Local couple opens resort for pampered pets

CENTER HARBOR — A new business opened earlier this month, offering pets a level of comfort and attention heretofore unseen in this region. Lakes Region Pet Resort, founded by Cindi Ingalls and her husband Mike, solved two problems.

The first problem Cindi had was that, after working many years in sales, she was ready for a new challenge. The second was that she and Mike had gone for many years without taking a vacation together because they couldn't find a place to board their dogs that was acceptable to their standards.

The idea to start an up-scale boarding facility came to Cindi a couple of years ago when she was on a business trip to Wales and she met a woman who owned the Royal Pet Resort in State College, Penn. "I just said, I wish you were in New Hampshire," Cindi recalls. "She looked at me and said, 'Just open a pet resort.' It was an epiphany, it was an 'a-ha moment'."

Over the next couple of years, the Ingalls, who live in the Lakes Region, researched the local market for posh pet resorts. They spoke with local veterinarians and pet store owners, who told them that there were many others like them, who were uncomfortable leaving their pampered pets in conventional kennels. They received particular help from Mary Blain, owner of the Mountain View Pet Resort in Canaan. "Mary let us roll up our sleeves and work right next to her," Cindi said.

With the demand for the service established, expertise gleaned from Blain, and financing from Meredith Village Savings Bank and the Belknap County Economic Development Council, the Ingalls were able in September to purchase a property on Daniel Webster Highway, just north of Meredith village, and begin renovating the land and buildings to offer the highest quality of pet boarding in the region.

Lakes Region Pet Resort offers boarding for dogs and cats for when their owners are out of town, as well as "doggie day care" for owners who don't want to leave their dogs home alone while they're at work or running errands. The resort will also offer training session with locally-known experts.

The facilities on the property, which include a farmhouse with attached carriage house as well as a large barn, have been renovated to include 21 "suites" for medium and large dogs and 10 rooms for small dogs and cats. There is also a fenced-in play area, which is critical to the Ingalls' boarding philosophy. "It's activity-based," said Cindi. "Dogs get out and play, they get one-on-one attention."

Katie Dunn, the daytime supervisor, overlooks playtime and will allow dogs who get along to romp together in the dog run. Cindi said the business had several doggie day care clients waiting for their opening day. After a week of operation, she said their day care dogs, most were just growing out of their puppy stage, spent so much time playing that they went home tuckered out.

Cindi said the resort will be run with strict standards. There won't be more than six dogs playing per human supervisor. Dog and cat "suites" will be kept clean, and dogs won't be sent home dirty. At least one human will be present on site every hour of the day and night. "This is a very serious business for me," said Cindi. "This is run as professionally as I can... We take it very seriously that dogs are safe."

All dogs boarded at the resort have to be neutered or spayed and must be up-to-date on their shots. Owners must supply the resort with food for their animals. No dogs with aggression issues will be accepted. She strongly recommends that, prior to leaving the animal for an extended period of time, owners bring their dog to a "transition day" during which the dog spends a short amount of time at the kennel before the owner returns. This is intended to minimize the trauma or abandonment a dog experience during its first kennel stay.

As might be expected, boarding fees at Lakes Region Pet Resort are moderately higher than at conventional kennels. Cindi expects there will be many clients who won't have a problem with paying the premium. "The customers that we have are people looking for the very best care for their dogs," she said. "Dogs today are not what you hook up to a doghouse in the back yard. They're part of the family."

For the Thanksgiving season, the Ingalls and Dunn decided to set an artificially low capacity ceiling of eight dogs so they could see how things went. They will accept a dozen dogs over Christmas and will expand their capacity as they feel appropriate.

Response from owners seems to underscore the market research they performed prior to opening, as they have had far more inquiries than they are yet able to satisfy. "We're full to the level that we're comfortable with," Cindi said. "I knew we would be successful, I never thought we'd get the calls we did for Thanksgiving. I was shocked."

Lakes Region Pet Resort will pick up and deliver dogs within a 15-mile radius. Owners who want to treat their dogs can pay an additional fee for their pet to stay in a home setting or to receive a massage. Cindi plans to offer training seminars and classes in the near future.

Before opening their new business, the Ingalls couldn't find a boarding facility suitable enough for them to take a vacation. Ironically, the creation of such a place is now keeping them too busy to take time off. However, Cindi said she has no regrets. "It's been going great, it's so much fun," she said. "It's like a dream come true."

For more information about the business, visit lakesregionpetresort.com or call 250-8001.

CAPTION for PET RESORT PLAYTIME in AA:

"Bella" and "Captain" play keep-away at Lakes Region Pet Resort in Meredith. The new business offers a new level of pet boarding and doggie day care for the region. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)

CAPTION for PET RESORT OPERATORS in AA:

Lakes Region Pet Resort in Meredith opened earlier this month, with the business plan of offering the highest quality of pet boarding in the Lakes Region. Left to right are daytime supervisor Katie Dunn and owners Cindi and Mike Ingalls. They're pictured with Lakeland terrier "Abby" and golden retreiver "Captain." (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)