Hi neighbors, I just wanted to share a recent experience we had with a boarding kennel/day care for our dogs on Washington Blvd. The week before July 4th I took our lab puppy down to the Dog Stop for 3 days of day care to help get rid of some of her energy. At the end of the 3 days, I had to board all of our dogs in their overnight boarding facility. Although I know better than to board without touring the place, I just made assumption it would be ok. I picked all of our dogs up on July 3rd. Two days later our lab puppy began coughing, had a fever, and was lethargic. We took her to the vet and an xray showed she had double pneumonia. She was placed on two antibiotics and is still coughing although she is more energetic. Shortly after the visit to the vet with the lab, our tiny Cairn began coughing and was lethargic. We had to take her to the Emergency Hospital on Seibert Rd as our vet was closed. Xrays showed she also had double pneumonia. She was also placed on two antibiotics. Our vet said they had contracted Bordatella and/or Canine influenza from the kennel. She felt it was a very virulent strain of Bordatella to develop into pneumonia so quickly. I just wanted to share some concerns as I know this is vacation season. While I know that kennel cough can be contracted at any kennel there were some major issues that I became aware of on the day I picked up my dogs. I asked to go into the back where the dogs have play areas. I was shocked that it was at least 90 degrees back there where the dogs were running. I thought that since the front had ac the back would as well. They have big exhaust fans I was told. It is well known that Bordatella is spread when there is poor air circulation. There were approximately 20+ dogs on the large side and 20+ dogs on the small dog side running and playing. I then saw a conveyor belt and when I asked about it I was told that was how dogs get up to the boarding area. Either an attendant takes them up or they go up by themselves. If a dog is afraid of that route they can be taken to an outside staircase. The other concern I had was when an attendant came out to the store area to wipe up dog urine, he carried a sopping wet mop from the back to the front without a bucket. After cleaning up the urine he carried the same dripping mop into the back without a bucket. We tried on several occasions to talk with the owner but the kennel mgr told us the owner isn't always in and her job is to handle problem situations. We felt that a customer should be able to talk with the owner of a business they are patronizing. The kennel mgr told us they had never had a case of kennel cough there. We learned from another HP pet owner that his dog contracted kennel cough at the Dog Stop in February. So I just wanted to share our recent experience. If anyone else has had a dog that contracted kennel cough there I would appreciate your emailing me. Thanks. Marsha and Jerry Aarons