Doggy Day Care in Rock Spring

“Julie was wonderful with my boy Hook! He has separation anxiety but with Julie he felt comfortable and even gave snuggles. Would definitely recommend!”

Beverly P.

About: “Little Friend Inn” offers walking, boarding in our home, and drop-in visits in your home. We care most about your dog’s safety, comfort, and happiness. Our home is clean and smoke-free. We make it a priority to ensure your pet has a comfortable experience, and we enjoy giving them special perks that make them happy. As a homeschool mom of three delightful teenagers, I am at home much of the time. Our family will enjoy spoiling your pooch with scratches, rubs, playtimes, and lap times if desired.

About: Hey there! My name is Jen, and I would love to take care of your babies for you! A bit about me: I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician of 10+ years, with the majority of my experience being in surgery/anesthesia and working in emergency triage. My husband is a Veterinarian/Surgeon with 25 years under his belt this year. He does not help with care and is not responsible for my clients, but is always available for advice and input. In addition, I am a Certified Feline Behaviorist (think Jackson Galaxy!) and thoroughly enjoy working with feline behavior concerns to help keep cats in their homes. I also have experience with basic level dog training and work with a variety of local clients on basic obedience, potty training, crate training, bite inhibition for puppies, etc. in addition to professional pet sitting, boarding, daycare, and basic grooming, I am capable and available for a variety of veterinary technician services like medication/fluid administration, insulin administration, bandage changes, nail trims, etc. I also have a solid understanding of disease and parasite transmission as well as toxicity exposure/ingestion risks and act accordingly with the pets in my care. I interned for several years at Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI and for a year at Chattanooga Zoo here in TN. My husband did a residency at Montgomery Zoo in Alabama, and we met 10 years ago when we both used to own large reptile breeding businesses, primarily working with a variety of snakes. I have also spent years as a wildlife rehabber, working primarily with rabbits, squirrels, song birds, opossums, and native reptiles. Thus in addition to dogs and cats, I am well-versed in the care and biological needs of practically every species you can think of! In addition to my professional skills, education, and experience, I have immense personal experience -- essentially from the moment I was born. My mother has run a cat rescue in Wisconsin for decades, and my grandfather did the same before her. I also have been rescuing cats for the past 20 years. My parents have always kept a wide variety of pets, ranging from cats and dogs to fish, reptiles, small mammals/pocket pets, and exotics, so I have been immersed in caring for almost every kind of pet you can think of since before I can remember. I also have always had an invisible neon sign above my head that only animals can see, which has made it so that all injured, young, or lost pets and wildlife find their way to me no matter where I am or what I'm doing -- even in Army basic training when I was 20, when I rescued a 10-day-old stray kitten from drowning due to a burst pipe underneath our barracks -- so I have always had animals in my care at any given moment. In our personal lives, we have two children: my 19-year-old son and our 8-year-old daughter, both of whom have been raised in animal rescue, veterinary medicine, pet care and behavior training, etc. and have extensive skills and knowledge of their own which brings me immense pride to see. We have 4 kitties and a Boston Terrier, all of whom are very comfortable with the various visiting pet friends that stay with us. They are also spayed/neutered, UTD on vaccines, negative for all common communicable diseases, and UTD on heartworm/flea/tick prevention. My boarding pets have spaces away from our pets if necessary, so interaction is not required and separation is just fine! I have never known a life without being surrounded by animals, without my clothes being covered in fur, and without being called to help care for animals in need. It is not just what I do, but who I am, down to my very core, and brings me immense joy and gratification. I cannot begin to express how much I love what I do. I love caring for others' pets and giving them the ability to be loved and well cared for when their own loving parents cannot be with them for whatever reason. I also have frequently helped clients become aware of health concerns within their pets that they may not otherwise notice, then can have their regular DVM evaluate and address it -- ranging from skin allergies to yeast infections in ears to heart murmurs to dental disease. I feel that my career position, my education, my decades of experience, my knowledge, and my skillset, not to mention having my DVM husband handy for advice and knowledge, puts me ahead of most pet caretakers. It ensures that your babies are in the safest and most experienced, well-prepared hands they could possibly be in! I currently work remote from home as an emergency triage technician and am the Manager of Performance, Training, and Team Success for GuardianVets, so I am available 7 days per week, 24 hours per day to care for pets in my home. I also have some open availability from 8am to 10pm, so I am able to do drop-ins, potty breaks, feed, scoop litter boxes, change cages/bedding, etc. 2-3 times per day before the final visit for the evening. I can make just about any request work! Care depends on the individual pet, their breed, age, personality and needs, as well as what training and rules their parents have in place for them, and whether they are boarding in my 3600 sq. ft. home or I am caring for them in your home. Pets boarding in my home or coming for Doggy Daycare must be UTD on all core vaccines for their species with verification from their veterinarian. For puppies under 16 weeks of age, they must be UTD with the most recent booster for their age. All puppies under 16 weeks or puppies who have not yet completed all 4 vaccine boosters yet will be the ONLY boarding client I keep during their duration of stay in order to best protect their developing immune system. As you would expect, my home and