Happy Tails Pet Retreat offers luxury to boarding pets

On 10 acres on Shingle Point Road between Georgetown and Milton, Happy Tails is Nichole Bower’s dream business, a labor of love. A lifelong animal lover, she says her goal is creating a safe, happy boarding environment for dogs and cats in her kennel, cattery and pet spa. Happy Tails can accommodate 20 dogs and 10 cats at full capacity.

“They are here, and they’re not ready to leave when their people come. There couldn’t be a bigger compliment,” said Bower, who prides herself on being attentive and affectionate with guests. She keeps a daybed in the kennel, security-alarm protected and inaccessible from outside the main building, in case an animal requires extra overnight attention.

“Everything here is so personal to me,” she said, showing off the matching collar-and-leash boutique items she sells along with homemade, organic dog treats.

Licensed animal chiropractor Ashley Nutting offers on-site chiropractic adjustment and pet massages by appointment, said Bower, who is also trained in pet first aid and CPR. The spa offers baths and “pawdicures,” ear cleaning and brushing to keep animals looking and feeling their best, said Bower.

Three years ago, Bower began Happy Tails Pet Sitting, taking care of animals for friends and family. Through word of mouth, the business took off, said Bower, who has four cats, one rabbit and an adopted dog of her own. When she was ready for a place to consolidate her pet-sitting services, she researched kennels across the country. Drawing on what she found, combined with her experience volunteering at an animal hospital and working at a kennel, she came up with a business plan.

W.T. Wilson helped her finalize a design. “I chose all the colors to be neutral, earth tones, just like I’d do in my own home,” she said. Happy Tails is decorated with framed pictures from Portraits in the Sand.

Bower said heating and air conditioning systems are designed to keep air constantly flowing through the building, to prevent odors and make a healthier indoor environment. Each pet room has a ceiling fan. The cattery, painted bright, sunny yellow, has its own air exhaust. Villas with windows and cottages with screen doors open to the hallway all have platforms for cats to jump or sleep on. All sections of the retreat have intercom music.

Kennels feature floor drains to help keep them clean, said Bower. Doors to dogs’ outside runs lift from inside the kennel and allow dogs to exercise outside. Dog runs are under a roof and each has a fan. Bower set up four dog suites complete with 19-inch flat-screen televisions and has rooms for larger dogs as well.

Outside the kennels are two large, pebble-floored play areas for dogs to romp, and beyond them are wooded trails where dogs can be walked. Another yard is open for future expansion, said Bower, who hopes to offer training and a pool for exercise and therapy.

Basic board per day for a dog is $28 and for a cat $18.

FMI: happytailspetretreat.com or call 302-856-7900