My Dog Max’s Stay at the Hunt Club Place
So, I had this trip planned, right? Out of town for a solid week. The biggest headache wasn’t packing, it was figuring out what to do with Max, my golden retriever. Usually, my neighbor helps, but she was away too. Bad timing.
Someone mentioned this place called the Hunt Club Kennel and Cattery. The name alone kinda threw me off. Sounded fancy, maybe only for those specific hunting dogs, you know? Max is more of a couch potato champion than a field expert.
Anyway, I decided to give them a call. Talked to a woman, seemed alright. She assured me they took all breeds, not just the hunting types. Quoted me the price – a bit steep, honestly, but I was running out of options.
Felt I had to see it first, though. You don’t just leave your buddy anywhere. So, I drove over there one afternoon. First impression? It definitely had that ‘hunt club’ vibe. Lots of sturdy-looking outdoor runs, clearly built for active dogs. The kennel building itself was practical, concrete floors, chain-link dividers. Clean, I’ll give them that, but boy, did it smell like ‘dog’ mixed with that strong disinfectant smell.
They showed me the cattery section too. It felt a bit like an afterthought, tucked away in a corner. Smaller enclosures. Didn’t pay it much mind since I was there for Max.
Okay, decision time. It looked secure, seemed clean enough. The staff I saw looked busy, not super chatty, but competent I guess. I decided to go for it.
- Filled out mountains of paperwork. Seriously, felt like applying for a mortgage.
- Provided all Max’s vet records, food instructions (he’s picky!), emergency numbers. The whole nine yards.
- Booked his spot for the week.
Dropping him off was the worst part. He had that confused look, like, “Wait, you’re leaving me HERE?”. Tugged at the heartstrings, man. They led him off to his run. He looked back once. Ugh.
Couldn’t really relax the first few days of my trip. Kept wondering how he was doing. I broke down and called mid-week. The person who answered was brief. Said Max was “doing fine” and “adjusting”. Didn’t give me much detail. Left me feeling a bit uneasy, but what could I do?
Finally, the day came to pick him up. Drove straight there from the airport. Max went absolutely nuts when he saw me! Tail wagging like crazy, jumping all over. That was a relief. He seemed healthy, maybe a little thinner? Hard to tell. He definitely had that distinct ‘kennel smell’ clinging to him.
Got a quick report card thingy. “Ate well. Regular potty breaks. No issues.” Very basic. The staff member handed him over, took my payment, and that was pretty much it. Felt very transactional.
So, the verdict? Look, they kept him safe. He was fed, he got outside. The place did its job on a basic level. But it wasn’t warm and fuzzy. Felt a bit like a functional dog warehouse, especially if your dog isn’t part of the whole ‘hunt club’ scene. It lacked that personal touch you get at smaller places. Would I use them again? Maybe, if I was in a real bind. But I wouldn’t say I loved it. Just glad to have Max back home, smelling like his usual self after a good bath.