all supplies (crates, bowls, etc) are thoroughly sanitized after each client. Bowls are washed in the dishwasher at over 140 degrees to sanitize, and all floors and kennels are sanitized with Kennel Care (an effective veterinary-grade disinfectant against Parvo and all other infectious agents). I do also require that all dogs boarding here or coming for Doggy Daycare are either cat-friendly or cat-neutral (meaning they ignore them). We cannot board any dogs who are cat aggressive, small dog aggressive, or obsessive cat/dog chasers, due to the risk to our pets. Even though we have a separate space for boarding dogs, the risk of injury or death is too great if they were to somehow get loose and come into contact with them. I am sorry. This specifically means dogs who have a known history of active aggression toward prey animals or an excessive interest/obsession with chasing small dogs and cats. Simply being vocal toward cats or showing interest and wanting to gently investigate is not aggression and is fine. If you aren't sure how your baby would be, you are absolutely welcome to bring them over for a trial meeting on-leash to see how they do with them first! I will always text daily updates and pics to let you know how your babies are doing and what they are up to! I am an obsessive picture taker anyway, especially with animals. :) BOARDING DOGS: I require all dogs to be crate-trained or at least comfortable being in a crate for safety reasons (i.e. if I need to leave the house for any reason, they must be able to be crated). I keep large and medium sized comfortable, secure crates with comfortable washed fresh blankets for boarding dogs, or you are welcome to bring your own! Most boarding dogs are kept in our master suite so that I can supervise them at all times. On the rare occasion where we have boarding clients from two different families, we will set the other one up in my adult son's room. They are never alone or left ignored. For outgoing dogs who adapt well to any new situation and do well with other animals, they are allowed to run around the house with us, chill on the couch, hang out on the bed and watch TV, etc, unless their parents have trained them not to be on furniture, then we uphold this same rule for them here for consistency and they are offered blankets or beds on the floor. This is always under strict supervision, no unsupervised time loose. For dogs who are more nervous/anxious in new spaces, they are crated and given 3-5 intervals of supervised 1:1 time loose in my large master suite rather than the full house, and away from the cats or our dog if they may upset them. For the most nervous babies, I usually recommend remaining crated in a larger crate so they have room to move around, as they feel most secure there, with regular potty breaks. Similar to boarding at a veterinary clinic. All boarding dogs get lots of outside play time in our yard, always on a 30-foot training leash that is attached to my hand at all times. This lets them run and play and have fun while still always being under my control and security. I do not believe in using tie-outs nor do I ever leave a dog outside alone -- whether that is a client's dog or my own. Feeding is based on their own individual preferences and requirements/instructions from their pet parents. I have all necessary bowls here, just need their food provided. BOARDING CATS: For kitties, the most outgoing, friendly, and adaptable cats are set up in our daughter's bedroom so that they have a whole room with a comfy bed and someone to sleep with at night, as well as a clean sanitized litterbox (unless they bring their own). They are also provided plenty of cat-safe toys and clean blankets to lay on. I can provide litter unless your baby has a preference for a specific type/brand, which is no issue! My daughter LOVES having boarding cats with her and will play with them with wand toys, fuzzy mice, and laser pointers for as long as they are willing, and snuggle them in bed while playing Minecraft. I take care of all the care essentials and always have hands-on time with them to ensure all is well. For the more anxious/scared kitties who prefer to hide and have less interaction, they are kept either in a large multi-level cat condo with a litterbox at the bottom, or a large wire dog crate with the litterbox on one side and a plastic step stool on the other so they can sit elevated on top or hide underneath. I set these up inside my master bedroom if I have no boarding dogs, or my daughter's room if we do. They are allowed to decompress in a quiet warm space, and I will spend lots of time petting and loving on them if they would like it, otherwise I give them their space with just periodic check-ins and caretaking (litter, food, water, etc). BOARDING EXOTICS: Species-dependent, we can discuss specifics! DOGGIE DAYCARE: Exactly the same as boarding, just for shorter periods, whether that's an hour or two while you attend a doctor appt, or 8 hours while you work! PETSITTING IN YOUR HOME: I am fully able to stay 24/7 if you prefer, or I can just stay during the day and then head home around 9pm and back again the next morning. For clients who wish me to stay 24/7 in their home, I will need access to high-speed WiFi in order to work my remote job overnight, as I work third shift. I do not have to be isolated from pets for this job, they can hang out with me. :) While I am in your home, I can sleep either on the couch or in a guest bedroom if you have one and are comfortable, either is fine with me. For couches, I will bring my own pillow and blanket. I will not do any cooking or anything that requires making a mess or cleaning up, and guarantee your home will be left in the same condition/state it was when I arrived, and will take any trash with me when I go. Your pets will sleep wherever they are used to sleeping, so if that's with a person, they are very welcome to sleep with me! I can let them out every 1-2 hours, including while working for puppies and seniors who need overnight potty breaks. DROP-IN VISITS: For pets who stay at home and have me come over for care, I usually come over 2-3x per day for potty breaks, play breaks, a walk, meal times, litter scooping, cage cleaning, etc. and overall health checks to ensure all is well. I will always treat them as if they were my own babies and ensure they get lots of love and exercise to burn off that energy during the short time we have!

