BoneVoyage - doggie daycare with a difference

If you live in the Ottawa area, you want to know about Malcolm and Christine Watson's boarding service BoneVoyage, which they started in 2004 as an alternative to conventional kennels. Anyone who has had to board their dog while they are traveling will appreciate how hard it is to leave your dog with a stranger where they will spend most of the day in a gated compound.

BoneVoyage places dogs in homes with dog owners who are personally screened for suitability, where they are treated like one of the family. It costs a little more but is so worth it. We tried out the service in October for a five day stay. As it turned out, we were matched with a family that had their own Shih Tzu, with whom Oreo got on fine. There was an adult at home all day, guaranteeing attention and daytime walks, and they had kids - the added fun of a larger pack and, we later heard, a friendly bed to sleep on!

Next time, we're thinking we'll take Oreo with us, but that is a big undertaking and not always possible. For those times you just can't take Rover with you, well, every city should have a service like BoneVoyage.

Christine and Malcolm are members of Responsible Dog Owners of Canada, an Ottawa area non-profit dedicated to sharing information and resources.

Contact BoneVoyage by email or phone (613) 843-1658 .