Running Pond Acres

Had our dog at Running Pond Acres recently. He came home shaking, with cuts around his mouth, a scratch across his nose and three spots on his stomach where hair had been rubbed off. He also smelled terrible. They have very limited times you can pick up and drop off. If you can’t make these times, you’re forced to pay for additional days. They also have a weird way of calculating the actual days your pet is there, a day is not a 24 hr period. They only take cash or check. To have your dog in the pool is an additional fee. On a positive note: The gentleman that was there at pickup is pleasant, and the fences around the place are tall. We won’t be returning though, I think there are better options out there.

Customer service isn’t great, and as other reviewers have noted, they keep really weird hours and charge you for days you didn’t want to board your dog if you can’t make a two hour window on a Saturday. We wound up getting charged seven days for a four day vacation because we couldn’t drop off the day we left and couldn’t pick up the day we got back. They’re also oddly secretive about their play area, which I find suspicious. The dog came back filthy, but he seems like he enjoyed his stay. All in all, we won’t be boarding with them again, and I wouldn’t recommend this vendor to any of my friends.

Our dog stayed here for about ten days. When we got him back, his eye and right side of his face were very swollen, and he wouldn’t let us touch his mouth, he was also acting very nervous/​scared. Two vet visits later, and over $ 500 in vet bills, they found that he has an infection behind his eye and a staph infection around his stomach. We gave them consent to take him in (at our expense) if needed, and that was neglected. Three days later, he is still having trouble eating, and won’t use the right side of his mouth without crying. Still not sure that the eye infection is the only problem. Not to mention, he came back filthy. I am disappointed in the care he receive for the price we paid. The staff was friendly upfront, but I am just concerned about what actually happened here. I will not be coming back, and I won’t referring my friends or family.

We have 2 large dogs and they were so well cared for. They were returned happy and tired. I do not know a better place. We will be back for sure!

May 23 we dropped our dog off for the long Memorial day weekend. It was very secretive, as they wisked her away. We left food, and a bed. I called twice in the 6 days an was informed she was doing great. When my husband picked her up they told him «don’t be surprized if she curls up in a ball and sleeps for a couple days. She was filthy, her paws were split from running so much. She is a rat terrier that weighs 26 lbs… now at least 5lbs smaller. She is a different dog. She also had a mark on her nose from a scrape with another dog or bush! Scared and breathing so heavy I was afraid she was having a heart attack. It has been 4 days and she is just starting to move around. She is not the same happy go lucky dog we dropped off. We are not sure of the treatment she received, but her cough is hoarse from over use. Maybe a larger dog would be find in this atmosphere, but our dog or any one I know with a dog will never take it there.

Our darling HIGH MAINTENANCE dog loves Running Pond!
We moved to beautiful Washington about 1 year ago and one of our first concerns was finding the right kennel for our dog who easily becomes anxious. We searched the area, read reviews, and spoke with our new Vet; all of which led us to Running Pond Acres. On our first visit we met Jane, who knew exactly the right balance of affection and space to give our dog. Our dog now goes once a week to play for the day and we have left her on several occasions while we traveled. Each time we pick her up she is tired, but very happy. Also, each time, Jane can tell us exactly how much she ate and what other dogs became her friends. Running Pond is always clean and organized and Paul returns all messages very promptly. Running Pond is not just a business to Paul and Jane, it’s their passion.

Gunnar reunited with Jane at Running Pond during my longest trip away from my now 3.5 year old. I was able to see his personal «suite» when I dropped him off and felt much reduced stress at the realization his quarters would be more comfortable than mine during a 10-​day trekking excursion! It was obvious he was happy to be back. When I picked him up the gals at the front gave me a detailed report and I was able to meet a few of his favorite canine friends from the week plus stay. Gunnar looked longingly towards his new friends and playground as I drove away. Makes me feel like a very good mom to see him this way!

First two visits were fine. The last two were not. We came early to pick up our dog and they were not expecting us. The lady seemed nervous and our dog was very agitated and hot to the touch. We took her home to give her a cool bath to calm her down. This last visit she was coughing like she had a small bone stuck in her throat. I asked what happened, and the reply was she was like that when she got here. I won’t be back.

