June Newsletter

Oh my!  It is June 13 and our newsletter still has not gone out!  Why is that, you might ask.  Well, it is because we have been so busy taking care of your wonderful dogs and cats!  The kennel has been so busy and full of guests that needed our complete attention!  Don't worry, we aren't complaining!  We are thrilled to be able to have the trust and confidence of so many clients.  We appreciate the opportunity to care for your animals and set your mind at ease while you are away.

DUBLIN CREEK ANIMAL FOUNDATION
The Dublin Creek Animal Foundation was founded by the kennels owners, Sue and Katherine, who had been doing dog and cat rescue in the community for years, but wanted to make it official by forming a 501c3 non-profit rescue organization.  If you, or anyone you know is looking to add a new dog or cat to their family, please have them visit us.  Take a look at some of the wonderful animals we have available for adoption, just waiting for their forever homes.  And, we have many more, just visit and we will introduce you to them!

WE NEED FOSTER HOMES
Our rescue animals are fostered here at the kennel.  This means that once we get them from the shelter, we get them spayed/neutered, vaccinated and then they stay at the kennel with us until their forever homes are found.  Most of our fosters do great, but sometimes we have rescue dogs that need a little more one and one and would greatly benefit from being fostered in a home situation.  We feel that three of our current adoptables, Mike, Jimmy and Andy would benefit from going to a foster home.  This would mean that they would go to live with a family until while we continue to look for a foster home for them.  If you have room in your heart and home, please consider fostering one of these sweet guys.  You may foster as long as you choose and of course, foster homes have first chance at adopting their fosters, so, if you decide you can't part with your foster, you don't have to worry.  By the way, we also need volunteers to come by and walk our rescue dogs!  If you can spare the time, they would love to spend it with you!

Jimmy
 Mike
 Andy


WHAT'S NEW
As you know, we have spent the last couple of years making many renovations and upgrades to the kennel.  We are so happy with how well all of these changes are being received by our guests.  Please take a look at some of our guests enjoying some of the features that we have put in place just for them!

Water Yard
We recently added a second play yard that includes a water feature.  Our "pool" includes fountains and can be closed to create a full pool or a wading pool.  Some dogs enjoy playing in the fountains, others like splashing or playing ball in the pool while some just like to carefully wade or sit poolside for a drink!  Check out some of our happy campers enjoying our pool!

We also included tunnels in the yard for dogs to play in or on!  They are just loving the tunnels!

And, of course, for the dogs who prefer dry land, we still have our huge, fabulous, all grass area!  Here are some guests enjoying that area!

Lest we forget our feline friends!  Don't forget we also have our beautiful cattery where our feline guests can enjoy our climbing net, large screen TV and play time!

Our goal at Dublin Creek Kennels is to keep your pets safe, comfortable, happy and feeling loved.  We think that these happy faces say that we are doing a pretty good job!

And, as always, extra TLC is always included in your pets stay!

TEN REASONS TO BOARD YOUR DOG OR CAT AT DUBLIN CREEK KENNEL
1. Our safe, secure, roomy individual enclosures will allow your dog to have plenty of space and fresh air.
2. Our wonderful enrichment activities and areas to offer your dog or cat plenty of physical and mental  stimulation during their stay.
3. Our fully climate controlled facility, which will keep your pets comfortable and happy.
4. The fact that Sue, with over 30 years of kennel and pet care experience lives on site and personally checks on your pets each night before tucking everyone in to bed.
5. Our beautiful play areas, designed to create a fun, safe place for dogs and cats to play.
6. Our convenient location, just off of the 580 freeway.
7. Our commitment to keeping our kennel clean and disinfected.  Did you know that we hose out our runs twice a day.  And, no, we don't have an automatic system that might spray or frighten your dogs, it is all done by hand with your dogs inside so they don't get scared.
8. The fact that our wonderful on site groomers Michelle and Kat are available to groom your pets before they go home.
9. The fact that you will be leaving your animals in the care of our knowledgeable, friendly, caring, animal loving staff.
10. Because your pets love it here!

