Our pets start to live in a civilized manner, unlike some of their owners
“A well-mannered boxer will rent a room for the duration of his masters’ vacation. Neighborly relations at the hotel are guaranteed...” If dogs could speak and write, they would probably write an ad like this one. Even if people love their pets very much, sooner or later they have to be away from them, on a business trip or on vacation. What happens then? It used to be a big problem in Ukraine. Some could leave their pets with their friends. Others couldn’t. What could they do then? Finally, Ukraine caught up with the rest of the world and opened special establishments, where one can leave his pet in good hands. The notion of a pet hotel is no longer perceived as extravagance but as a necessity by most people with dogs and cats.
When we visited a “pet hotel” at a local veterinary clinic, its sole tenant was a gorgeous Persian cat. The rest had returned home. The cat lives in a 10 square meter room in a kennel, and receives regular meals. Oksana Bodniak, the Chief physician of the veterinary center, says that the influx of customers reaches its peak during winter holidays and, of course, in the summer. People leaving their pets here often worry more than the animals. The latter are looked after by trained personnel, and their stress from separation is minimal. In the clinic we saw what was left of a couch after a Stafford terrier had had it for breakfast; another tenant was fond of pulling out sockets and tearing down tiles, but the staff assured us that it was an exception rather than the rule. It is a reminder that pets simply need constant attention.
Unintentional breeding relationships and territorial conflicts are out of the question; there are separate rooms and the pets are taken out separately to a special patio. While the pet is enjoying a walk, its room is disinfected. There is a kitchen there, and the meals are served on an individual basis, so the pets can stay on their habitual diets, according to the owners’ instructions. The prices are reasonable: 50 hryvnias per 24 hours for a large breed, 30 hr. for a small one or for a cat, and 5 hr. per consultation. Additional services are charged separately, of course: combing and bathing (including dogs looking more like felt boots), for example, ranges between 70 and 100 hryvnias.
Some cosmetic procedures are available: replacing a fang lost when working a hard bone, whitening, filling, evening teeth, removing tartar. Training sessions can also be ordered. There have been no complaints about loss of weight or bad care, which is only natural considering the professional staff.
Viktoriya Kyshchenko, the owner of another pet hotel, says she had a bad experienced once when she hired a person who did not know or care much about pets. She fired him very soon, and went back to the original routine of taking care of her “customers” herself. She would rather get up at six and go to bed at two a.m. than receive help from someone who does not understand cats and dogs. Viktoriya really loves pets. In fact, some of the owners said that their animals missed her after returning home. She charges about the same amount as the other place — $4-5 a day plus an extra $1-2 if the dog cannot be taken outside. The owner can have his pet examined and treated by a vet, or tended by a hairdresser. These services cost up to $15. One can only wonder about a slim fragile lady like Viktoriya running such a complex business. She had thirteen pets in her care during our visits. Five of them got to know us by barking, sniffing and licking us all over. Others stayed in their comfortable cages. Some of the dogs were eager to take part in our conversations, and we especially enjoyed a Rottweiler called Rusia, a Boxer called Bat, a Black terrier with an unusual name Smart Merchant, an Afghan hound Christie, and a Shar-Pei named Jerry. Bat was even forgiven for getting jealous about Viktoriya and marking his territory on the door, just in case.
Viktoriya hates irresponsible owners. For example, once two sisters (both teachers, by the way) left their dog “on credit”, and then “forgot” to come for him. They did not even call. Regrettably, such cases are not infrequent. Some owners call to say they cannot afford to keep their pet any longer and ask for help in solving the problem (“I know you of all people can arrange it!”) One of such abandoned tenants, Shar-Pei Jerry, is still waiting to be adopted. Sometimes, dogs are left tied to the gate of the pet hotel. Viktoriya always takes them in. Her daily chores are many — buying supplies of food, like 200 kg of cow stomachs, or sacks of cereal and dog food; looking after a Black terrier Brave Heart Feodosiya with her litter, and so on. She enjoys it all. After all, experts say that dog therapy is one of the best treatments for depression. The main thing is establishing contact, feedback, learning to enjoy being jumped at, leaving paw-marks on your clothes and being licked all over, for these affections are much more sincere than a fellow human’s refined courtesy.
