Fernlee Kennels

I have been using Fernlee Kennels to board my dogs when I travel for work since I moved to Michigan back in 2010. The amenities are basic, but the prices are extremely reasonable and the staff is helpful and friendly. They know my dogs by name and even my skittish dog who is usually terrified of everyone has come to know and enjoy the girls who work here. They also know my dogs’ personalities and eating habits, so in the rare event one of them is acting off, they are always sure to alert me. I like that I have the option to add services, such as grooming and extra yard time, especially if they will be staying for an extended time period. In the almost six years that I have been using them, I have never had an issue with them or the level of service they provide. I also like that my dogs are able to stay together in the same kennel, so I don’t have to worry about them getting lonely or home sick too much.

Great Service. Friendly and helpful staff. Safe and clean environment for my dog. He always comes back happy and thriving. I like this place and they don’t over charge like many of the other places. Also they offer a free oatmeal bath on the last day of pick up which is a really nice service!

I’ve been using Fernlee to board our dogs when we travel for over ten years. We’ve always felt they were treated well and every time, the dogs’ demeanors were typical. (I’ve taken my dog to other places and had my Doberman come home once acting as if he’d been beaten.) At Fernlee, they always act healthy and happy to see us.
It’s always clean, they require vet records and the grooming service is a great option for the day that you’re taking them home.
I highly recommend Fernlee!

Okay, so I am breaking my rule against giving a negative review to a place I have only tried once but I will say this is the worst kennel I have ever taken my dog to. I feel guilty saying this but I chose this place mainly because it is close to my house and the least expensive in the area… I feel like a very bad dog Mommy now.
I have boarded my dog many times back home in Colorado and have always had a positive experience. I was gone for about 2 weeks and it was my boyfriend who dropped my dog off a little over a week ago, if I would have been the one to drop him off I would have walked back out of the door… the place smelled filthy and the girls at the front desk let off an unfriendly vibe.
As the other reviewers stated, Fernlee is very basic… in my opinion a little too basic. I am not one of those people who expect my dog to be sleeping on Egyptian cotton but I do expect for the place to look at least a step up from an animal shelter. At less than $ 20 a day, I should have known if the price seems too good to be true than it probably is.
I picked up my dog today and the girls at the front desk let him come running to greet me. I was really bothered by the fact that they didn’t give me any information about his stay or bother to «say goodbye» to him. It made me wonder how they treated him when I wasn’t around…
My dog is an Australian Shepherd and can be prone to being a little anxious… I recognize this but I have never seen him as skittish and as nervous as when I picked him up. The only time he ever has this sort of behavior is when he has been in his kennel too long and hasn’t gotten enough attention; sorry, but I know my dog and he just isn’t right. He is also A LOT thinner than when I last saw him. Not to say that they didn’t feed him enough but if there was a problem with his eating, I should have been notified. I paid the extra money for him to get a bath and he still smells awful… a halfass job to say the least.
DO NOT TAKE YOUR DOGGY HERE!

We have been taking our dogs to Fernlee for years and have very good expereinces. Our dogs always come home happy and tired. It doesn’t look fancy but our pups are well taken care of and that’s what really matters to us!

We left our dog juno at Fernlee from a Friday through Monday morning. It is definitely a «utilitarian» place, as you can read from the other reviews and/​or see on the website. However, the staff was very professional and Juno seemed well-​cared for. He was super eager to get out and come home, but we’ve never boarded him before and I’m sure that’s to be expected anyway. Fernlee is EXTREMELY economical, they charge by weight per day. Juno was $ 17 a day and they fed him as well, which is hands-​down the cheapest rate I’ve ever seen. They offer a grooming service, which we did not opt to use since he was there only a short time. They have a block of time with no pick up/​drop offs, I believe it was 2−6PM. This allows them early morning/​later evening check-​ins and outs. It also gives the dogs a peaceful break in the day. I would use Fernlee again; the fact that my vet said it was a decent place also made me feel more at ease.

Much better stay this time! I was super-​specific about when I was picking my dog up, and when he needed to be groomed. He was ready and looked great when we picked him up. I also limited his belongings and only left exactly enough food and treats for his stay. Again, my dog was happy and energetic when we picked him up. I’ll definitely board him there again, no problem!

