Brushing, boarding and a dog-gone complete guide to
Taking care of Fido & Fluffy
Family pets have been called “the new kids” of the 21st century. Because we agree that these furry family members deserve at least the same TLC as our human offspring, we offer here some of the best pet-care resources in the area
By Laurie Yarnell with Marisa Lascala
» Boarding Services*
When you’re away, here’s where the cat and dog can play:
BALMORAL KENNELS/BEST FRIENDS PET RESORT & SALON
590 Harrison Ave., Harrison
(914) 967-1721
One Brockway Pl., White Plains
(opening in spring)
www.bestfriendspetcare.com
Animals Housed: Dogs and cats
Price Per Night: From $26-$31 for two-room suites or $44-$49 for luxury suites with outdoor patios
The Scoop: Laid-back party animals would likely consider Best Friends’ new 21,000-square-foot vacation resort-like center, complete with front-lobby check-in and gift shop, a home away from home.
CANINE COMPANIONS
9 Hobby St., Pleasantville
(914) 773-2020
www.caninecompanionsinc.com
Animals Housed: Dogs
Price Per Night: $40 (toy breeds);
$45 (others)
The Scoop: Prepare your dog for such daily activities as doggy gymnastics, cool-off time in the pool on hot days, and 5,000 square feet of fenced-in yard for running around. Crates, beds, or cots are available on request and special-needs dogs are welcome. And, so you don’t worry while you’re away, owner Renee Forgione is accredited in pet first aid.
GRACELANE KENNELS
46 Grace La., Ossining
(914) 762-6188
http://www.gracelane.com
Animals Housed: Dogs and cats
Price Per Night: $20-$29
Also Offers: Maintenance of special diets
The Scoop: Built in 1911, it’s one of the oldest continually operating boarding facilities in the United States. Have your own litter of critters? Larger accommodations allow all of a family’s pets to room and exercise together for a true bonding experience. For added peace of mind, owners live on the premises.
LUDWORTH KENNELS INC.
150 Jackson Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson
(914) 478-1633
www.Ludworthkennels.com
Animals Housed: All
Price Per Night: $12/cats; $22-$24/dogs
Also Offers: Bathing, grooming, outside playtime
The Scoop: This third-generation, family-owned and operated facility on one-and-a-half wooded acres has cared for parakeets, pet pigs, and even a striped tiger.
NORTHWIND KENNELS
Route 22, Bedford
(914) 234-3771
Animals Housed: Dogs and cats
Price Per Night: $16-$21/cats; $24-$66/dogs
The Scoop: Features optional deluxe private suites with carpeting and color TV (“Animal Planet” and “Lassie” reruns are popular with the guests, who have included the pets of Glenn Close and Chevy Chase).
PET PLANET
342 Pelham Rd., New Rochelle
(914) 576-7648
www.ankpetplanet.com
Animals Housed: Dogs and cats
Price Per Night: N/A
Also Offers: Sale of champion breed puppies and kittens, and fresh frozen bait and tackle fishing supplies
The Scoop: Supervised by a professional dog trainer, veterinary technician,
and walker.
RYE COUNTRY BOARDING KENNELS
21 Nursery La., Rye
(914) 967-4577
www.ryecountryboardingkennels.com
Animals Housed: Dogs and cats
Price Per Night: $16/cats, $17-$26/dogs, depending upon size
Also Offers: On-site pet supply and grooming shop
The Scoop: Family-run and operated for 40+ years.
STONYBROOK KENNELS
500 Lake St. E., White Plains
(914) 946-0961
Animals Housed: Dogs
Price Per Night: $45
Also Offers: Grooming, training; specializes in breeding cavaliers.
The Scoop: As the smallest kennel in the area, it won’t house more than 25 dogs at a time.
*Many county veterinary hospitals also offer on-site boarding for their patients.
» Grooming Services*
Where to take your pet when he’s having a bad fur day:
(NOTE: Pricing includes a shampoo, cut, styling, nail clipping and ear cleaning unless otherwise noted.)
Bark Avenue Grooming
& Boutique
179 Lindsey Ave., Buchanan
(914) 788-8880
Pricing: $45-100 (cats $55-$75)
The Scoop: Offers clothing, gifts and pet accessories.
Balmoral Kennels/Best Friends Pet Resort & Salon
(See Boarding)
Pricing: Basic shampoo: $35-$75,
haircut: $55-$135—varies depending
on breed
Special Services: Will brush teeth, too (the best few bucks you’ll ever spend).
