Your pet dog can enjoy a stay in a luxury kennels
DO YOU ever dread leaving your dog behind when you are going on holiday. Fret no more because now your canine best friend can enjoy a stay in a luxury kennels which has just opened in Kilmore village.
‘Bed & Biscuit’ has been built by dog lovers Yvonne Rossiter and Ian Hepworth as a safe, warm and friendly haven for dogs while their owners are away.
The five-star facility was specially-designed and purpose-built with 15 individual cottage-style kennels, each containing a raised orthopaedic bed fitted with a warm fleecy topper. The doors are made of glass instead of prison-like bars so the ‘guests’ can see out.
Visiting dogs are brought on regular walks in the fresh sea air outside and there are indoor and outdoor play areas for them to enjoy.
Yvonne, a former physiotherapist and CEO is a trained canine first aider and has certificates in dog psychology and grooming.
She worked as a physiotherapist for many years in the UK before returning 10 years ago to her roots in Kilmore, where she was born, and where her family come from. Her parents Michael and Colette Rossiter also live in Kilmore where Michael was born and raised as were his parents before him.
Two years ago Yvonne made the decision to change her career and started to consider the possibility of opening a kennels as she has a great love of dogs and of the outdoors.
‘I’ve always had a love of all animals and in particular dogs. As a child I’d often turn up with stray animals and finally my parents gave in and I got my first puppy at 13 years old and I have never looked back,’ she said.
‘Ian is equally nuts about dogs, having shared his home with various dogs, big and small all his life. We now share our home with two slightly spoilt and slightly mad dogs - Max, a large Munsterlander and Molly, a Cocker Spaniel. It was them that gave me the inspiration to open a kennels.’
Yvonnne said holidays for her always came with a sense of dread because she was leaving her dogs with someone else and wherever it was, it was likely to be a traditional kennel and very different from the home environment.
‘Kennels are generally grey concrete blocks with bars that make them look like a prison. We decided to get away from that,’ said Yvonne.
‘The lives of dogs have changed. Years ago they were kept outside or in the garage but now they are very much part of the family and are free to roam around the house and sleep on the furniture. We’re trying to cater for where dogs are at nowadays.’
Yvonne and Ian undertook much research, considering numerous kennel designs and kennel regulations in Australia and the UK in order to build a kennels that not only met and exceeded those standards but also delivered the best and most comfortable accommodation for dogs staying at the Bed & Biscuit.
‘It’s never going to be the same as a dog’s own home but we wanted to make it as nice as possible,’ said Yvonne who likes to ensure that each guest dog gets some one-on-one attention every day.