Camp K9 Can Rescue Your Holiday Season

With the holiday season in full swing, many people plan trips to visit relatives in distant towns or take the family away for a week of R&R. 

One question can be the difference between vacation bliss and a holiday miss: What should we do with the dog? 

Thanks to Camp K9 in Palm Harbor, dog owners now have a safe, reliable place to leave their pets while they work, travel or take that holiday vacation. 

“Whether you’re going out of town for one week or one month, or just need someone to watch your dog for a day, we can do it,” camp co-owner Kim Hedderich says. “We cater to everybody’s needs here.” 

The facility, at ., opened about a year ago as an addition to a successful camp in Trinity. All dogs who visit must be registered and have up-to-date shots, but Camp K9 has no breed restrictions, no timeframe requirements, and it's open seven days a week. 

After owners pay a one-time enrollment fee, prospective canine clients get a temperament evaluation that allows Hedderich and her staff to understand the needs and personalities of the animal. 

“We don’t turn away dogs simply because they are from a temperamental breed,” she explains. “We don’t say no to pit bulls because they are pit bulls, but we will make accommodations to make sure every dog is safe and comfortable.” 

While at the camp, dogs are kept separated until they can be eased into the “general population," and there are numerous safety measures in place to assure the animals cannot escape or harm other campers. 

Hedderich also stresses that the camp can accommodate the needs of owners and their breeds in a variety of ways, such as by offering secluded rooms for multiple dogs from one family, a webcam to monitor your dog at all times, and soft lighting and light music to keep the pooches calm.

“We try very hard to treat each dog as if it were our own. We play with them, we nurture them, we give them plenty of toys and entertainment options,” she says. "We try to do what every owner wants us to do."

In addition to the boarding service, in which dogs can come daily, weekly or for extended stays, Camp K9 has an in-house grooming service, Barkles Dog Grooming, so the pets can get a haircut or nail trim during their stay.

“I’ve been working with Kim for nearly a year and moved in here in September, and I absolutely love it,” Barkles owner Jennifer Riston says. “It really is one-stop shopping for your dog.”

Camp K9 isn’t offering any specific holiday specials yet this year, but Hedderich says the camp is ready to house a bunch of dogs this season. 

“I encourage people to drop by and take a tour of our facility," she says. "We would love to take care of their pets so they can relax while they work or go away.”