May Newsletter

DUBLIN CREEK KENNEL IS RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
The City of Dublin is recognizing Dublin Creek for it's 30 years of service to the community!  Dublin Creek Kennel has been owned by us for the past 16 years, but the kennel has been in existence for the past 30 years.  We are proud and happy to be able to offer this service to the people of Dublin and surrounding cities.


SEE WHAT'S NEW
Spring has sprung!  With all the new flowers and changes that Spring brings we have some beautiful new things that we want to share with you as well!  We have made even more upgrades to the kennel, utilizing even more of our property to add some exciting new features for your dogs!

Since we have added our training/play yard and introducing the enrichment activities for our canine guests, we have seen how beneficial this is to the dogs in our care.  Clients tell us how happy their dogs are to come and board with us and how much they enjoy seeing their dog's pictures on Facebook while they are away.  We agree and see how much the dogs love and appreciate their one on one time with our staff.  So, we decided to add another wonderful space to offer the dogs more play time.

Mental stimulation and enrichment are not only fun for the dogs but they also burn energy and help to keep the dogs calm and relaxed.  After a nice play session the dogs will frequently nap and spend the afternoon resting calmly.  It is a service that we are very proud to offer and excited to be able to give to your dogs. Very few facilities offer one-on-one play like we offer at Dublin Creek.  We take great pride in the individual attention we offer to our guests.  We feel they benefit greatly from that individual attention and care that they are used to getting at home.

Our new play yard consists of built in tunnels, cement and grass to play on and a HUGE water fountain and pool area.  Dogs that enjoy playing in water will LOVE this area.  We have the option of having the fountain on or off, the pool open so water can drain or with a stopper that we can put in to create an actual pool of water.  In addition, we have installed a wall from beginning to end which blocks off the view of the yard from the dogs that are boarding.  So, the dogs playing don't disrupt the boarding dogs.  Take a look at some of our guests enjoying the new play area.

We will be using both play areas for our enrichment activities.  In addition to our activities, we also offer stuffed Kongs which gives dogs additional mental stimulation.  

DOG TRAINING CLASSES

Don't forget the Braveheart Dog Training offers dog training classes at the kennel!  Take a look at the classes we have coming up!

Beginning Obedience/Manners, Saturdays, 9am, 6 weeks, $150, starts 6/2

Puppy Preschool, Saturdays, 10am, 6 weeks, $150, starts 6/2

Fun with Agility, Saturdays, 11am, 6 weeks, $150, starts 6/2

Marshmallows-Confidence Building class, Thursdays, 6:00pm, 3 weeks, $100, starts 7/12

Canine Good Citizen, Thursday, 7:30pm, 5 weeks, $150, starts 7/12

Visit www.braveheartdogtraining.com for more information or to register for a class.

DUBLIN CREEK ANIMAL FOUNDATION

As you know, we are deeply involved in animal rescue.  It isn't unusual for us to have several dog and cat rescue animals living with us who are waiting to find forever homes.  Most of our animals come to us from animal shelters, usually just before they will be euthanized.  We will also sometimes take in animals from different sources that are also in desperate need.  For instance, we just found a wonderful loving home for Sugar Bear, a 4 year old Border Collie, whose owner passed away.  Sugar's owners dying wish was that Sugar find a permanent, loving home.  We heard that and immediately agreed to take Sugar in and fulfill his owner's wish.  We are happy to say that Sugar was adopted, but we still have many wonderful, loving dogs that are looking for forever homes.  Please send your friends to our website to see our adoptable dogs.  Better yet, have them call us and arrange to come and meet some of these great individuals.  We currently have several very wonderful animals, take a look at a few of them here.  All of these wonderful animals, Faye, Jimmy, Stanley, Mike and Amara are with us and awaiting the arrival of their perfect, forever someone.  Maybe it could be you!

April Newsletter

Easter Egg Hunt
Thank you so much to all of you who attended our second annual Easter Egg Hunt to benefit our rescue organization The Dublin Creek Animal Foundation.  After years of rescuing unwanted animals, Sue and Katherine made it official last year by founding this 501c3, non-profit organization.

