Frequently Asked Questions
How
long have you been in business -- what are your owner's qualifications?
Wakefield
Kennel was formally opened in March 1974; however, our
location has been here for over 35 years. The kennel originally
was operated under Peggy Kessler untill March 1974. At
that time our General Managers, Barry G. & Nancy L
Dofflemyer bought the small kennel, remodeled it many
times and have operated it for over 35 years! The Dofflemyer's
have been in the pet business for over 40 years and in
fact are the second oldest, continuously operated pet
business in the Charlottesville Area. The kennel is currently
operated under the care and custody of "second generation"
manager Andy Dofflemyer. Andy has been raised in the kennel
business and returned to run the kennel after attending
George Mason University. We are proud to have Andy and
we are sure that after your interaction with him you will
recognize his wealth of knowledge both about dogs and
the kennel business in general.
Wakefield
Kennel proudly offers a limited grooming staff which includes
Nancy Dofflemyer and Amy Herrlein, whose experience is
unrivaled in the area. Nancy has been grooming for over
35 years and at this time her acceptance of new clientele
is very limited. Nancy is known for her patience and uncanny
ability to "make friends" with the most problematic
of special, "challenging" pets. Amy Herrlein
has been our groomer for over 15 years and was recently
voted "Best In Area" by the Daily Progress Readers!
Visit Amy and experience what others in the area have
acclaimed as the best!
Where
exactly is Earlysville, VA & when can we visit your facility?
Earlysville
is conveniently located just off of Route 743 2 miles west of the Charlottesville/Albemarle
Airport. We are a short 7.0 miles from the intersection of Hydraulic
Road & Emmett Street (K-Mart). For a set of complete directions
and a map please see our "Directions"
Page.
Visitation is
open for all prospective clients at any time during normal
business hours. Because we are most busy during the first
and last hour of the day, we can offer you a more meaningful
tour if you arrive after or before those times. There
is no need to schedule a visit -- you can arrive unannounced!
Please visit hour "Hours of Operation"
Page for normal hours.
Please do
not visit after our normal hours -- there is no staff
available for after hours visits and the facilities are
patrolled by the police authorities to ensure security.
Your name
is "Wakefield Kennel". Do you offer facilities and services
for cats?
Absolutely!!
While we no longer have facilities here at Wakefield Kennel
for our feline friends. Charlottesville's newest, finest,
and largest "cattery" is located at our "Sister
Facility" The Dogg House at 2101 Berkmar Drive in
Charlottesville (804-975-3647). When we selected their
name we wanted a "catchy" and "rememberable"
title. We, quite honestly, realize that it does not fairly
represent our commitment to the needs and investment we
have made to our feline friends. Please see their website
www.thedogghouse.com
/cattery.htm for more complete details and pictures.
How do
most pets react to "first time" boarding or grooming?
Most
pets do very well. We feel that it is a good idea to bring
your pet in for a trial visit. Do this before you actually
leave the area and you can visit and get an idea of how
well your pet does before you actually have to leave him/her
with us. For a more detailed list of suggestions please
see our "What You Need to Know"
Page.
My Pet Really Suffers While Away From
Us What Can We Do?
Frankly speaking, most pets do very well
while boarding. The suffering is done by their owners!!!!
We like to think of the boarding experience as "Camp
Wakefield". There are many activities for your pet
here and boredom is rare. We do occasionally have pets
that suffer 'separation anxiety". We suggest that
you visit our web page devoted to Separation
Anxiety (click here) and read about many of its'
What
Vaccination Do You Require Before Our Pet Can Be Admitted?
Our
vaccination policies are very simple: we absolutely
require distemper, BORDETELLA, and rabies vaccines. Please
visit our web page "Vaccinations"
which will detail our requirements fully. We recommend
these vaccinations regardless if you board with us or
any other kennel. Be careful if a kennel is "lax"
or does not require a full compliment of shots -- if you
don't need them then neither do others and that's a sure
receipt for disaster!!!
