What do the dogs do all day?

Boarders are let out of their kennels at 7am for their first run of the day. Following their run, they are fed breakfast and will rest in their suites until the daycare dogs arrive. Then they are let out to spend the rest of the day outdoors with access to 12 fully-fenced acres and play areas where they can socialize and play. Several times a day we ride an ATV around the property with dogs in full chase behind us. We also get out the ball launcher for ball chasers, and on hot days, we spend much of the day playing in the pool. In the late afternoon we take a final ride around the property, just before our daycare dogs go home. Once daycare dogs go home we feed dinner, then boarders are free to hang out in the play yard and dog lounge until we put them to bed around 10pm. 

What makes you different than a traditional kennel?

Kennels vary, but in a "traditional" kennel, your dog is usually left in a cage or pen most of the day and may be let out briefly or placed in an outdoor run or play yard a couple of times a day, and the dogs usually do not interact with other dogs. 24 Paws Ranch offers all day play at no additional cost. Our vision is a daycare and boarding facility that is the happiest possible place for a dog to stay. A place where a dog can be a dog. Because of a dog’s pack instinct, being confined to a kennel is very difficult, so we believe the happiest possible environment is a place where dogs can run, wrestle, and play with other friendly dogs or just explore off-leash, until the day is over.

Why do you only take medium and large dogs? 

We are a small, specialized boarding and daycare facility and are licensed for a maximum of 20 dogs, so we have chosen to cater to medium and large dogs that need the space we have to offer on the ranch. We do not integrate small dogs with large dogs, as many big dogs have high prey drives and can be very rough in the height of play, potentially endangering a small dog. We do not have the staff to monitor a separate small dog play yard, and we do not want small dogs having access to the entire property as they could potentially squeeze under our front gate or out through other small openings bigger dogs don't fit through. In addition, we have many resident hawks that circle the property for a meal, and we do not want to risk losing a small dog to a hungry hawk.
 

Your boarding hours are listed as 9am - 6:30pm. Can I make arrangements to drop them off earlier or pick them up later?

Can I come for a visit?

Absolutely. Just call ahead for an appointment so we can be sure the dogs aren't up at the front gate with the possibility of escaping when you come in.

Can any dog come for daycare or boarding?

All dogs must be over four months old, and if they are over 7 months old, they must be spayed or neutered. All dogs must be current on their rabies, Bordetella (for kennel cough), as well as your vet's recommended vaccination combination. Your dog should be at least 35 pounds to be able to integrate with the bigger dogs; however, a large breed puppy that is not yet 35 pounds will be accepted. If your dog is over one year old and is not used to being around other dogs, we like to complete an interview process so we can see how well they interact with the dogs on the ranch. See the Admissions page for more information.

Why do you require that my dog be spayed or neutered?
In a social environment, an intact male is often viewed as a threat by the other male dogs. His presence changes the dynamic of the pack and can elicit aggression, even if your intact male has never exhibited aggression himself. Intact females, whether in heat or not, may be picked on by other female dogs, and male dogs will view her as an intact female and treat her as such. All of this contributes to a potentially unstable environment that can result in a dog fight. For the protection of all our guests, we cannot accept an unaltered dog over 7 months old.

Do dogs ever get hurt?

We quickly assess the situation to determine what plan of action to take. Our concern is always what is best for our canine customer. Depending on the situation, we will either rush them to the closest vet or, in non-emergency situations, we will make the effort to take them to their own vet. We always try to contact the owner to get their permission for our chosen course of action.

Will my dog like this environment?

Every dog is different, and we want your dog to be happy as much as you do and promise to be honest with you if we feel this isn't the best possible environment for your dog. If your dog would prefer more one-on-one attention where they could sleep inside someone's home, we can give you a recommendation. If your dog requires close monitoring for medical reasons, your best option would be to look for a medical boarding facility provided by most veterinary hospitals. 

My dog has health issues, can he/she still come?

This depends on the health issue. We can certainly accept dogs that suffer from ear infections, arthritis, glaucoma, cancer, are recuperating from surgery; however, there are certain illnesses that don't mix well in a social environment, such as epilepsy. An epileptic seizure could trigger aggression by other dogs because they may view your dog as weak when the seizure occurs. Although we can certainly accommodate overnight guests with this health issue, we need to know in advance so we can protect your dog from harm and exercise them separately if necessary. Because we cannot give your dog injections, we cannot accept diabetic dogs that require injections, nor can we accept dogs with communicable diseases or parasites. Please discuss any possible issues with us first.

I have an elderly dog. Can he be accommodated?

Absolutely. Your older pet will be handled in a way that is best suited to them. We have a comfortable dog lounge where they have access to several couches, chairs, open kennel cabs and a large mattress on the floor. If your older dog prefers, we can also accommodate them inside the house, as long as they're not incontinent. We have boarded a 16 year old Cairn Terrier that was blind and deaf, so she was secured safely in her large indoor kennel most of the day with the dog door flap to the outside kennel secured in the up position so she could find her way in and out. She was brought out a couple of hours a day where she could be monitored closely while she roamed the play yard.    

What do you feed the dogs?

We feed our boarders the same quality lamb & rice kibble we feed our own dogs, mixed with a little canned food. If your dog is on a special diet, you are welcome to bring your own food.

What happens if my dog does not eat while he or she is staying overnight?

It is common for dogs not to eat the first meal with us, as they are still adjusting; however if they have not shown interest in food after the second skipped meal, we will try a couple of things, such as adding fresh boiled chicken and broth to their food, provided there are no food allergies listed in their profile. We will even hand-feed them if that gets them to eat. If that doesn't work, we will call you or your veterinarian for suggestions.

What happens if my dog gets sick or injured?

You will be contacted, and in the event of an emergency, your dog will be brought to a vet immediately.

My dog's paws were very sensitive after his stay. Is this something I need to be concerned about?

It is very common for your dog's pads to be sore after playing and running all day. Most dogs are not used to all the exercise, but rest assured, it is only temporary and they will build stronger pads.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

California Abandoned Animal Act

Senate Bill No.1018...Senator Water W Stiern

(An act to amend Section 1834.5 of the Civil Code, relating to abandoned animals)

Section 1. Section 1834.5 of the Civil Code is amended to read:

1834.5 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever an animal is delivered to any veterinarian, dog kennel, cat kennel, pet-grooming parlor, animal hospital, or any other animal care facility pursuant to any written or oral agreement entered into after the effective date of this section, and the owner of such animal does not pick up the animal within 14 calendar days after the day the animal was due to be picked up, the animal shall be deemed to be abandoned. The person into whose custody the animal was placed for care shall first try for a period of not less than 10 days to find a new owner for the animal, and, if unable to place the animal with a new owner, shall thereafter humanely destroy the animal so abandoned.

If an animal so abandoned was left with a veterinarian or with a facility which has a veterinarian, and a new owner cannot be found pursuant to this section, such veterinarian shall humanely destroy the animal.

There shall be a notice posted in a conspicuous place, or in a conspicuous type in a written receipt given, to warn such person depositing an animal at such animal care facilities of the provisions of this section.

Signed by Governor Ronald A. Reagan on August 5, 1971