A pet resort for your dogs and cats

With summer just around the corner, it's time for parents to sign kids up for swim lessons or summer college.

Oh, and don't forget the dog.

Although a lot of people go off to work in the morning with the dog safely tucked away in the backyard, for discriminating owners there's more out there for Fido to do besides lying around the yard dreaming of tennis balls.

"We run what we call play care, basically like a kids' day care, only it's for dogs and cats," said Dr. Leah Hill, a Merced veterinarian and owner of University Pet Resort, next door to Hill's vet clinic, Animal Medical Center.

Hill was born in Australia, but came to the U.S. when she was 16, when her parents moved here to manage their boat-building business.

After starting her veterinary practice, Hill decided the area needed something a little extra for pet owners.

"Over the years, my clients told me they would love to go on vacation, but couldn't because they didn't want to leave their pet at home or in a kennel," Hill said.

Enter the pet resort. Hill wanted a place that was more like a hotel than a kennel, where animals could have fun and not be locked away in a small cage.

On Monday afternoon, four busy little dogs came in from their fenced grass area to greet visitors. The dogs got along with one another, and each one politely greeted their guests.

Amanda Borges, assistant manager of the pet resort, said that despite not having an animal around when she was growing up, she always knew she wanted to do something with animals.

"We call them 'our' dogs," Borges said. "Our clients say when they turn onto Yosemite Avenue, the dogs know where they're going and get excited."

Every dog enjoys access to both an inside and outside kennel, and friendly dogs can play with other dogs their own size, according to Borges.

The kennels are air-conditioned in the summer, and the outside areas all have both small and large kiddy pools.

In the winter, the floors in the kennels are heated, which is especially nice for older, arthritic animals.

Borges said all animals, both cats and dogs, are given evaluations to see how the pet interacts with people and with other animals. If a pet passes the tests, it can then go into a communal area.

A pet can stay for just a couple of hours a day, or for weeks if its owner is going on vacation.

Along with playing with other pets, the staff at University spend a lot of time throwing balls for dogs and petting cats.

"We get a lot of golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers," Borges said. "Big dogs who need a lot of exercise, and that's what they get here. Believe me, they go home tired."

A lot of the clients at the pet resort work just down the street at UC Merced, Borges said, and the average stay at the resort is two days a week.

While a pet is at the resort, it can get a bath, a pedicure, and even have its photo taken.

Borges said all animals must be at least 4 months old and have had all of its vaccinations. The pets should also be spayed or neutered.

"Our clients love being able to leave their dog in a place that's fun," said Hill. "Plus they know their pet is safe."

Play care, indeed.

Reporter Carol Reiter can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or creiter@mercedsun-star.com.