BEST PAW FORWARD
695 Locust St., Mount Vernon
(914) 667-2873
Pricing: $44 and up
BOW MEOW
466 Ashford Ave., Ardsley
(914) 693-1110
Pricing: $8 (just nails); shampoo/cuts to $105, varies depending on breed (cats: $8-$75)
Special Services: On-site “Barkery” and luncheonette serves doggie treats. Also offers dog birthday parties.
Breeders Pick
513 Central Ave., Scarsdale
(914) 722-9299
www.breederspick.com
Pricing: $40-$100, depending on size and hair (cats: $50+)
Special Services: Training, sales of puppies and kittens starts at $500+
The Scoop: Named a “matchmaker for dogs and humans” by The
Journal News.
CANINE COMPANIONS
(See Boarding)
Pricing: $25+
The Scoop: Even Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of Hades, would simmer down after experiencing the personal touch of a grooming session here. Owner Renee Forgione is certified by the New York School of Dog Grooming. “Special needs” dogs welcome.
Clip-N-Cuddle
205 Harrison Ave., Harrison
(914) 835-6777
Pricing: $55+ depending on what your friend has been rolling in (cats: $75+)
Special Services: Your canine has the blues and the blahs? Treat her to some of Clip-N-Cuddle’s holistic and natural remedies and vitamins.
Critter Comforts
1475 Weaver St., Scarsdale
(914) 472-5407
Pricing: $35-$150
Special Services: Special order custom canines starting at $700 and going up
to $3,000
The Scoop: In business for 12 years, this full-line pet store has kitties for adoption.
The Cut Above
2122 Boston Post Rd., Larchmont
(914) 834-6014
Pricing: $50+
Special Services: Treat your pooch to a full day of pampering at its doggie day spa (starting at $50), featuring bath, haircut, styling, nail trim, ear cleaning, and choice of bow or seasonal bandana.
Dog’s Place
981 Main St., New Rochelle
(914) 636-2020
Pricing: $45-$55
Special Services: A complimentary
schpritz of doggie cologne leaves Fifi smelling extra sweet.
The Scoop: Owner Fran Bove limits the number of clients on-site at any one time.
Groomingdale’s
16 Halstead Ave., Harrison
(914) 835-2929
Pricing: $45+ (cats $50 to $65)
Special Services: Sells holistic food for the pets of the granola crowd and uses mud from The Dead Sea (natch) to treat skin conditions.
K-9 Kutters & Kats-2 (also Rye Country Boarding Kennels)
21 Nursery La., Rye
(914) 921-0695
Pricing: $35-$100+ (cats: $40-$70)
The Scoop: The owner personally attends to all animals.
Le Beastro Gourmet Pet and Grooming Apparel
1005 Boston Post Rd., Rye
(914) 921-0279
www.lebeastro.com
Pricing: Bath, shampoo and styling: $25-50 (small), $50 (medium), $50+ (large)
(cats: $55)
The Scoop: Uses all-natural skin conditioning products and offers on-site boutique.
Love R Pets
243 Main St., New Rochelle
(914) 633-7387
Pricing: $25-$65 (small), $65-$85 (large), $95-$125 (poodles); (cats: $65+)
Special Services: Hydrosurge bathing (“massage” for stressed-out dogs), medicated baths, flea dips, lion cuts for cats, bathing for ferrets and guinea pigs, and grooming for rabbits.
Noah’s Park
140 Mount Vernon Ave., Mount Vernon
(914) 665-8269
Pricing: $38+ (Chihuahua $20+); (cats: $45)
Special Services: A pair of your favorite pets might enjoy a stylish makeover, complete with choice of bow or bandanna.
The Scoop: The shop is owned by veterinarian Alan Meyer and located next door to his Mount Vernon Animal Clinic.
Northwind Kennels
(See Boarding)
Pricing: from $25 (beagle) to $80+ (Newfoundland); (cats: $30+; shaving on request)
Special Services: Training
The Scoop: For the cultured pet set, Northwind features piped-in music (classical of course).
Patti’s Grooming
264 Washington Ave., New Rochelle
(914) 632-6978
Pricing: $35+ (varies depending on breed; (cats: $40+ but must be groomer-friendly)
The Scoop: Is your pet ready for her close-up? Ask about appearing in one of Patti’s infomercials.
