Feb 1, 2012
Auntie Barbara's will be hosting an Open House for Pet Industry Professionals and Clients on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 4-8 pm. Join us for food & beverages and a chance to tour our facility.
Jan 31, 2012
Happy Winter,
Hope this letter finds all of our furry friends well and warm. This winter so far has been great except for the mud, sometimes the snow is easier for Auntie Barbara.
We are making some changes this year so don't be afraid to give us a call if you don't understand or have questions.
This year our prices will be going up to $38.00 per dog per day. Multiple rates after first dog are $30.00 per day if they are sharing the same room. We are asking everyone to pay when they drop off. Cash or check only please. Any additional charges are to be paid when you pick up your dog (baths, grooming, medical expenses, additional food,etc.). Make sure when you book your dates that you are accurate as you will be charged for dates booked. If you are booking for holidays and spring breaks you will be required to send a deposit of 25% to hold reservation. Cancellations for refunds of deposits must be done two weeks in advance. Regular cancellation policy is still in effect for regular stay.
We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Spring is coming!
Auntie Barbara, Fiona & the Staff
August 5, 2011
Happy Hot Summer Everyone,
Wow this year has just been a scorcher for us. NIPSCO thinks Auntie Barbara is wonderful as our doggies just don't like to be warm. Business has been good with all of you traveling for the summer vacation and we appreciate your business. We are pretty much going with the flow around here. With the help of some of my clients we took down the old pump house on my property as it was giving up. Many thanks to the Harding Family for heavy equipment, the Lovely's for running the equipment and Austin for helping with the labor. Now if I could figure out what to do with the space we created Ms. Fiona would stop digging holes in it.
On June 18 we did our first Woof Studios photo shoot and it just went great. Little warm outside but the pictures were just terrific. I have posted Fiona's after framing. Anybody who got their photo's done and would like to share them please send them through the website.
We want to wish Stephanie good luck as she is off to veterinary school at Purdue. Emily will be staying with us for a while and we hope that all of you will send her your prayers as her brother Auggie was just killed in Afghanistan this past week. We are adding two new girls who are once again part of the ICE (working program) at Lowell High School. Welcome Haley & Courtney!
I will be closing for vacation on Monday, November 28, 2011 and do not plan on returning until Thursday, December 16, 2011 if it changes I will keep you updated. We will be open for both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays!
Once again thanks for all your support and I don't know about you but I am looking forward to fall and some cooler weather.
Auntie Barbara, Fiona and the Gang
April 12, 2011
Happy Spring Everyone!
I know that all of our furry friends are enjoying the spring weather and I am sure yours are too! We have some exciting news for everyone. We added the loft to our barn and it gives a bit more space to accommodate our guests. We used it over spring break and all went well. It gives us a few more options especially for those of you with little dogs. Over the break we had a family of 7 Japanese Chins who took over the loft and just had a grand time.
I want to take a minute to thank Tilton Construction for their fantastic work once again! They did all the original work on Auntie Barbara's and really help keep us running. Thanks Steve, Brad & Jim keep up the good work and thanks again!
One of the best parts about the addition is that I even got a closet out of the deal. Sorry I know that sounds girly but a girl has to have closets!
June 18 we will be hosting Woof Studios for pet portraits! If you have never used them grab your leashes and join us. They bring the studio with them, can give you any kind of background you want due to a green screen and can edit out all those oops like my arm in the way with Fiona. You can even plan ahead for those Christmas photo's. They are reasonably priced and so good with the dogs. We will be running by appointment so call for reservations. PS. they do other animals too!
In closing it is once again time to say thank you for your support. Business seems to be picking up and we appreciate your referrals. Lots of new places have jumped on the band wagon so your continued support means the world to us. For those of you who have never visited we encourage you to give us a try. Our mission statement is fresh air, exercise and fun!
Happy Traveling!
Auntie Barbara, Fiona and the Staff!
January 20, 2011
Happy Woofs & Cheers to all our Friends,
Hope this new year is shaping up well for everyone. Fiona and I are working a bit on training and trying to keep up with the weather. We are hoping that this year will be better for everyone. So far around here bookings are up from this time last year so we hope everybody keeps traveling. We thank you again for all your support and look forward to seeing you this year!
Everything is staying pretty much the same this year, eventually we will have to raise prices but just didn't want to do it this year. One thing I will be sticking to this year is new policy of some additional charges for our special needs guests. Don't worry everything will be discussed up front. We would also like to remind everybody to please be on time or give us a call, the driveway gets a bit crowded at times and the dogs just want to go out and play!
In the last few years I have been a bit unclear on pick up times. If you set a pick up time before 9am you will not be charged for the day. After 9am you will be charged for a daycare day. The reason I do this is to give me the availability to flip the room for the next guest.
Please keep an eye on the website I am going to be trying some new stuff and check to see if your dog is pet of the month! We are also going back to offering some free stays for the photo contests. Next chance at a free weekend stay will be our Spring Fling 2011, send us your pup enjoying the flowers, easter bunny, whatever. Mail them or email them to woofs@auntiebarbaras.com and your lucky pup could be a winner! Deadline is May 31st, 2011.
Have a great 2011!
Auntie Barbara, Fiona and the Staff!
September 16, 2010
Wow what a long hot summer, hard on Auntie Barbara, the dogs and the Nipsco bills. Hope this letter finds you all well. Not sure what the economy is doing yet but I sure do appreciate your support this summer. We have met a lot of new clients, watched some of our favorite friends age and this year we have had a lot of losses. For all of you who have lost a pet no words can describe the pain. Everytime I worry about Penelope I know my parents are up in heaven running a doggie playground with all the furry friends that have passed and it makes me feel better. Little did my parents know that their after life would have gone to the dogs.
We wanted to let everybody know that I will be closing as always for some time in December. This year the dates will be Monday, November 29, 2010 to Thursday, December 16, 2010 tentatively. If business is slow in January and February there maybe some closings as well but for now nothing is scheduled.
Fiona is doing well, growing up a bit and has definitely brightened up my life a bit. She and I went to Canada for a brief visit to see my sister and she thought she had died and gone to heaven.
We have two new employee's Emily & Stephanie who are part of the ICE working program at Lowell High School and we are happy to have them with us.
Jen is still grooming for us so if your pup needs a new look give us a call.
In closing I would like to send a shout out to Shelley a Hungry Hound, she loaned me a no bite collar after Fiona got spayed and what a godsend. She has a wonderful collection of bling, great foods, treats and now "No Bite" collars. Check them out at HungryHound.com and thanks again Shelley for the help.
Looking forward to fall, keep traveling.
Auntie Barbara, Fiona, the Staff and Penelope from up above!
P.S.
In addition I need to let everyone know that our daily price will be staying at $35.00 again this year coming up 2011. As of January 1, 2011 I will be adding a special services fee for any dogs who have special needs.
After 13 years I finally discovered this year that occasionally Auntie Barbara needs to get away from here. Previously I only would leave if I closed the business. I trust my staff throughly so if I need to leave for any reason I am not going to hesitate from now on. I know that many of you prefer that I be on hand at all times, please know that even if I have to get away for a day or two the staff can always contact me. The only problem with me getting away is that sometimes I have dogs with health issues, aggression problems or fear issues. If your dog requires my attention personally then there will be a special needs fee. You will be informed up front so there will be no surprises. Simple medications and pills do not apply to this policy as the staff can handle it unless the animal is not cooperating.
I hope you understand that I love what I do and wish to continue into the future. In order to accomplish this Auntie Barbara has to have a bit of a life.
I am getting a bit more tech savy with the help of Mindpack Studios Inc., so check back the website periodically!