Lothian Woman Has High Hopes for New Pet Resort

by Debbie Hough, The Buzz; reprinted with permission from South County Gazette

As families prepare for Thanksgiving and begin the countdown to Christmas, Elizabeth Chaney has a countdown of a different sort this year.

It's only weeks before the Lothian resident opens her new pet resort at the perfect time for holiday travelers.

She had hoped for a Thanksgiving opening of Bristol Acres: The Perfect Pet Resort, but unexpected yet typical construction delays have pushed it back to December 16. The 14-acre property on Route 258 sits back on the Lothian highlands a mile from the busy Route 4 corridor.

Still, at the undeveloped end of Route 258, the resort claims an isolated setting surrounded by pristin woods and farmland.

Elizabeth has always owned pets and had a fondness for animals. But opening a pet resort never entered her mind as she traveled abroad and earned a biology degree.

Returning home to Lothian three years ago, she started a small animal training business, The Perfect Canine.

It was then that she realized that her natural talent for working with animals could be a fulfilling career and provide a valuable service for pets and their owners.

She's been involved in every detail at her now-bustling construction site, taking measures to ensure pets' comfort and health.

Elizabeth cringes at the word "kennel." It's not an apt description for the place she envisions.

For instance, the resort's energy efficiency is about more than future utility savings. Proper climate control is vital for creature comfort. And ventilation systems were specially designed to reduce cross-flow of allergens and dander.

The resort will feature spacious standard accommodations, nature walks and relaxing music throughout.

The skylighted atrium-style reception area is spacious and modern. The entryways and corridors were designed to provide smooth traffic flow in the arrival and waiting area where pets (and owners!) tend to be more apprehensive.

From that center area, large windows allow peeping at the various speciality rooms, such as the multilevel Feline Condo Room.

In a blend of humor and science, the room will be decorated with fish tanks. Besides amusing visitors, Elizabeth believes the tanks will mesmerize cats, calming them from the stress of new surroundings.

But the real paradise appears in the posh deluxe suites for dogs. There, pampered pooches can enjoy a resort stay a notch above standard accommodations. That means a four poster bed, music and television, extra playtime and socials and an indoor park complete with miniature pond and a usable fire hydrant.

The pets are allowed to follow their natural inclination towards hydrants since this whimsical unit was designed just for that purpose, with drainage and easy removal for daily cleaning.

The resort will open in stages, with the lodging portion slated for December, and completion due by the spring, when a grand opening celebration is planned.

Still to come are therapeutic touch massage, obedience training, a day spa and grooming service, and finally, doggie day care for daily commuters.

What Elizabeth most enjoys about her new endeavor is the opportunity she'll have to work with dogs and their owners.

Simple, subtle training techniques can make a huge difference in their relationship. She loves sharing that knowledge with owners so they can understand their pets.

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