Fun In The Sun
I'm off on a holiday to Sicily for two weeks. Hurray!!
It's my first major holiday in a long, long time so I'm really looking forward to it. I was thinking about planning a dog-inclusive vacation, but if you knew my dog Kaya, you'd understand... she's happier at home. A neurotic, nervous Nellie who's beyond impatient, believe me, she's happiest with a regular schedule. She's got a built-in alarm clock.... 8am and 5pm, she's ready to eat and reminds me constantly if I don't get up to feed her. I therefore checked Kaya into her home-away-from-home, the Rex dog hotel (think high-end hotel for dogs). Barry and Karen Balshaw, the owners, know her and her idiosyncrasies well, so she's in good hands. Plus, Kaya's been there often enough, that she knows the ropes. At 14 years she isn't as frisky as she used to be so she doesn't do much romping with the other dogs, but she does have the run of the place and gets her regular walks. There's a water park she can visit where jets squirt water balls that the dogs try to catch, or Kaya can be found simply lounging with her human and canine pals, watching Oprah or Dr. Phil. Barry tells me she's got her favourite bed and if any other dog happens to be on it, she'll stand in front of them and bark ‘til they vacate. With my dog well taken care of, I can head off to Italy where I intend to drink some good wine, eat scrumptious Sicilian cuisine and do some snorkeling to wear it off, all without harbouring any feelings of guilt that my dog is not having a good time too.
Arrivederci!
Here's Kaya on her favourite bed at the Rex:
... with the other dogs at the Rex.
Karen ,Barry , Judy and staff at the Rex are the greatest!! We have 3 cocker spaniels that have stayed there many times , well 2 of them - we recently acquired our 3rd from a cocker spaniel rescue ( Angels Under Our Wings Cocker Spaniel Rescue) which I am involved with... and we go away knowing our gang is in the best hands!! All 3 stayed there recently ( and the new girl - Trixi- also attends their day care facility-The Doghouse-.
They love it!!! It's so great when they are scratching at the door to get IN!!!
Karen & Barry have done such a wonderful job with the hotel- it's always clean, the staff is well trained and very accomodating, and they know you when you call! It really puts us dog parents at ease know ing we don't have to worry about our gang at home. Love it!1
Bonnie ( cell 604-603-8363) res ( 604-714-0889) ***Perhaps you would like to do a story about our Cocker Spaniel Rescue ( we rescue mostly from high kill shelters in Los Angeles) in an upcoming issue of your magazine!! We would love the exposure!!!!. Barry & Karen have been big supporters of the Rescue.
KAREN, BARRIE AND JUDY ARE THE NICEST PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL EVER MEET. THEY SURE LOVE THEIR ANIMALS. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PUT MY 1 YEAR OLD PUG 2-1/2 YEARS AGO AND THANK GOODNESS I FOUND THE REX HOTEL IN VANCOUVER. I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE PLACING LILY THERE WHILE I WAS AWAY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, AND TODAY I HAVE 3 PUGS THAT NOW VISIT THE REX HOTEL & SPA FOR DOGS QUITE REGULARLY. THEY ALL LOVE IT THERE AS EVERYTIME WE ARE HALF WAY THERE THEY START GETTING EXCITED IN THE CAR.
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GREAT PLACE WHILE YOU ARE AWAY FOR ONE NIGHT OR MORE AS YOU WILL FEEL THE SAME WAY AS I DO. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE THERE WITH YOUR DOG AND THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME SOCIALIZING WITH ONE ANOTHER WHILE ENJOYING THEIR WATER PARK. THERE ARE NO CAGES JUST INDIVIDUAL STALLS OR IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THEY ALSO HAVE ROOMS OR EVEN A ROOM THAT YOUR DOG CAN EVEN SLEEP WITH THE STAFF.
THANK-YOU TO THE CITY OF VANCOUVER FOR HAVING SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE!!
KAREN FROM SURREY, B.C.
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