Okay, because I love my dog I feel I owe it to the world to tell his story about Fernlee. Fernlee is by no means a «pet resort.» I’ve owned a dog ever since I was 14, and I’ve used several kennels. Fernlee is quite utilitarian — basic cement floor, chain-​link dividers, a small door that if opened allows the dogs to go outside to «do business» and a separate, small outside area to play. It honestly resembles a step-​up from the Humane Society kennels. We were told that if the weather was nice, the dogs get to go outside and play, «day-​care» style. We never felt that good about the place because it’s SO basic, but frankly it’s really affordable.
We have used Fernlee three times to board Dewey, our dog. The first two times we boarded Dew there we had no complaints, other than he smelled like a barnyard when he came home — but we expect that with the close-​quarters and open playtime.
The third time we boarded him for a long weekend we were horrified when we got him back. Not only did he smell like a barnyard, but he was FILTHY. Immediately upon walking in the door at home he signaled to go out. I went outside with him and watched him pee for SEVERAL minutes straight. He then pooped twice in a row. Not typical. When I went back inside with him he literally went insane. Now, Dew is a medium to high energy dog. We take him once weekly to a local dog daycare (Bubble & Bark in Ferndale), and it’s commonplace for him to be a little spazzy for about 20 minutes when we first come home from daycare. This was BEYOND spazzy. He was agitated, anxious and was quite honestly SO high-​energy for a solid day — it was as though they never let him outside his run for days. My husband and I felt horrible.
I called Fernlee and spoke with a manager or owner. I explained the situation and asked for an explanation. Did he not get along with other dogs this time and therefore got minimal playtime? Were you short-​staffed? He gave me some diatribe about how sometimes dogs are uneasy about going to the bathroom on the cement floor of the run, etc. I explained that this has NEVER been a problem before, at any kennel he’s stayed at. He offered a small discount on my next visit, but frankly we’ve never been back. If there was a problem that necessitated him being crated constantly, I would’ve expected an explanation when I went to pick him up. But I got none.
I recognize that my review is really only a snapshot of this business, and the first two times were okay, but we don’t have the heart to even try Fernlee again. Dewey was SO dirty, SO frazzled that he was, in our opinion, most likely confined to his little crate for several days in a row with minimal access to outside.

I’m a huge fan of Fernlee. I’ve been taking my German Shepherd, Bear, there for 3 years now. I can’t even say the word «school» (which is what I call Fernlee) around him because he goes crazy with excitement. Having used daycare, grooming and kenneling, I can attest that my dog always comes home exhausted because he plays all day long. Their prices are on the cheap side when compared to other kennels. All and all, Fernlee is totally awesome!

I’ve been taking my pooch to Fernlee for years. She’s been there for weekend trips and as long as a 9-​day stretch.
Fernlee has always taken great care of her. We have and EXTREMELY energetic dog. If the weather is nice, they will let her spend tons of time outside running around the yard. She gets along with other dogs, which is a requirement to have access to the yard.
Boarding runs from $ 15-​$ 18 per day based on size, which is pretty reasonable. Cats are $ 10 per day. They have monthly discounts as well — but if you are leaving your dog in a kennel for a month, you really shouldn’t have a dog!
They supply dog food (Dad’s) and we always bring bedding, a few toys and a full supply of rawhides. Fernlee also offers day care $ 10 per day ($ 15 for 2 dogs) and grooming, neither of which I have utilized.
I have toured the kennel area and found it to be very clean. It doesn’t stink like some other places we’ve been to, although every kennel smells a bit. Individual kennels measure 3×4 feet, with an attached 3×12 foot run.
Fernlee is a 3-​star hotel room for the pet world. It’s nice, clean and dependable, but isn’t fancy and doesn’t offer ritzy perks like 24-​hour online cameras, pet suites, elaborate scenery like Pet Ritz down the street. A dog is a dog — that stuff seems ridiculous to me any way, although the camera would be interesting.
The staff is very friendly and good with crazy, energetic dogs. Unless you have a really mean dog, I think they will get along great. If you have a really mean dog, you probably shouldn’t kennel your dog any way. Nobody wants to deal with an angry dog that wants to bite the workers or other dogs. Your money would be better spent for obedience training, which probably has more to do with you than your dog!
Anyway, we are very happy with Fernlee. Dogs typically don’t like going to the kennel, but the staff here does a great job of making it easier for them to be away from their home and routine. You can trust that your pet will be treated well here.