Most of our animals come from high kill, overcrowded animal shelters in the Central Valley.  All of these animals have to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and treated for any other medical issues that they may have.  Additionally, they have to be fed, trained, walked and cared for prior to being adopted.  Our fundraisers, like the Easter Egg Hunt and our Bake Sales allow us to raise money to help with that.  We greatly appreciate all of your help and support!

Visit our website to see our current list of adoptables!

Adoptable of the Month

Meet Travis, our Adoptable of the Month!  Travis is a sweet and easy going cattle dog mix that was rescued from the Los Banos Animal Shelter.  He had been a stray and had been on the streets.  He came to us just before he was to be euthanized at the shelter due to lack of space.  When he arrived, we noticed that his collar was very tight, but when we tried to remove it, we realized that it was so old and rusted that it could not be removed.  Sue spent a lot of time trying to get it off and Travis patiently allowed her to work on it.  Eventually, it had to be cut off of him.  He was also very afraid of water.  Michelle, our groomer, spent a lot of time desensitizing him to the water and bathtub so that she could wash him.  He is such a good dog and is currently looking for his forever home.  Check out this video of Travis!  If Travis is adopted during the month of April we will also give a $50 gift certificate towards our Beginning Obedience/Manners Dog Training class that is offered at the kennel on Saturdays at 9am!  If you are looking for a dog or know someone who is, please consider our wonderful Travis.

More Renovations 
We are in the process of doing even more renovations to the kennel!  We are so happy with how beneficial our play/training yard has been for our guests that we decided to add another one, with even more features!  This deluxe play area is being constructed right now and will give our guests even more ways to enjoy their stay including a water feature and tunnels!

Grooming
We are now offering full service grooming including clips.  Clips are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Remember, your dog doesn't have to be boarding to use our grooming services.  Grooming services are even available to non-boarding clients.  Check out Sonic, who was groomed by our groomers!  This is a hand scissored "teddy bear cut".

Summer Reservations
If you are planning to board your pets during the summer, please make your reservations now!  We hate to turn anyone away, but unfortunately, we sometimes have to if we don't have enough space to accommodate all of our guests.  So, we ask that you book as soon as you know you will be going away to ensure a spot!

Dog Training Classes
Marshmallows - Confidence Building Class, Thursdays, 6:00-7:15pm, 3 weeks, $100, starts 5/17
Beginning Obedience/Manners, Saturdays, 9-10am, 6 weeks, $150, starts 6/2
Puppy Preschool, Saturdays, 10-10:50am, 6 Weeks, $150, starts 6/2
Fun with Agility, Saturdays, 11-11:50, 6 weeks, $150, starts 6/2

Facebook
If you are on Facebook consider "liking" us to see pictures of our guests and information about the kennel and other events!

March Newsletter

EASTER EGG HUNT
We will be hosting our Second Annual Dublin Creek Animal Foundation Easter Egg Hunt at the kennel on Sunday, April 1 at 2pm.  Come out to the kennel with your dogs and let them hunt for Easter eggs and win prizes for them and you!  Cost is $5 per dog and all the money goes to our rescue fund.  Friendly dogs only please.

NOW OFFERING FULL SERVICE GROOMING
Yes, you read that right!  We are now offering full service grooming, including clips on Tuesdays and Thursdays!  Remember that your dog does not have to be boarding to be groomed by us!  Call us today to book your grooming appointment!

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
Don't forget to sign your dog up for activities during their stay!  Canine guests can enjoy water games, ball play, food searching games or just snuggle time in a one-on-one 30 minute session!


TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR PET OWNERS
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years.  Any separation from you will be very painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.  Do not break my spirit with your temper, thugh I will always forgive you.  Your patience will teach me more effectively.

3. Please have me spayed or neutered.

4. Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for your kindness than mine. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment.  After all, you have your job, your friends, your entertainment.  I have only you.

5. Speak to me often. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me. Your voice is the sweetest sound I ever hear, as you must know by my enthusiasm whenever I hear your footsteps.

