has never been a day in over 35 years, including Christmas and Thanksgiving that every pet in the Kennel has not been properly taken care of.  Even though the office is closed and the office staff are gone, the Kennel staff are at work taking care of all the pets in the Kennel and the manager lives on the property and oversees everything.

Q.  My vet says I should board my pet at the hospital.
A.  Up until a few years ago it was clearly stated in the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) code of ethics that it was unethical for veterinarians to board healthy pets in hospitals.  All veterinary hospitals have sick pets.  Many dog and cat diseases are viral and airborne.  Anytime pets go into a hospital they are exposed. There is no such thing as isolation when it comes to airborne viruses and no vaccine manufactured is 100% effective. This is why we don’t allow sick pets in the Kennel.

Q.  What about having a neighbor or Pet Sitter feed my dog?
A.  The Kennel in conjunction with the Arlington Humane Society operates the Lost and Found Dog System for the mid-cities area.  Every week we receive calls from owners who come home from vacation only to find their dog gone.  Dogs that have never dug under or jumped over a fence will when you’re gone.  They get anxious when you don’t come home when you are expected.  Boarding at the Kennel is reasonable and secure; also, dogs have fun being around other dogs.  It’s a  vacation for them too.

Q.  What about fleas and ticks and having my dog bathed?
A.  We spray the Kennel regularly and check all the pets, but this is Texas.  They can invade your yard or our Kennel anytime. Dogs have a good time in the Kennel but, they are going to get scruffy, some more than others.  If you want to take home a clean dog schedule him/her to be bathed just prior to pick-up.  We charge minimal rates for bathing and dipping dogs  when they are kenneled.