Our Pet
Needs Medications Will You Administer Them?
Part of the
routine, daily needs for many pets are medications. We here at Wakefield
Kennel recognize the importance of continuing your pet's routine. We
have made specific provisions in our data processing and with our staff
to record, administer, and assure you that your pet's medical/medication
needs are met.
Under absolutely
no conditions will we administer sedatives to your pet -- regardless
if they are veterinarian prescribed!! If your pet needs this type of
medication you need to make arrangements for your pet to be hospitalized
with your veterinarian. This applies to both boarding and grooming services.
What type
of extra care or "outside" exercise will our pet receive?
We
have designed our facility to provide your pet with "indoor/outdoor"
access continually throughout the day light hours. Unlike
other facilities we have truly "covered outdoor exercise
runs" thus allowing your pet to travel from its sleeping
area to its exercise area at his/her will. We also offer
"Special Play Sessions", and "Nature Walks"
which allow you to have your pet taken out of the kennel
environs and given quality time on luxurious grass areas
or to be hand walked by an attendant over our 30+ acres
of woods and fields. Because these service require additional
labor and attendant interaction with your pet, they are
priced as "A La Carte" services and are charged
in addition to our base boarding rates. Please see our
"Special Services"
Page for more information.
I
have heard about "Kennel Cough" can my pet catch
it in your kennel?
Canine
Cough (BORDETELLA bronchiseptia, Infectious canine tracheobronchitis,
Kennel Cough) can be caugh anywhere. It is very contagious
and is found anywhere pets are present: Dog Shows, Veterinary
Hospitals, Grooming Shops, Humane Societies, Pet Shops,
Field Trials, and yes in kennels.
Wakefield
Kennel was the first kennel in the Charlottesville - Albemarle
area to require Canine Cough Vaccine for admission to
the kennel. While this was not "vogue" that
decision has been credited, and applauded by many local
veterinarians for its resulting reduction in the disease
in the area. Please see our web page devoted entirely
to this issue: "Canine
Cough".
Do you
really offer swimming pools for our dogs?
We offer Swimming
Facilities at our Sister Facility, The Dogg House at 2101 Berkmar Drive
in Charlottesville, VA. The Dogg House is noted as the "Nations
First" pet boarding facility to offer swimming pools which incorporate
"adjustable swim jet" hydrotherapy. These 7' by 9' "swimming
pools" were specifically designed for us, to our specifications,
by a company in Texas. They are indoor, heated, filtered, and chemically
sanitized "pools" which are open year round. Please see The
Dogg House's "Swimming"
Page for more detailed pictures and information.
How many
dogs do you groom a day?
Our grooming
services are by appointment only and are very limited.
Our groomer, Nancy Dofflemyer, currently accepts new clients
only after a personal conversation or interview only.
Please call us to set up a conference with her.
How do
your prices compare to other kennels and grooming shops?
We feel sure
that our rates are fair and comparable to other facilities of similar
size who offer similar services and quality. We encourage you to visit
all local facilities and compare both the "Rates"
and staff. We feel confident that you will find us to your liking.
Our rates are
discounted during midweek, the off season, and
non-holiday periods. We do this because you the consumer
should benefit from our periods of lower demand. Some
of our competitors say we "raise" our rates
during the holiday periods. However, if you compare our
"holiday rates" to their normal rates, you will
see that we are less expensive than theirs even at our
highest holiday rate!!!!
How can we
make reservations with your facility?
We have 24 hour
reservation capability by telephone and voice mail! In
addition you can make a reservation here, ANY TIME, on-line,
by using our "On-Line
Reservations System". Please remember that all
reservations require you to provide us with your credit
card number to secure your pet's spot with us. Holiday
reservations usually book to capacity at least a month
in advance, so call us early!
Thanks for visiting
our site and asking these questions -- if you have any further questions
please call us at (434) 973-5171 or Fax us at (434) 973-1562. We look
forward to your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Andy,Barry,
& Nancy Dofflemyer
