The Pet Playhouse and Kennels

The Pet Playhouse and Kennels offers dog boarding and dog daycare in Brooktondale, NY, on a former dairy farm that has been in the same family since 1938. Owner Michelle Whittaker, a licensed veterinary technician, opened the kennel in 2006 after years in the veterinary field, including a stint at the Companion Animal Hospital at Cornell University. She designed the building for the work: more than 2,500 square feet, fully insulated, with radiant heat in the floors.

Services

• Boarding in indoor/outdoor runs in two sizes, 4'x4' and 3'x4' inside
• Daycare Tuesday through Friday, with larger dogs Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and small dogs Wednesday
• Cat boarding in regular and deluxe cages
• Baths, nail trims, ear cleaning and matted hair removal on request
• Indoor playroom for days when the weather is bad

What sets it apart

Dogs are let out into the 3.5-acre fenced field at least five times a day, and run doors stay open from 7am to 9pm when weather permits. A second fenced area of about 3,000 square feet sits closer to the building. Daycare play happens in groups of up to 15 dogs and can mean a swim in the pool, Frisbee, ball, wrestling or just running, followed by a mid-day naptime. Boarding dogs may join the daycare group if their owner agrees.

Staff record each animal's day on an observation sheet, and owners receive a copy at pickup. Any dog staying more than five days gets a complimentary bath the day before going home.

Practical details

Reservations and quotes are handled by phone at 607-539-6600. Drop-off and pickup follow set windows: 7:30am to 12:30pm and 3:00pm to 5:30pm Monday through Friday, and 8:00am to 9:00am, 1:00pm or 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. The kennel is at 274A Old 76 Road, and the site posts driving directions from Ithaca along Route 79 East.