“This was our first time trying Rover for day care and Beth was perfect. She had a huge fenced in yard for Myles to go out. He usually naps for 3 hours or more a day but he was having too much fun to sleep. When I picked him up, he was worn out. He went home and slept 14 hours. We will be going back to Beth.”

Fred D.

“Frank always enjoys his stay here, always very happy and very tired from his fun day. I do appreciate the updates, pictures and videos. Highly recommended!”

William V.

“Kayley was super quick to respond & was happy to help at last minute. She done so good with my boy for the day. Would recommend & if i am ever back in town i would use again!”

Kaylee C.

“Ana was so wonderful to Moose! She came home so happy. Ana sent photos throughout the day to update me and I so appreciated that! Thank you!”

Sydney E.

“Excellent.. really cares for our pup...even on rainy days she’s not afraid to take care of our 85 lb girl in the house ha. Can’t say enough good things.. . She has become a regular...”

Kurt P.

About: Adult will be home at all times when boarded pets are here. Fenced in yard with open space to run outside the fenced area as well. Local dog park and trails to take dogs on for additional exercise as requested. Kenneled only with owners directions and request. Okay with medical complexities at the owners comfort and request as adult is a healthcare provider and comfortable providing basic medical cares. No pets will be home alone and I care for each guest pets as I would my own.... and this is quickly realized when I have to say goodbye at boarding pick ups. Boarding only at this time. Will brush,walk, exercise, and give lots of love and attention to any and all guest pets if they were mine.

“Stephanie was absolutely amazing!!!!!!! She sent pics throughout the time she had them and I just knew they were so loved. Thank you again! You are our new sitter!!! Love, Claire & Izzy”

Allison J.

