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Health & Fitness

Gone to the Dogs?

Has Harford County gone to the dogs?

There is a quiet change happening in Harford County. Our rural landscape that was once the setting of mainly farms with working animals is slowly embracing a different relationship with the animals in our lives. Pets are becoming more like family members and less like working farm animals and we are including them and indulging them more and more in our daily lives.

A front runner of this change in attitude was Baron’s K-9 Pet Sitting who would come to your home and take care of your pets while you vacationed or worked. Services included administering medication, bringing in the mail, picking up newspapers, turning lights on and off and giving your home that “lived in” look. Bonded and insured, these caregivers allowed your pets to stay in their own home while owners were away. The business grew and many subcontractors were hired to fill the demand for these services. From this beginning, Baron’s K-9 has now become Baron’s K-9 Country Store, a place that is jammed packed from floor to ceiling with almost anything you might want or need for your furry friend. In addition, they have monthly events with speakers, seminars, pet photos, and even animal communicators, and money raised is going to local charities.

A few years ago, Best Friends Furever doggie daycare center, opened its doors. Instead of a traditional kennel to board your dog while you were on vacation, or keeping your dog crated at home while you were at work, you could take your dog to doggie daycare. Your dog could romp and play with his friends all day in their huge fenced property, get treats, pampering and owners could watch their furry friends online in real time. If it didn’t fit your schedule or routine, they would even come to your home and pick up your dog and bring him home at the end of the day. I remember the first time doggie daycare was presented at the Ripken Home Show. People stopped and looked at the photos and videos, many laughing at the concept of doggie daycare. Was Harford County ready for this? Apparently so, because it’s now not uncommon for 100-150 dogs or more to come to doggie daycare at the facility every day, with numbers even higher during the summer months and around holidays. Best Friends has taken it to the next level with not only events at their facility (such as their Halloween party that had over 100 dogs in attendance in addition to their regular day care clients, but offsite events such as the upcoming “Bark and Whine” at Fiore Winery this weekend which benefits the Fallston Animal Rescue Movement. You can even ride with your dog, and other dogs and owners, in their big converted purple school bus to and from events. 

A number of smaller facilities have opened that cater to grooming, training, self serve dog washes, pet sitting, seminars on health and even more social events you can attend with your dog. This past weekend one facility hosted a Royal Wedding reception where dogs and their owners dressed up for the Royal Wedding and were served tea and scones.

If you are a pure bred dog owner and are competitive, you can join or compete with the Old Line State Dog Club, a UKC licensed club or the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club, an AKC club. This month’s topic at Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club? Canine Freestyle Dancing.

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Is Harford County ready for this? Apparently so!

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