There might not be visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, but for pets spending the holidays at area kennels, such dreams were not far off.
Dog biscuits and catnip have given way to homemade turkey dinners with dressing and peppermint ice cream for dessert.
“They lick their lips and smack. They love that peppermint,” said Jean LiPetri, owner of Naperville Kountry Kennels, which also offers a winter bath special for $25 that includes a luxury orange-peel shampoo, natural coat enhancer, pawdicure, and ear-otic cleaning solution.
Every one of the clients leaves with a stocking stuffed with goodies.
And just like at a hotel, checkout is at noon.
It’s a vacation, dog-style, but it seems to be more of the spa kind than the kennel kind.
“If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t have the word kennel in the name anymore,” said Judi Roberts, president of another Kountry Kennels in unincorporated Hampshire, which is not affiliated with the Naperville store. It offers everything from personalized walks to piped-in music and movie nights. “I’d call it a spa for dogs.”
It even looks like a spa.
Outside, wooden rocking chairs sit on the quaint country front porch next to a playground equipped with a miniature jungle gym and a tether ball court. A note taped to the wall inside says, “Yes, you may tip your groomer or stylist.”
“People feel bad about having to leave their dogs. They feel more at ease and not so guilty when they feel like their pets are enjoying their vacation, too,” Roberts said.
So it seems that the days are gone when the kid next door came over to pick up your mail and newspaper and let your pup out into the back yard. Now pet owners are getting more sophisticated, and many will spare no expense.
“I bet you our kennel fees over the years are equal to what most people spend in child care,” said Donna McCready-Lewis of Elgin, who houses her Bouvier, named Charlie, at the Kountry Kennels in Hampshire several times a year.
McCready-Lewis has made arrangements for Charlie to go outside and play each day, and come home with a haircut.
And, of course, all pets staying over the holiday received a Christmas brunch.
Attempting something a little different from the traditional turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, the Elgin kennels offered scrambled eggs, hash browns and a commercial bacon substitute more accommodating to canine digestion.
While most dog owners will be satisfied with a tasty dinner and a walk in the park for their pet, there are extra amenities available for those willing to pay more than the basic $15-per-day boarding fee.
Michael Zamost, 29, of Libertyville, buys the whole package for Buster, his 2-year-old yellow Lab. The day before Christmas, Buster was dropped off at his vacation getaway fully equipped with a bag of new toys to play with during its eight-day stay.
“He gets everything. He deserves it. It’s his holiday, too. I get to go on vacation, and so does he,” Zamost said.
Everything includes a 9-by-12 private room with a window, plants, fuzzy rugs and a bed, plus a daily routine that consists of a movie for $3.99; a personal, 20-minute session of tug of war, tether ball and petting for $3.50; a cookie break in the afternoon for $1.99; another 20-minute session of “Love Pats” for $2; an ice cream sundae at night for $1.25; and nine walks, even though Zamost readily admits that Buster never gets that many at home.
The total bill comes to $50 a day.
“It’s surprising how much people want,” Roberts said. More than 80 percent of her clients shell extra money so their dogs can watch the evening movie with a bag of Pup Corn, a popcorn variation edible for dogs.
“A lot of them like to watch it. We’ll play `101 ‘Dalmatians’ and their heads go from side to side. They bark with the dogs,” Roberts said.
Zamost has signed Buster up for “101 Dalmatians” and, of course, the Pup Corn.
“I don’t even know what Pup Corn is, but he gets it,” he said. “I go all out. This is my buddy. He deserves extravagant.”
Zamost booked the stay five months ago, so that Buster could get one of the larger rooms. It turns out that isn’t uncommon.
“For these people, their pets are like children,” LiPetri said. “They shop around for a kennel like they would for nursery schools.
“I’ve had to turn away hundreds for the holidays,” she said, reservations had to be made at least two months ahead of time to guarantee a spot for the holidays.
The kennels are booked until the first week in January, and they are already taking reservations for spring break.
The average stay for most pets is a week, but there are a few who winter at the kennel while their owners winter in Florida.
Then they will send videos of their vacations back for the dogs to watch and postcards to be read to them.
“The dogs don’t understand,” Roberts said. “But if they send postcards, we will sure read it to them.”
