So, You Want to Board Your Pet ...
- Dallas Duncan
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Comer Veterinary Hospital welcomed a new next-door neighbor on July 1. Comer Pet Lodge & Spa, a sister company to both the small animal clinic and Custom Livestock Solutions, just opened its doors to cat and dog boarders, daycare guests, and grooming clients.
“Comer Pet Lodge & Spa is a place that I hope when you walk in, you feel like you’re walking into your house and that your animals feel that way as well,” says Cheyenne Clark, former vet assistant at Comer Vet and hospitality lead at the Lodge. “I just want people to feel 100 percent comfortable leaving their animals there, knowing that they’re gonna have a great time and come home exhausted from playing all day and getting pampered.”
Dr. Tyson Strickland, DVM, owner of both Comer Vet and the Lodge, says his team put a lot of thought into the comfort of pets when designing the space and its environment.
“I feel like there’s been a lot of buzz and we haven’t even advertised anything yet,” he says. “It seems like there’s been a lot of interest from the customers at the clinic next door and community asking what’s going there. Everyone I’ve talked to seems excited we’re going to have that option in Madison County.”
There are other groomers and boarding options nearby, but in Strickland and Clark’s experience, the demand far outweighed any open availability.
“When I was full time at the small animal clinic, it was multiple times a day clients asking if there were any groomers that were taking any new clients,,” Clark says.
The Lodge also features a self-care spa — a place where pet owners can bring their dogs and cats in for a bath without needing to schedule ahead of time. The facility’s day stay option is something Strickland is particularly excited about. He believes this will be an asset to Madison County residents who don’t want to leave their pets at home alone or crated during the day while they work.
“My goal is just for them to have a place they feel comfortable leaving their pets, a place they can feel confident — they know that their pet’s going to be cared for in the facility, and trust that the people there are going to be looking after their pets just like they were our own,” Strickland says. “On the grooming side, we’re really trying to bring some more resources to our local community so people have a good option to maintain their pets, and they can stay groomed and cool in the summer and bathed; all the things they need from a hygiene and comfort standpoint.”
Before pets are able to stay or be groomed at the Lodge, they must show proof of up-to-date vaccinations. For dogs, these include rabies, DHPPL and Bordetella. Cats must be vaccinated against rabies, FVRCP and FelV. Pets also must be free of fleas, ticks, and parasites, and if Lodge staff observes these on a guest, the pet parent may find themselves with a fee for flea and tick preventatives.
The cat-specific vaccines are to reduce the risk of feline leukemia virus, feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia, which is also referred to as feline distemper. DHPPL prevents against canine distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis, a handful of potentially fatal diseases. Rabies is required by law for cats and dogs in the state of Georgia.
“Bordetella is that distinct honking cough sound,” says Erin Kamens, a vet tech at Comer Vet. “A lot of these are highly contagious.”
That, Kamen says, is why the Lodge and other boarding and grooming facilities require vaccines against these communicable, or spreadable, diseases.
“Everybody’s together and you want everybody to be safe,” she says. “We need owner compliance as well, so if there’s anything that is showing up in a pet, any clinical signs, it might be best to just reschedule and see what may be going on with your pet, just to consider the safety of everybody else.”
Though veterinary records are required for all guests and grooming clients, boarders and day stay pets are also asked to bring their food from home and a few creature comforts to personalize their rooms.
“Definitely feel free to bring anything from home that would make them feel more comfortable, their blankets or toys, things like that,” Clark says. “We’ll update you as much as you want to be updated, but if you want us to leave you alone so you can be on vacation, let us know that, too.”
Need to update your pet's vaccinations before boarding or grooming? Please give us a call at 706-783-5111 or request an appointment through our online form.