About: I live by the campsite rule — leave things better than you found them. Your home will be exactly as you left it, and your pet will have had a great day. The only evidence will be the pet hair I’ll inevitably wear home on my clothes. No outfit is complete without it. FOR PETS WHO NEED A LITTLE EXTRA PATIENCE Some animals need more than a cheerful hello or a baby voice — they need someone who understands that trust takes time. I’m experienced with anxious, reactive, and shy pets and know how to move slowly, read body language, and let them set the pace. There’s no rushing it, and I wouldn’t want to. For particularly nervous pets, I’m happy to do multiple meet and greets before we start services. SENIOR PETS AND SPECIAL NEEDS I’m comfortable giving medications and following detailed care instructions, especially for senior pets who need extra consistency. Routine is everything to an older animal, and I make sure their day stays as normal as possible while you’re away. Don’t worry about accidents either — as dogs get older, it just happens, and they’ve earned patience and dignity. A HOUSE FULL OF ANIMALS I live with two cats and two dogs, and know firsthand what a multi-pet household actually looks like. I get the order of operations — who needs to eat when, who needs space from whom, which routines work and which ones create chaos. I’m genuinely interested in how your animals already fit together, because that rhythm is what keeps everyone calm. I’ll follow what’s working, not reinvent the wheel. YOUR HOME IS IN GOOD HANDS TOO As a homeowner myself, I notice the details that matter — not just for your pet, but for your home. Water on a hardwood floor gets wiped up immediately. An open window gets closed (especially in a house with cats). I’ll make sure exterior lights are on at night so the house looks lived in, and if the trash can needs to come in from the curb, I’ll grab it. I treat your space the way I’d want someone to treat mine — because I know how costly it can be when little things get missed. And yes, I will absolutely make sure we’re not heating the whole neighborhood. YOU’LL ALWAYS KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING I send regular photo and message updates (maybe too many — I might overdo it) so you can see how your pet is doing while you’re away. Each visit is more than a checklist — my goal is for your pet to feel calm, cared for, and happy, and for you to feel completely at ease leaving them in my care. I’m always happy to set up a meet and greet so we can all get comfortable before booking. My schedule is very flexible, which allows me to accommodate early morning, evening, and weekend visits. I’m often available for short-notice requests and can adjust visit times to match your pet’s normal routine as closely as possible. Because I plan my days around pet care, I’m able to be consistent and dependable with timing and communication. I care for pets in their own home so they can stay comfortable in a familiar environment. During each visit I follow your instructions closely and keep routines consistent, including feeding, fresh water, walks or playtime, litter box or yard care, and making sure doors and gates are secure. I spend time with your pet beyond basic care — whether that means exercise and enrichment for energetic dogs or calm companionship for pets that just want company. I also keep an eye on behavior, appetite, and overall well-being and will let you know if anything seems out of the ordinary. I respect your home as well as your pet. I make sure food and litter areas stay tidy, clean up any accidents, and send updates with photos so you know your pet is safe and cared for while you’re away.

“Another great daycare with Justin! It is a relief to know Gus is well cared for while we are away, and he has a great time! We’ve also noticed Gus loves riding in our car now .. which before was a bit of a struggle!”

Katie C.

“Stephanie was very kind and attentive to Biscotti's food, drink, and activity needs. She monitored B's social activity with her dog and two other "guest Rovers" diligently. Biscotti was calm, joyful, and appropriately tired after a full day of socialization. I would highly recommend Stephanie.”

Frank R.

“Gaby was very flexible with my fluctuating schedule. She was also very welcoming and patient with my pup. She reported back about his day and how he behaved during day care. I highly recommend Gaby.”

Carrie W.

“Took great care of my dog and will definitely use again!”

Klifford H.

“Jason and his wife have a beautiful home that my Olie was welcomed into immediately!”

Mackenzie K.

“WOW!!!! I was blown away by the level of care and love my dog received in Lauren's care!! The property is a dog's dream come true! It's fully fenced, and there were other friendly dogs for my dog to play with all day. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Lauren! I will most definitely take my dog back to her if I need a sitter again!”

J

“Linlin took great care of our puppy! He came back so tired and just wanted to sleep. She was very responsive and we know our little guy was well taken care of and played non stop with her! Would definitely recommend her!!”

Erika K.

“We will currently use you again. Chip came home and was his usual self. We loved that he wasn't all stressed out.”

Jeffrey P.

About: I have been a pet owner and a pet lover my entire life! My parents gave me my first dog when I was 9. I respect animals as much as I respect people. Although animals dont have a voice, they have feelings. They want to feel they are loved! I have had my maltizu Dezzi for 11 years! She is my baby! I will care for your baby as I do my own! I am experienced with care, walking, bathing, and administering medications. Give me a chance and you and your pet will be satisfied! I am a full time nursing student. I am very flexible as I work from home and attend school online. I will be able to attend to your pet at all hours of the day. I live in a town house and your pet can roam freely amongst my home as my own do. I can also crate your dog if its needed. I live in a quiet small downtown community with a dog friendly park walking distance from my home! Your pet will enjoy the nature scenery and fun walks.