6. Take me in when it's cold and wet. I'm a domestic animal and am no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask for little more than your gentle hands petting me. Keep my bowl filled with water. Feed me good food so that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding. By your side, I stand ready, willing and able to share my life with you, for that is what I live for. I'll never forget how well you've treated me.

7. Don't hit me. Remember, I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting weak.

9. Take care of me when I get old. For you will grow old too.

10. When I am old, or when I no longer enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that my trusting life is taken gently. And be with me on that difficult journey when it's time to say goodbye. Never say, "I just can't bear to watch." Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing with my last breath that my fate was always safest in your hands. I love you.

MEET ANGEL AND HER BABIES
As you know, kennel owners Sue and Katherine founded the Dublin Creek Animal Foundation making their longtime, ongoing animal rescue efforts official.  We generally make weekly trips to the Central Valley or other areas to pick up shelter dogs and cats that are at risk for euthanasia.  This week was no different.

We receive weekly lists from shelters that show the animals that they have that are at risk of being put to sleep.  We look at the list and then see which, if any animals we are able to save.  Vicki, our trainer received the list and called Sue to ask if we could possible take one more dog since there was a cute, fluffy, very adoptable small dog on the list.  Sue said yes and that she would look at the list and call our contact at the shelter to make arrangements and see if he was still in need of help.  Shortly after, Vicki received a text from Sue saying, "What about the Pit Bull with the babies?".  Ruh-roh! Vicki knew what this meant.  Apparently, they had a female Pit Bull who had come to the shelter as a stray and full of milk having obviously had a litter of puppies.  As it turns out, the veterinary hospital that they work with had a litter of 3 week old puppies with no mother.  The puppies were puppies were put with this female Pit Bull who took them on as their own, nursing them and caring for them.  They told us she was a very sweet dog so of course, we decided to take her instead of the easier to rehome small, fluffy dog!  You might be wondering why we would do that.  The answer is that we feel that she deserves a chance at a new life and loving forever home just as much as the next dog.  We all love Pit Bulls because of their happy, friendly, outgoing temperaments and their intelligence and trainability but the truth is that they are more challenging to find homes for just because there are so many of them.  We didn't care, she needs us so we are there for her.

We committed to taking her and named her Angel because that is exactly what she is to those puppies.  If it weren't for Angel caring for them, who knows what would have happened to them.  As soon as we met Angel it became very clear why the shelter workers did not want her to be put down.  She is a gem of a dog.  Sweet, friendly, easy going and on the small side.  The puppies are small breed puppies, maybe Rat Terrier mixes.  Angel and her babies are all looking for forever homes.  They can meet prospective adopters and be adopted now but will not be able to actually leave for another month or so.  Please contact us if you are interested in meeting Angel and her babies or any of our other wonderful animals that are available for adoption.  See our adoptable animals here!

February Newsletter

GET A FRESH START FOR SPRING
Spring is a time for new things, new beginnings and clean, fresh bright surroundings!  Why not do some Spring cleaning and give you and your animals a fresh start?  Check out our super easy ideas!

-Get your dog or cat groomed.  Okay, so not every pet enjoys the bath itself, but most love how they feel afterward!  Don't want to get wet yourself?  No problem, our groomer Michelle doesn't mind at all!  Book an appointment for a bath for your pet.  You can book a grooming appointment anytime even if your pet isn't boarding at the time!

-Take your dog or cat for a check-up.  It is always nice to have peace of mind that all is well, so consider taking your dog or cat in for a check-up with your vet to be on top of things.  This is especially important for senior pets!

-Get your pet some new toys!  Sometimes we get so busy and wrapped up with our hectic schedules that we forget that our pet is playing with (or not playing with) the same old, boring toys.  Take them on a shopping spree and pick up some new toys for them!

-Figure out new ways to entertain your pets!  Interactive toys like stuffed Kongs or puzzle toys, which are available for both dogs and cats are a great way to exercise your pets mind and get them some mental stimulation.  Cats love the toys on a stick that you can whip around for them to chase!  Haven't tried them?  Give it a shot, your cats are likely to go wild!  For your dogs, consider making them a sandbox as a legal place for them to dig and find toys and things you have hidden.  Don't forget a cover so that neighborhood cats can't pay it a visit!

