Thanks everyone for all the good info.
A number of people requested that I post the responses here and so I am doing so. I redacted anything that might reveal the identity of the neighbor who replied.
One interesting sociological note: almost every response ended with the phrase : "Good luck!". Never noticed that one so consistently before.
Anyway - here they are:
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My local pet sitting business, which I run out of my home, provides in-home care for dogs and other small pets. We can make several visits daily while you are away or stay in your home. Please feel free to visit the website: www.petsitpgh.com and call or email if you have any further questions.
We have always used the Cozy Pet Inn in Plum and they are excellent. They
tend to be a bit more than others especially during a holiday, but they do
a wonderful job.
We bring our dogs to Camp Bow Wow in Greentree. It's on the way to the airport, and they let the dogs run around together during the day. Our pups seem to like it. In fact, we're in New Zealand right now, and they are there for 12 days. I think their website is www.campbowwowpittsburgh.com. They have a webcam so you can see your dog while you are away.
I haven’t had a dog in a long time, but do have friends that board their dogs. Golden Bone at Fifth and Hamilton always took good care of my dogs; my friend Cathy loves Camp Bow, and they have a webcam so you can check on your dog when you’re away. If you’re looking for someone to come to the house and take care of him, try PetSit Pittsburgh (Denise Lohr). Her company is based in Sq. Hill. None of these options if cheap!
We use the Cozy Inn for most vacations particularly if they are a week or longer. They're out in Plum, a bit pricey but they take great care of the pets, there's a vet on staff and the facility is amazing. We used to take the dog to their facility in Ligonier (Stahlstown) till they opened Plum so you know we really like them! We've used The Golden Bone on occasion and our neighbors always use them. We've strictly used them on an emergency basis for a weekend stay. The facility is smaller and there's less space outside for the dogs.
The best place in town is the Cozy Inn Pet Resort and Spa in Plum -- they are fantastic. I left my [PET] there often -- two times for as much as a month -- and she was as happy as can be. 412/798-5297
The Golden Bone is very close and very terrible!
We use Cozy Inn Pet Resort in Penn Hills. They charge by size and have a medical wing if you have an older or ill dog. They are very responsible and loving--the dogs get a complimentary bath the night before they are picked up and any toys, towels, etc. you take for them to play with are washed as well. They supply the food at no extra cost! Our dog LOVES going there!!!
{PET] goes to Camp Bow Wow because they run and play all day (he couldn't hack a cage)
I have boarded [PET] several times at the Petsmart Hotel in Monroeville and she has always done fine there. They seem very dedicated and the place is clean with lots of play time.
Try Golden Bone. My dog always appears to be happy to go.
We have used Golden Bone in the past, but only use for very short stays. They are caged the whole time, except for bathroom breaks. Recently, we tried for the first time Camp Bow Wow. You can view your pets activities online anytime and they have strict guidelines about admittance (shots, temperment). We liked it and thought it went well.
Camp Bow Wow is really nice and our dog enjoys it. I also have a friend who has taken their dog to Cozy Inn several times and they really like it.
we took our puppy ( 7 months) to The Golden Bone Pet resort for one night and were very pleased.
We don't have a dog but we have boarded our cat at the Golden Bone several times in the last year. They board dogs too and we were very pleased.
They give tours of the place so you can check it out for yourself.
Golden Bone is superb. Used them routinely for years for boarding & grooming, untl my [PET] died last summer.
We take our [PET] to English Acres. It is a drive as they are up in Cranberry/Mars area, but they are wonderful. Totally worth the effort! There is little to find online about them, but you will find them if you google English Acres Pittsburgh.
http://pittsburgh.citysearch.com/profile/43645447/cranberry_twp_pa/english_acres.html
The owners are Jeff & Denise English. Email address: petsitterpa@yahoo.com
If we need to have him walked occasionally we will have PetSitPgh, owner Denise and fellow HP neighbor, help us with that. I know that PSP also boards dogs or will have someone come and petsit.
I just used Fetchpetcare.com last week to board my [PETS] at a sitter's home. WONDERFUL experience. They are excellent. They will board at a person's home, come and stay at your home or come in and care for your pets. Call them at 412-307-4923.
Golden Bone is the worst. It is dirty and they do not really care about anything but the money.
Misty Pines is wonderful, it is a hike from HP, but so worth it.
There is a doggie camp out in Plum that I have heard wonderful things about, but have not seen myself.
We have used both Brizes' Kennels in Elizabeth Township (http://www.brizeskennel.com) and Misty Pines in Wexford (http://www.mistypinesdogpark.com/). Niether is terribly convient to Highland Park but they give our active and attention loving [PET] lots of personal attention. He gets very excited & happy when he sees we are pulling in at "doggie camp" (aka Brizes).
Both have a standard price for just boarding and then you can add-on extra play times/walks things like that, which I always add-on a few of. The first time he stayed there, I was concerned that they wouldn't pay him extra attention except at the special playtimes, and that is NOT the case. After the kennel staff cleans and feeds everyone during "rounds" they go back through and play with all the dogs that want to play. We've even gone over a year between boardings there, and they have still remembered "Oh, [PET], he's the super-friendly [BREED], isn't he?"
I would recommend getting your dog groomed on the last day at either kennel - otherwise he comes home smelling very strongly of "dog kennel" - they keep the facilities clean, but it's still a kennel, not your house.
We have used Misty Pines for classes a lot and once for boarding - I think it was fine. May feel a little fancier. We tend to use Brizes' over Misty Pines for boarding because our travel habits take us out east on the turnpike a lot. (Brize's located on Route 51, about a half-hour south of Century III mall and about 15-20 minutes north of I-70, so we drop him off on the way out of town and take 70 over to the turnpike). Biggest difference I can think of is that Brize's does not let doggies that don't know each other play together (all add-ons are one-on-one staff and dog), but you can add group playtime at Misty Pines (where they play in the staff-supervised play yard with other dogs there for boarding or day-care).
Good luck - I think a lot of it depends on your dog,but ours seems to like going to the kennel, as he likes the attention and new things to discover (though he loves coming home at the end of the week just as much!).
For larger dogs, we have had great luck, and truly love, English Acres, which is up Cranberry way. It's a hike, but our dogs love it, Jeff English is great with them, gets them plenty of exercise, and just generally cares for them. We don't worry at all. I say for larger dogs because generally the dogs are all together. He stays with them, but they play outside or in a large barn he has set up for the purpose for several hours every day, and they generally sleep in a large room with dog beds scattered about (no kennels). Our dogs LOVE it there.
We have used Golden Bone Pet Resort on Hamilton Ave. for all of our dogs
for the past 10 years and have not had a problem. Of course, since dogs
can't talk, we don't know their side!!
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