A good life for dogs at Holiday Farms Web Posted: 06/01/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Amanda Reimherr
Express-News Staff Writer
BOERNE
— Marilyn DeMello was standing outside cuddling an apricot toy poodle puppy when a truck honked as it drove by. She
waved and shouted hello, a common occurrence at Holiday Farms, the dog-boarding business DeMello owns.
DeMello,
50, asks her clients to honk a hello every time they drive by her property, a sound she has come to love.
"I love
when I hear the honks because it means to me that the people are giving me a little thank-you for taking care of their (canine)
babies," she said, kissing the poodle puppy.
Holiday Farms is a 3-acre oasis on one of the highest points in Boerne,
a feature that provides a pleasant breeze even on sweltering summer days. Covered in massive oak trees, the property is a
little piece of heaven for dogs.
"I love them (the dogs) and adore them; they are so special to their families
and just as special to me when they are here. This is doggie camp and a pet resort," DeMello said.
DeMello
said her philosophy for Holiday Farms is vastly different from that of many kennels because she does not believe in allowing
dogs to be in cages or alone without any human interaction. Dogs are treated to a mixture of homemade rice and canned kibble,
open spaces for canine play and, of course, lots of hugs and kisses.
"These are people's precious babies and
we believe in allowing them to socialize with other dogs and humans, but we also want them to have lots of fun," DeMello
said.
"They really take care of our dogs with the same love that we do; we never have a worry in the world. With
all of the space and play pools, what dog wouldn't want to go there?" said Janet Sims, the owner of Cassie, a German
shepherd-husky mix, and Sister, a miniature dachshund.
Diane Williams said it's easy to tell that her beloved white
German shepherd loves Holiday Farms.
"Whenever he figures out where we are going in the car, his tail starts to
wag like crazy, he sticks his head further out the window and he runs right up to the house," she said. "It is a
godsend for us to know how much she pays attention to and loves each individual dog."
DeMello
installed a commercial-grade septic system for the kennel area to maintain proper sanitation. The property also has six large
runs for bigger breeds, a play area for small breeds and a landscaped area featuring 14 10-by-10-foot kennels with doghouses
and wading pools. Many of the dogs also sleep in the air-conditioned house on the property.
"We usually have an
average of 25 dogs, but last Christmas I had over 100 on the property and about 45 in the house with me. It was wild and crazy,
but we all had a good time," DeMello said with a huge smile.
DeMello spent 15 years in Hollywood, Calif., doing
a variety of jobs but said she knew she was a Texas girl at heart and wanted to come home. She purchased the property after
only viewing a videotape of it and transformed it into a dog-boarding destination.
"I trained with celebrity dog
trainer Shelby Marlo, who gave me an intense passion for dogs, and then I wanted to take that knowledge back home with me,"
the Olmos Park native and Trinity University graduate said.
Known
as the dog trainer to the stars, Marlo is an author, professional dog trainer and an animal behavioral specialist who has
been featured in magazines such as Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair and Dog World, according to various Web sites.
DeMello
said even though she loves what she does, it is a lot of hard work.
Dog owners said the atmosphere puts them at ease about leaving their dogs
there.
For details, call Holiday Farms at (830) 816-3261.
areimherr@express-news.net
