Luxury Pet Lodging in and Around Lake Norman, North Carolina
Take the Meadows Bed and Biscuit at Lake Norman for example. The 11-acre site is owned and operated by Dennis Meadows and his wife Susan. The all-indoor luxury lodging facility is located in Huntersville, North Carolina, just 10 minutes north of Charlotte. The facility offers what they call “interactive” daycare for all guests who qualify. The interactive day care program includes two indoor playrooms with heated floors and outside play areas when conditions permit.
The dogs have access to television, toys; at least six off the leash walks a day on the grounds, and private quarters for snacks, meals and bedtime. The dogs spend much of their time in supervised playgroups. To qualify for this type of care dogs must be at least five months old, in good health, spayed or neutered, and up to date on all vaccines.
The facility also offers “doggie cams” for vacationers who wish to maintain a peace of mind about their furry friends and virtually check up on their pets while away. The cameras are placed above select lodging suites and are connected to a camera server that transmits images of your dog through the kennel’s computer through to your personal computer.
In addition to the lodging for dogs, The Meadows Bed and Biscuit provides an upscale “cattery” for its feline clients. Their system is an attractive and healthy alternative to traditional cage boarding. Cats are housed in seven feet seven inch high townhouses that have six different levels. The levels include a sleeping area with an oak four poster bed, a dining level with crystal bowls, a level for play, a designer kitty litter box area, a loft area that provides a view of their surroundings and an area to store their personal belongings. Each townhouse has glass windows in the front and back that provide views of the outside areas as well as a freshwater aquarium. A unique ventilation system is designed to provide cats with only fresh air and not that of their neighbors.
Rates at the Meadows Bed and Biscuit range from $33 a day for small dog condos to $43 for larger dogs. Rates for the “Cat’s Inn” are $23 a day per condo. Owners who wish to use the drop-in daycare for their dogs while they are on day trips or at work pay $11.50 for a half day of care and $23 for a full day. Call 704-875-8668 for more information on the facility.
Camp Wagging Tails
Camp Wagging Tails, located in Cornelius, NC, has devised its facility with the outdoorsy and playful “camping theme” in mind. Pets are referred to as “campers,” and its 3 1/2 acre site has a large, fenced in outdoor play area as well as an outdoor bone-shaped swimming pool. The facility also shies away from the traditional indoor chain link fences of traditional kennels and offers private sleeping quarters complete with televisions, web cams and child-sized beds.
The cabins are constructed of sturdy aluminum with laminate privacy panels separating the cabins and in the doors. Cabins are available in Deluxe, Double Deluxe and Luxury options. Deluxe cabins are 4′ x 6′ and cost $30 per night, the Double Deluxe are 8′ x 6’for $38 a night, and Luxury cabins, which cost $43 a night and contain webcams, are also 8′ x 6′ but contain child-sized beds instead of fleece throws like the other two cabin options.
Camp Wagging Tails also welcomes cat campers, and boasts cat condos with privacy panels for the litter areas, continual fresh air circulation, and glass backs for maximum visibility. There is also a climbing tree located outside of the condos that gives the cats a chance to exercise as well. The cattery prices are $18 per night.
Doggie Day Camp, which runs $20 day, is available for owners who do not wish to leave their pets at home while they run errands or head off to work. Campers are separated into groups according to size, age and activity levels. The camp offers several different play areas with Little Tykes toys and the swimming pool. Camp Wagging Tails recently started offering Saturday hours for campers as well.
The camp also offers bathing services and has an arrangement with a local veterinarian in case of emergencies while your pets are under their supervision. For more information on Camp Wagging Tails contact the staff directly at 704-895-8444.
Tuscarora’s Country Club For Dogs
Tuscarora’s Country Club for Dogs, family owned and operated for over 20 years, is located on 33 acres and the owners firmly believe in a “no cages” boarding policy. The facility, which is located near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has a grooming spa on site as well as 8,000 square foot play arenas.
The boarding facilities at Tuscarora’s offer condos and suites with 24-hour music and daily housekeeping, as well as a doggy door so guests can come and go at their leisure. The facility is now offering two new services to patrons. Many of the pet owners requested transportation services to and from the site, and Tuscarora’s is now offering that via experienced dog handlers and a customized vehicle for comfortable travel. It is now also offering 20-minute motorized “Doggy Buggy Rides” for those animals who would like to partake in a visit to the nature trail at “Little Buffalo Creek” but who may not want to travel that far due to grooming or age.
Spa and grooming services are also offered at Tuscarora’s at varying rates dependent on breed type, coat condition and special requests. Services include detangling and dematting, medicated shampoos, bows and bandannas and flea and tick dips. Each service is performed at room temperature with in-cage drying with surround airflow.
The Elite and Luxury suites provide ample room for dogs needing more space. Costs for the Elite Suites, which are the same size as a stateroom on a cruise ship, begin at $30 a day and the smaller Club Suites start at $25. Weekday “Doggie Camp” is $12 a day and Weekend “Doggie Camp” is offered at a half day for $7. Call 704-436-6122 for more information.
The Purffect B&B
For cat lovers who may not want to board their feline friends alongside those of a canine variety, The Purrfect B&B offers luxury boarding exclusively for felines. It is located in the Skybrook community in Huntersville and offers floor to ceiling condos for each cat, a separate play area, “pet-n-purr” time, and a convenient pick-up service.
The kitty condos are custom-made and contain three levels. The ground level is the bathroom area, and a curtain to provide cats with privacy while using the litter box partitions it off. The middle level is the dining area where fresh food and water, a scratching post, toys and a pillow are placed. The top level is the sleeping quarters. Each condo has its own theme with coordinating pillows and curtains.
The play area is equipped with a four-foot climbing tower, dangling cat nip toys and a “Swiss cheese chalet” to explore. A popular spot with the cats is the three-window bench that overlooks a nearby golf course.
Rates begin at $18 a night for one cat, $34 for two and $48 for three. All cats staying at the B&B should be free of flea and ticks and up to date on their vaccinations. Call 704-947-8444 for more information.