Has anyone ever actually seen where the dogs stay? I have had good experiences though they are not flexible. If I want to go somewhere on a Wed. It costs 3 days. They need more staff to better serve the consumer. Looks great, seems great, but is it? Jane IS great!
Want to SEE what I’m paying for.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE KENNEL!
The owner lives on this 5 acre+ property. My little pup stays in the garage, which has been converted into stalls (heated in the winter) with a doggy door to form an indoor/​outdoor run to use as they choose. Big dogs are in similar areas in the backyard (away from the little ones). They are never locked up in a cage without access to grass. My pup shares a stall with others that he gets along with– dogs are closely monitored incase there are personality conflicts. Humans are allowed during a block of time in the a.m. & again in the p.m. (Some people think this is too restrictive, but I make it work because my dog’s happiness is worth it.) During the rest of the day, the dogs are released from their runs & free to play in a very large open area protected by a stone wall, complete with grass & trees. Shy pups are more than welcome to hang out with staff as they perform their daily duties. (Mine started out shy, but is now playing like crazy with the other pups!) Staff members give free love, snacks, & meds as needed. There is an in ground pool package available for swimming pups.
Most other kennels I visited had cages. You walked in to hear all the dogs start barking & jumping around to see if it’s their turn to go outside. They get their regimented «potty times». Maybe a little group playtime, if you’re lucky. Extra $$ if you want someone to play with your pet or give him a treat. Extra $$ for meds. To me, this = stress for the pups & money spent to keep him in a cage most of the day.
This place was recommended & used by my vet. My dog loves it here! Staff takes great care of them & knows him by name. He is always tired when he comes home after all the playing he does, & he always makes new friends. It’s nice to see the same people every time I go there instead of new faces who don’t know my dog’s temperament or needs. Current price for my dog is $ 32/​day +/​-​.
When I pick up my pup after vacation, he’s like a kid coming off the school bus after a great day at school. He bolts outside with his ears back & tail wagging, & does a couple laps around the driveway at full speed. He wants to go back into the open play area that is in the front yard, but instead, I have to call him to get into the truck to go home, where he will never have as much fun as he does at Running Pond Acres.

We’ve been bringing our dog Mindy to Running Pond now for almost 7 yrs. now and they have been nothing short of outstanding. Mindy is always wagging her tail when I bring her there and the staff is so welcoming and great to her. We never have to worry when we go out of town. Paul, Jane and the rest of the staff have been so accommodating, they have always go the extra mile for their customers. Go check them out!

I continue to bring all of my kids here and really appreciate all the care we get. Great people here for sure.

STILL LOVE THIS PLACE! We just picked our two dogs up after a weekend visit…
Looking for a GREAT place for your dog (s) to vacation while you do… This is the place! We’ve been bringing our babies here for years, they come back pooped, played out and happy, happy, happy. When we say «running pond acres»…their ears perk up and they know they have special days ahead of them. We have no worries when they are there!

aka the Bed & Biscuit
If I could give this place a million stars I would because they are that incredibly wonderful, and my dog loved them as much as I did.
This place was recommended to me by a former co-​worker who is even nuttier than I am about pets, so if it was good enough for her babies (3 doggies), I had no worries. Back then, there was no fancy website at
where you can now actually see tons of pictures and read about the amenities and so forth, but now there is, and my experience was everything they describe, and more.
First of all, whenever we showed up there was always one of the family members outside tossing a ball with the dogs or some other activity, and this was constant every single time. It’s so important to know your pooch is having fun and interaction.
The «K-​9 Suites» are not dingy little kennels but almost like their own little rooms (heated/​air-​conditioned) with a doggy door to access their own fenced area outside whenever they want. Since it’s individual, there is no worry about altercations with other dogs.
The wonderful owners also have tons and tons of room for dogs to run around and play, and they are careful to match up groups of doggies that will play well together (instead of eat each other), so I doubt my puppins was ever lonely.
More than most people I know, I’m pretty cheap or at least all about value, and to me, this place is worth every penny. It’s currently $ 31/​day, but that the peace of mind and not feeling guilty or having to worry was always priceless.
I could go on and on and on about the stuff that you could read on their site, but since I’m not a dog (and usually not even a bitch without provocation) and was always away while my dog was there and couldn’t verify exactly what all goes on and what it’s like, I’ll tell you what I could see at the end of each stay: Every time we went to pick up our barking baby, he seemed already kind of attached to his new people, was thoroughly exhausted (something we could never get him to be no matter how much we played outside with him — very energetic boy) and just looked very, very content. Even though his tail wagged excitement to see us, he didn’t do that «OMG, you finally came back, I missed you so much, never leave me again» thing. He kind of looked like «Oh, it’s you. Yah, I still like you, maybe I even missed you some, I’ll go home with you, but these people are pretty cool, and they had more time to focus on running my wheels off, so can I please come back sometimes?» After staying there for a few nights, our dog always came home and spent about 3 days taking naps and even being calm because he’d had so much exercise. No one else could ever wear him out like that.
If I’m ever a dog, I want to stay here.