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DETROIT LAKES — There is a new dog boarding facility in lakes country. Kasey Larson and Troy Seidel opened Lake Park Paws at 811 Sunrise Drive in Lake Park.
The facility has 15 kennels, offering three different sizes. The walls are made of food-grade plastic, which Larson said is the same material used to make cutting boards.
“It doesn’t hold bacteria and is very easy to clean,” Seidel added.
Inside each kennel is a raised bed and food and water dishes. Music plays throughout the building, including the kennels and two of the three play areas.
The interior of the kennel area has a living room lounge area that includes couches and an open play area. There is also a fenced-in outside play area with artificial turf.
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Larson’s daughter Kensie Larson is the facility manager. She took an extensive course to learn about dog body language, potential health concerns, how to guide different temperaments and more, all to prepare for her leadership position.
At times, both men have experienced difficulty finding a location to board their pets. Area kennels were occasionally full, particularly around the holidays. Seidel and Larson were sharing their experiences while working at their other business — Medic Metal Welding & Fabrication, which is next door to the kennel.
“We figure other people have the same problem,” Seidel said.
One of them mentioned their Lake Park location would be a perfect fit for such a business, as many people commute down the Highway 10 corridor, and visit the lakes area. The conversion led to the men examining an unused building on their property. They realized it was a perfect size for a boutique kennel.
However, before diving into a new business, market research was conducted to confirm their hunch. Seidel said that after the need for another kennel in the area was confirmed, they sought a mentor.
While owning a business taught them all about bookkeeping, permitting and taxes, and both have family dogs, operating a kennel was a new arena.
Larson was working his shift as a paramedic in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, when a colleague began raving about a boarding facility nearby. The two men reached out to the kennel owner, shared their plans and asked for advice.
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“We made a very key contact,” Seidel said, noting the owner of Katie’s Kennels in St. Hilaire, Minnesota, mentored them on how to properly run a kennel. “She walked us through everything that she has learned from being in the business for 20-some years.”
With much knowledge gained, the two renovated the building and bought GPS trackers. Larson explained one important tip their mentor shared was some dogs are escape artists and take to climbing 7-foot fences as a challenge. Should one get out, the GPS will ensure the dog is located quickly and safely returned to the kennel.
Another avenue to keeping the dogs safe while in their care is having owners fill out a questionnaire upon arrival. The information allows staff to know if a dog has any mischievous tendencies, needs medications or if they want their pup playing with other dogs at the facility.
Seidel emphasized at this time they do not offer day care to the general public. The playtime is only offered to the dogs being boarded at the facility.
After checking a dog and attaching a GPS tracker to the collar, the pup is brought to an acclimation room. There, the dog is secluded and given the chance to become accustomed to the new smells and sounds.
Once brought into the kennel area, the dog will be introduced to their guest quarters. The kennels are made of solid material and connected to the floor, which prevents unwanted interaction between pets.
“It’s not like a chain link fence, where they can kind of touch each other,” Seidel said. “So, it’s kind of their secluded little oasis once they get in there.”
During the night hours, after the pups are put to bed, the kennel is monitored with sound and video, both inside and outside.
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“We actually monitor it 24-7,” Larson said, adding he lives about 10 minutes away, should an emergency arise after hours.
An open house is being planned for late May. Questions or bookings can be done by calling 218-234-9269, emailing kasey@lakeparkpaws.com or online at www.alekparkpaws.com .
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