By Heidi Kerr-SchlaeferThe Surveyor

A new chapter has started at Happy Tails Dog Ranch, a dog board-ing and daycare facility located at 18490 CR 1. As of Feb. 27, 2015, the business is owned and operated by Kristi Ross and Ashley Dinger. They purchased the dog boarding business and house, and are hoping to one day purchase the adjacent horse property.

“We were originally looking at this

place for shelter space,” said Ross. “But when we came out here we realized that this was a really good business model for this area and to turn it into a shelter and a nonprofi t probably wasn’t the best use of the property.”

Big changes have already occurred

at Happy Tails, including a new entry way which will eventually feature a small retail area selling dog-related items. Ross and Dinger have also up-graded the website. Clients may now make reservations directly through www.happytailsdogranch.com.

“We’ve changed some of the day-to-day protocols here,” said Ross. “We’ve tidied stuff up and made it a little more effi cient.”

All of Happy Tails staff stayed on through the transition to new owners, including the two managers.

“We’ve been really fortunate,” said Ross. “We have an excellent team. If it wasn’t for the fact that they are as strong as they are, this transi-tion would have been a much bigger struggle.”

Rates for boarding and daycare have not changed, although the price of the 20-day daycare package has gone down, and they now offer a 10 percent discount on all services for rescue dogs (owners must present proof that their pet is a rescue ani-mal). Happy Tails will soon be offer-ing a free day of daycare each week for puppies only, age four months to eight months. Watch their website

and Facebook page for details.The next step for Happy Tails is an

expansion. Ross and Dinger’s plan is to add an additional attached build-ing that will be used for indoor day-care. It will be utilized on cold, icy or rainy days.

An already complete addition is the Happy Tails petting zoo. This area is now home to a few rescued farm animals including goats, rabbits and pigs, and chicken and ducks are being raised with the hopes of selling farm-fresh eggs in the future.

Dinger is the founder of All Aboard Animal Rescue & Shelter, a foster-home-based dog rescue that has been based out of Fort Collins since 2009. Generally All Aboard has anywhere between 80 to 100 rescue dogs in foster homes. Annually they rescue approximately 1,600 animals. While All Aboard is still looking for a per-manent home, for now it will operate out of Happy Tails.

Several rescue dogs will be housed temporarilyy at the facility only after they have been in 10-day quarantine, usually with a foster family. They are housed in a room separate from Happy Tails’ clients’ dogs.

“They generally only stay here a week before they go to a new foster family,” said Dinger. “They get the same amount of care that our client dogs get, but they do not interact with the client dogs.”

Ross and Dinger know one another because Ross, a real estate agent, has fostered hundreds of All Aboard dogs over the years. The two are excited about this new venture and are hap-py to be in Berthoud. Just as the for-mer owners, Ross and her husband, along with Dinger, live in the large home on the Happy Tails’ property.

Visit Happy Tails Dog Ranch on-line at www.HappyTailsDogRanch.com and All Aboard Animal Rescue & Shelter at www.aaanimalrescue.org.

Special to the Surveyor

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, indoor cats rarely need baths. That’s be-cause indoor cats use their tongues and teeth to stay relative-ly clean. While cats can benefi t from routine brushing, which can reduce shedding and cut back on hairballs, the bath tub is a place cats need not visit regularly.

But sometimes cats fi nd themselves in sticky situa-tions that dirty their coats and give them a less than agree-able odor. In such instances, a bath may be the only way to clean up your cat. Cat owners concerned about bathing cats can consider the following tips, courtesy of the ASPCA.

• Trim the claws. Cats are unlikely to fi nd a bathtub com-fortable, so cat owners should expect them to resist. Owners can protect themselves from such resistance by trimming their cat;s claws prior to bath time.

• Brush your cat’s hair. Matted hair can be a nuisance come bath time, and that can translate into a lengthier bath that will try the patience of cat and owner alike. Just before bath time, brush your cat’s hair to loosen any matted areas. Once hair has been brushed, gen-tly insert some cotton into your cat’s ears to prevent water from getting inside them.

• Choose the right time. Mellow or tired cats are less

likely to resist a bath than well-rested cats with lots of ener-gy, so choose a time of day when your cat is typically mellow to give the animal its bath. Allow the cat to play with some toys prior to bath time so he or she grows a little tired.

• Use a bath mat. Cats likely won’t be comfortable in the tub or sink, and that com-fort level is only further com-promised if they are slipping around. Use a bath mat so your cat is not slipping and sliding.

• Use lukewarm water. When bathing your cat, use only lukewarm water. Get your frisky friend wet in three to four inches of water before gen-tly massaging a solution that is one part cat shampoo and fi ve parts water into his or her hair. Massage in the direction of the hair growth and do not use hu-man shampoo, which can dry out cats’ skin. When the time comes to rinse the soap, once again gently use lukewarm wa-ter, taking caution to avoid get-ting soap and water into your cat’s eyes, ears and nose. Make sure there is no remaining shampoo residue, which can irritate the skin and attract more dirt.

• Dry your cat off. Long-hair cats may need their fur to be untangled with wide-toothed combs. Short-hairs can be dried in a warm place with a large

towel wrapped around their bodies. Some cats may be com-fortable if you use a hair dryer set on the lowest heat setting to dry them off, but don’t push it if your cat is not responding well to the hair dryer.

Page A8 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 30, 2015

Happy Tails Dog Ranch gets new owners and facelift

Photo by Heidi Kerr-SchlaeferKristi Ross (left) and Ashley Dinger (right) are the happy new owners of Happy Tails.

TurkAdoptable at Larimer Humane Society

What to do when your cat needs a bath

How to remedy pet food intolerances Special to the Surveyor

Selecting the appropriate food for your pet can be an overwhelming process. You can, however, make the shop-ping experience much smoother with these top tips from Mi-chele Dixon, a specialist in pet health and nutrition at pet food company Petcurean.

Pets have different food preferences, Dixon begins. If your cat or dog isn’t fi nishing their meal, try a different recipe and see how they react.

Different pet ages and sizes may require variations in their food. Select food geared towards your pet’s life stage, size, body condition and activity level. Various recipes are available that have been created with small or large, young or old pets in mind.

Protein is key. “Pets need protein to thrive and survive,” says Dixon. “Make sure that meat is one of the top three in-gredients in any recipe you select.”

For pets with food sensitivities, you may want to con-sider choosing a Petcurean food like GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE. The full range of recipes are specially formulated for dogs and cats with specifi c dietary needs.

Grains can act as an energy source for your pet, but be sure to look for wholesome grains, such oats and quinoa, in the ingredients list.

Although shopping for the best pet food can be a chal-lenge, the pay off is huge when your pet is healthier and more energized.

More information is available at www.petcurean.com/food-selector/.

SunnyAdoptable at Larimer Humane Society

BomburAdoptable at Larimer Humane Society

Saturday May 30

LarimerHumane.org for details