TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Doggie Day Camp Is A Pleasant Stay

By BOB EAST III

Sheila Fenno checks on Dozer, an English bulldog staying at her Four Paws Dog Day Camp and Kennel on Montour Street.

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: September 8, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The Fennos' backyard used to consist of a lot of open space and a few goat trails.

Today they have fences, a new kennel and a pack of energized dogs.

Most of the animals don't belong to them, but they keep coming back.

George and Sheila Fenno own Four Paws Dog Day Camp and Kennel. They have drawn a lot of interest in a short time.

"We get lots and lots of Labs out here because they have so much energy and they love to run," said Sheila Fenno, who realized 18 months ago she was carving a new niche with a dog-boarding business.

She and her husband surveyed the backyard while the younger of their two golden retrievers scampered across the backyard with a couple of Labradors, Boykin spaniels and a Boston terrier chasing after it.

Some pet owners want their dogs to be around other dogs. Some do not.

"That's why I can cater to both," Fenno said.

Cageless boarding is available to those dogs that pass a one-hour socialization test - which comes with a one-time $10 fee. If the dog passes the test, he or she will be allowed to stay in the house and play in the backyard with the other dogs.

If not, Fenno still has a newly installed air-conditioned kennel in the backyard. There also are fenced-in areas that provide some running room. They are allowed outside five times a day and can spend up to an hour in the backyard, depending on the time of year and weather conditions.

The indoor kennel areas are 4-feet high and can be up to 12-feet wide.

Franklin, a Chinese crested, was barking and getting rowdy with the other animals. Often times, older dogs do not like a jumping, barking and biting puppy. Whenever Fenno notices this - and she almost always does because she keeps a close eye on the animals - she will quell it before it escalates.

Franklin was not deprived of much after he was relegated to the kennel. He was inside a temperature-controlled room with ample space and water.

Fenno knows how to make the animals feel at home. They're even welcome inside her house if they pass the socialization test.

Her furniture is covered and there are gates in different sections of the mobile home. An English bulldog, Dozer, was relaxing inside a large cage in one of the bedrooms - which was converted into a doggie room.

His owner is a retired man who often goes out of town to play golf, Fenno said. Dozer is a regular visitor at Four Paws.

"He mostly sleeps anyway," she said as Dozer stared and panted at the crowd of people circling around him. "He's a good boy."

The front part of the house is a lot like a lobby area. There is a front counter and a small fenced-in area for new dogs. Fenno will use her golden retrievers to gauge whether the animals are sociable enough.

If not, they go where the other dogs cannot get to them. If they are well-behaved, they can roam throughout the house and get to enjoy romping with the others in the backyard.

From noon to 2 p.m. the dogs take a nap. The business closes during this time so they can sleep peacefully. Napping areas are located everywhere in the house and kennel.

"They're all ready to go to sleep by then," Fenno said.

Her husband was a fleet manager at 84 Lumber. He managed 12 drivers before the economy slowed. That number dwindled to one and he was out of a job.

Four Paws could not have emerged at a better time for him.

"I was scared," George Fenno admitted. "I'm not going to lie ... but our customers kept coming back."

He was given some assurance from a friend. While unemployment is higher than normal, 93 percent of the job force is still working, he said.

Many of them need a place to leave their pets during the day. He knew he and his wife made a good career choice.

Dogs remember. Whenever their owners make a turn onto Fenno's street, their tails start to wag.

"They get so excited whenever they come here," said Sheila Fenno. "They have a good time while they're here. We adjusted from what we wanted to what our customers needed."

Biz at a glance:

Name of biz - Four Paws Dog Day Camp and Kennel

Owners - George and Sheila Fenno

Where it is - 13385 Montour Street

What it is - Dog day care and boarding camp

Hours of operation - 7 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday

Get in touch - 352-597-9494

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT