DETROIT LAKES
— There is a brand new canine boarding facility in lakes nation. Kasey Larson and Troy Seidel opened Lake Park Paws at 811 Sunrise Drive in Lake Park.
The facility has 15 kennels, providing three completely different sizes. The partitions are product of food-grade plastic, which Larson mentioned is similar materials used to make slicing boards.
“It doesn’t hold bacteria and is very easy to clean,” Seidel added.
Inside every kennel is a raised mattress and meals and water dishes. Music performs all through the building, together with the kennels and two of the three play areas.
The inside of the kennel space has a lounge lounge space that features couches and an open play space. There can also be a fenced-in exterior play space with synthetic turf.
Larson’s daughter Kensie Larson is the ability supervisor. She took an intensive course to study canine physique language, potential well being considerations, the way to information completely different temperaments and extra, all to organize for her management position.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
Limited boarding choices spark thought
At instances, each males have skilled issue discovering a location to board their pets. Area kennels had been often full, significantly across the holidays. Seidel and Larson had been sharing their experiences whereas working at their different business — Medic Metal Welding & Fabrication, which is subsequent door to the kennel.
“We figure other people have the same problem,” Seidel mentioned.
One of them talked about their Lake Park location can be an ideal match for such a business, as many individuals commute down the Highway 10 hall, and go to the lakes space. The conversion led to the lads analyzing an unused building on their property. They realized it was an ideal measurement for a boutique kennel.
However, earlier than diving into a brand new business, market analysis was performed to verify their hunch. Seidel mentioned that after the necessity for one more kennel within the space was confirmed, they sought a mentor.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
While proudly owning a business taught all of them about bookkeeping, allowing and taxes, and each have household dogs, working a kennel was a brand new area.
Larson was working his shift as a paramedic in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, when a colleague started raving a couple of boarding facility close by. The two males reached out to the kennel proprietor, shared their plans and requested for recommendation.
“We made a very key contact,” Seidel mentioned, noting the proprietor of Katie’s Kennels in St. Hilaire, Minnesota, mentored them on the way to correctly run a kennel. “She walked us through everything that she has learned from being in the business for 20-some years.”
With a lot data gained, the 2 renovated the building and purchased GPS trackers. Larson defined one essential tip their mentor shared was some dogs are escape artists and take to climbing 7-foot fences as a problem. Should one get out, the GPS will make sure the canine is positioned shortly and safely returned to the kennel.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
Another avenue to preserving the dogs protected whereas of their care is having homeowners fill out a questionnaire upon arrival. The info permits workers to know if a canine has any mischievous tendencies, wants medicines or if they need their pup enjoying with different dogs on the facility.
Seidel emphasised presently they don’t supply day care to most of the people. The playtime is barely provided to the dogs being boarded on the facility.
After checking a canine and attaching a GPS tracker to the collar, the pup is dropped at an acclimation room. There, the canine is secluded and given the prospect to turn into accustomed to the brand new smells and sounds.
Once introduced into the kennel space, the canine can be launched to their visitor quarters. The kennels are product of stable materials and related to the ground, which prevents undesirable interplay between pets.
“It’s not like a chain link fence, where they can kind of touch each other,” Seidel mentioned. “So, it’s kind of their secluded little oasis once they get in there.”
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
During the night time hours, after the pups are put to mattress, the kennel is monitored with sound and video, each inside and outdoors.
“We actually monitor it 24-7,” Larson mentioned, including he lives about 10 minutes away, ought to an emergency come up after hours.
An open home is being deliberate for late May. Questions or bookings might be performed by calling 218-234-9269, emailing
or on-line at
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