Shady Spring Pet Retreat

Shady Spring Pet Retreat handles dog boarding in Woodbine, MD, on a 17-acre country property in Carroll County, and it also lodges cats and exotic pets. The business has run at 1001 Hoods Mill Road since 1954, when it opened as Shady Spring Boarding Kennel, and took its current name in 2014.

What the accommodations are like

Each pet gets its own indoor/outdoor kennel, 20 feet long and three to six feet wide. The indoor side works as the bedroom, with bedding, blankets, cuddle beds and mats. The outdoor half is a 15-foot covered run where a dog can stretch out, go potty and see the neighbors through the fencing between rooms. Staff assign kennels by size, weight, sex and height, and clean up after eliminations several times a day. Every kennel area is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer, with staff checking temperatures throughout the day.

Services offered

• Dog lodging sold in packages that bundle boarding with walks, hikes, camp time and cuddles
• Add-on activities across the 17 acres, including swimming and scavenger hunts
• Cat condo stays, with a wellness-check option and a cuddle-time option
• Exotic boarding for rodents, rabbits, reptiles, hedgehogs, sugar gliders and some birds
• Grooming from baths and nail trims to show-quality cuts, with walk-ins booked Monday through Saturday

Practical details

Dog package rates are set by weight, starting at $59 per night for dogs up to 40 pounds in the walk-only package and climbing to $118 for the largest dogs in the most active package. Friday through Sunday adds $4 per night, and peak or holiday dates add $6. Medication costs $3 per dose per day. Discounts include 5% off a second pet sharing a room, 5% off a first boarding stay, and 10% off stays of 30 days or more. Shuttle pickup and delivery is available on weekdays to homes and to three partner vet clinics in Washington, DC. The office answers at (410) 795-1957.