Paws–A–While
139 Croton Ave., Ossining
(914) 941-7403
Pricing: $41-$65 (varies depending on breed)
The Scoop: The Paws pros are Westchester veterans, having been in business for 35 years. They are also card-carrying members of National Dog Groomers Association of America, Inc.
PAWFECTION
51 Babbit Rd., Bedford Hills
(914) 242-8422
Pricing: $60-70 on average but as high as $200 for cats, a specialty
Special Services: Embroidered dog breed pillows and handmade collars and leashes for sale
The Scoop: Owner Tara Santorelli never, ever uses tranquilizers on pets.
PAW POURRI
623 Milton Rd., Rye
(914) 967-8882
Pricing: $55-$100 (varies according to breed and style)
Special Services: Fine scissoring, hand stripping, coat conditioning, use of luxury shampoos
The Scoop: Owner Jody Ritter promises that “your pet will feel at home with us.”
PET PLANET
(See Boarding)
Pricing: N/A
Special Services: Sells extensive line of crates, beds, muzzles, harnesses, collars, leads, etc.
Pretty Paws, LLC.
217 Fremont St., Harrison
(914) 777-0745
Pricing: $65/hour
Special Services: Tired of schlepping Fido to the groomer? This mobile service comes to you; all that shampooing and shaving take place in the company’s vehicle.
REINING CATS AND DOGS
OF WESTCHESTER
200 East Main St., #8
Mount Kisco
(914) 666-2121
Pricing: $60/hour (small-medium); $70/hour (large dogs and cats)
Special Services: On-site doggie daycare with pick up and delivery service, training and accessory boutique, plus a selection of containment fences
The Scoop: Favorite getaway spot of Caymus Palminteri, Chazz’s king shepard, this pet beauty salon features individual mirrored styling stations and a broad selection of upscale pet shampoo products.
ROCKABUY PUPPIES
91 Knollwood Rd., White Plains
(914) 997-7877
Pricing: $30-$70
Special Services: Sale of puppies and kittens, boutique of accessories, veterinary vaccination clinics offered on-site monthly.
The Scoop: Formerly Shake-A-Paw, the store will hold its renaming ceremony sometime this month, so keep an eye out for its grand reopening sale.
SHAMPOOCH
390 Palmer Ave., Mamaroneck
(914) 698-2468
Pricing: N/A
Special Services: Walk-in nail clippings for cats and dogs (who has time to plan ahead?).
The Scoop: If your pet hates tooth brushing or nail clipping, relax: the store will take care of these pesky tasks.
WAGS & WHISKERS
392 King St., Chappaqua
(914) 238-0244
Pricing: N/A
Special Services: On-site boutique
WELLINGTON’S
135 Willett Ave., Port Chester
(914) 939-4512
Pricing: $35-$100 (depending on breed)
Special Services: Hot oil treatments, hand-scissoring and medicated baths
The Scoop: Owner Renee Romanello is planning on opening a doggie daycare service sometime this month.
*Many county veterinary hospitals also offer on-site grooming for their patients.
» Training & Behavioral Counseling Services
Manners do matter, even for a furry family member. If your pup is acting more like Cujo than Lassie, check out:
ALL BREED DOG TRAINING SCHOOL
(800) 427-3647
Services: Training for any breed at all levels for obedience, protection and correction of behavioral no-nos.
Format: Private lessons only, at homes anywhere in county
Prices: Varies with distance and dog
The Scoop: “Take your dogs out often,” owner Richard Kruper advises. “It’s a time for bonding, and it gets them housebroken!”
B&B DOG TRAINING AND
PET SITTING SERVICE
Michelle Bertrand, CPDT
12 Blackthorn La., White Plains
(914) 684-1334
www.bbpets.com
Services: Training, behavioral counseling and pet sitting. Will also assess, diagnose and make veterinary referrals.
Format: Training is done at your home because, Bertrand says, “Just like children, dogs often behave when they are in a foreign environment and forget their manners at home.”
Prices: $80 consultation
The Scoop: Bertrand, a certified pet dog trainer, uses systematic desensitization, relaxation techniques, and therapeutic massages to tackle those deep-seated anxiety or trauma-related issues.
BECKMANN’S PRACTICAL
BEHAVIOR TRAINING FOR DOGS
933 Main St., New Rochelle
(800) 462-9575
www.beckmannspbtfordogs.com
Services: Training without chokers, pain or punishment (lots of treats instead)
Format: Private only
Prices: Appx. $700
The Scoop: Ed Beckmann, author of Love,