-Try a dog sport!  Sign your dog up for a new dog training class such as K9 Nose Work, Fun with Agility or Fun with Freestyle!  Sometimes just an hour a week devoted to you and your dog can do wonders for both of you.

-Get your pets a new collar and tag!  When was the last time you got your dog or cat a new collar?  Can you still see the name on their tag?  If you can't or it has been a while, help them feel refreshed in a new collar and tag!

VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL
We have an offer you won't be able to resist!  We are offering a 15% discount on boarding stays over February 14!  That's right, want to get away for Valentine's Day?  Now you can!

NEW THINGS TO COME
As if we haven't done enough renovating, wait until you see what we have planned for this year.  We aren't going to reveal the details yet, but it is going to be big and amazing and your dogs are going to love us for it and we think you will really like it too!

BOARDING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
Don't forget that we offer enrichment activities for our boarding dogs.  For just $20 we will give your dog one-on-one attention for up to 30 minutes!  You choose (or let us audition different activities and choose based on what your dog likes) what activity you think your dog would like.  It might be Just for Jocks, where we play fetch with balls or toys with your dog.  Or, Water Games where we will up a tub and play with the hose with your dog.  Your dog might like searching for food and would enjoy our Find it! game.  If your dog is mellow yellow, then we may just hang out giving them a massage or one-on-one quiet, snuggle time.  The feedback we have received since starting these activities has been amazing.  The dogs love it.  The great thing is that we frequently take pictures of these dogs during their play time and post them on our Facebook page so you may even see your pet up there!

CATS LIKE PLAYTIME TOO!
We wouldn't dare forget our feline friends!  Cats enjoy one-on-one time too, this is why our feline guests staying in our deluxe cattery get individual attention to play with a cat toy on a stick, chase a ball or toy or just get some petting and snuggling time.  This is also available to cats staying in our other cattery, just let us know!

WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK
We have been making many changes and updates to our website.  Check it out!  Also, if you are on Facebook consider "Liking" our page if you don't already for updates, specials, pictures of our guests and of course, photos and updates of our wonderful adoptable dogs and cats!

ADOPTIONS
Special thanks to professional photographer Mary Jones who has generously donated her time coming by and photographing our adoptables.  In rescue a majority of the dogs are found online via websites like Petfinder and it is the picture of a particular dog that someone falls in love with.  We are so grateful to have had Mary offer this to our adoptables.

We are so happy to have made some really wonderful and successful adoptions in January.  Perhaps our most exciting is the placement of Yogi after being with us for a year and a half!  We were absolutely thrilled when we had not one, but TWO families step up to adopt him.  We found a wonderful loving home for Yogi where he has a senior Dachshund girlie for a companion.  We couldn't be happier.

Our wonderful little Snickers was adopted too!  He and his boy hit it off immediately playing fetch and ball together.  We are so happy for Snickers, who now goes by the name COOP!

Sally was adopted too!  Here she is with her new owner and boy are they happy!

Willie Nelson wasn't here long.  This mature dog reminded us how critical it is to help adult dogs and remember that there are people out there looking for adult dogs that are many times already trained, calm and set in their ways.  Willie's owner fell in love with his picture and when met Willie, fell in love with the real thng too!

Pancho lived with our trainer for two months!  She trained him to do a number of behaviors and got him ready to be a wonderful companion.  Although she REALLY wanted to keep Pancho, she knew that he would love to have family where he could be an only dog and someone's spoiled little everything.  That he is!

Liam found a home!  This little cutie pie wasn't here long and we knew he wouldn't be.  Sweet, friendly and outgoing, he found a home quickly!

Patsy Cline wasn't here for long either!  This little peanut who was found on the streets dodging a large dog found a wonderful home with a companion Chihuahua who loves her!

Millie found a home too!  Poor Millie was a matted mess in the shelter.  Our own Cat, who used to be a groomer clipped her down and made her feel good again.  She found a home with her own lap to call her own which is exactly what she needed!

And this is just the dogs we placed in January!  Please check out and share our adoptables with anyone who may be looking for a dog or cat.