Rawhide Ranch
Jamie Relth
June 2008

Find a pet hotel or nanny service in your area

Every summer of my youth, my step-sister got to go to Rawhide Ranch. It was the quintessential dude-ranch-style summer camp where she learned to care for horses and sheep, bunked in rustic log cabins with girls her age, became part of a close knit team of summer transients, and escaped completely from our daily life in the paved, predictable San Diego suburbs. I was tormented with jealousy.

Now, it seems, I have my dog to envy as well.

This year, U.S. pet owners will spend an estimated $43.4 billion on their pets according to American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. And that’s nothing to bark—ahem, balk at in a culture that now embraces canines as part of the family, with trends showing increasing expenditures on such seeming extravagances as pet insurance policies, trust funds, and funeral homes (www.smallbiztrends.com).

Another piece of the pet-pampering-pie becomes all-important during this time of summer travel: boarding. And it’s no surprise that, in this climate of canine consumerism, kennels have come far from the concrete and chain link cubicles of yesteryear.

In fact, pet “parents” these days have as much of a selection of summer escapes for their dogs as they do for their human children. Many of these doggy lodges boast enough exciting diversion, canine camaraderie, and comfort-of-home amenities to make us drool. But, most importantly, at the best pet resorts—like at the best summer camps—their top priority is to keep your canine kids happy while you’re away.

Maryann LaScala confirms that her pawtrons certainly “wag more and bark less” when they make their pup-tent at Camp Canine in Santa Barbara. The “camp,” which has been in business since 1984, offers pets all the luxurious canine-coddling you could ask for in the fun atmosphere of a theme park. Professionally designed with the artistic flourishes of George Thompson, the camp’s various “suites” (“Lake Splashmore” for big dogs, “Camp Run-a-Muk” for little dogs, and “Roscoe’s Retreat” for older guests and convalescents) feature cabin facades, waterfalls, totem poles, and rustic cabin décor, which LaScala says often stop first-time parent visitors in their tracks.

While humans appreciate the Dogneyland décor, the dogs enjoy the rides: pools, rock climbing, nature adventures, and beach explorations—not to mention the simple, nonstop, fun-filled play with pup-peers. “They’re social animals,” she says, comparing their camp to more conservative kennels. “They’re pack animals—this is a more natural environment for them and it makes them well-adjusted and happy.”

Run by owners John Sorosky, a sought-after animal behaviorist dedicated to positive reinforcement training, and his wife Mary, an award-winning Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder, LaScala says Camp Canine specializes in custom caretaking, assigning dogs to camp counselors and play groups based on personality while also helping owners design health plans for their dogs based on energy level and nutrition needs.

In LaScala’s mind, the most valuable service they offer, however, is the invaluable advantage of experience. “Dogs have become a big business,” she says, “but not many pet hotels have been in the business very long.” Camp Canine, on the other hand, combines long term commitment and expertise with a genuine love for dogs—making it one of the happiest places on earth.

In San Luis Obispo, another pet utopia awaited us: Thousand Hills Pet Resort. Around a curve in the road, over a bridge with large, hand-painted, bone-shaped signs, a virtual puppy paradise appeared: a huge playground, complete with slides, ramps, obstacle courses, toys, and treats and scattered with dogs of all shapes and sizes, happily mingling, sniffing, and horsing around. Toto, we’re not in Kennel Kansas anymore.

In fact, Thousand Hills presents a picture of a world where dogs truly become little members of human society. Featuring 28 brightly painted, 8 ft. x 8 ft. “cottages” (akin to children’s playhouses) arranged like a little country club neighborhood, the resort is a veritable canine commune. And while the architecture appeals to our anthropomorphic sides, the amenities certainly cater to creature comforts, as well. Each of the resort guests enjoys its own heated suite outfitted with a back porch, lofted bunk, and, for some, web cam technology and television (so that they can watch Animal Planet, of course). During the day, the dogs spend their time in expansive play yards with room to run, wrestle, and finally, flop in the shade after too much fun in the sun.

Presiding over the playgrounds is Resort Manager Kyle Gillette who says that, while the little dogtown certainly pleases pups and parents, it is the resort’s community interactions that really set them apart. Thousand Hills was founded to support a nonprofit mentoring program for young men called Alpha Academy (also on the property), which provides tenants with housing and life-skills instruction and experience. Along with this philanthropic work, Gillette says his relationship with clients allows him to really get to know and take an active role in the human community. “You really get to know the dogs and their owners,” he says, adding that he recognizes regular campers driving in from a distance—and the dogs recognize him, often howling with excitement when still miles away. They’re happy here, he says with a proud smile, and, “When the dogs get home they’re so tired they’ll pass out without even eating.”

And you can bet they’re dreaming about their next vacation in doggy paradise.

Thousand Hills Pet Resort
173 Buckley Rd., San Luis Obispo
www.thousandhillspetresort.com

Camp Canine
803 East Montecito St., Santa Barbara
http://campcanineinc.com

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