The newly opened Pawnal Pets offers suites for dogs and cats.

POWNAL, Vt. — Lying around in the sun, sleeping 20 hours a day, chasing squirrels — for a dog, life can be pretty sweet.

 

Or, at Pawnal Pets, suite.

 

Ryan and Tammy Maturski opened the new pet care facility on Route 7 earlier this spring.

 

They bill Pawnal Pets as "Pet Boarding & More," but the boarding part alone is more than you might expect. It starts with those suites, which are what they call the 32-square-foot dog runs that go for $30 per night.

 

"Each one of the runs themselves, we went with nothing but the best quality," said Ryan Maturski, who built the business from the ground up on a wooded lot a short drive up from the highway.

 

"They're from a company called the Mason Co. They're all glass doors with benches in the back. ... And it's the same for our cat units. They're really high-end luxury cat condos ... with a play area. Just like the dogs get to go outside and play in the back yard, the cats get an area where they can play.

 

"We want to make sure we're really catering to the animals. We're 100 percent about the pets."

 

But there is something in it for the owners, too: peace of mind.

 

Pawnal Pets features an experienced vet technician in Tammy Maturski and a strong relationship with the Greylock Animal Hospital in North Adams, Mass.

 

"We just recently had someone come in and train us on how to do CPR, so we have a certificate for that," she said. "If there's an older pet who may have respiratory issues — or even as far as one with seizures — I know what the protocols are. I know what to do."

 

And for that extra assurance that your pet is happy while you're apart, Pawnal Pets offers webcams in several of its runs. At the owner's request, he or she can have the ability to check in on the pet via a secure Web page.

 

From the sound of it, Fido and Fluffy will not miss you too much.

 

"We'll offer trail walks," Tammy said. "There's going to be a fenced-in outdoor play area as well as leash walks."

 

"We have 13 acres of property," Ryan added. "This facility will be utilizing all that with nature walks. We're going to have all sorts of activities. We've talked to people about potentially putting in an agility area."

 

The Maturskis do not plan to do agility training themselves, but they are open to the idea of letting owners use the land to give their pets a workout.

 

And they're not pet groomers, but they will accommodate area groomers who want to use the facility to work with clients. They're investigating the possibility of opening up a room for a groom-your-own space.

 

"Especially in the winter, it's going to be key because people can't get out and hose their dogs," Ryan said.

 

Speaking of winter, Pawnal Pets will be the perfect place to put your pooch in the cold weather. The brand new 2,500-square-foot facility has radiant floor heating throughout.

 

And summer or winter, the Maturski family promises to give its guests plenty of attention — from Ryan, Tammy and their four children ages 6 to 15.

 

Dogs get outside a minimum of three times per day for at least 15 or 20 minutes. They'll get more time outside on less busy days. The last trips out are made between 8 and 9 p.m. The couple arrives for work at 7 a.m., and in between, they live a mile away and will monitor the site by webcam.

 

"If we see anything that doesn't look right, we're just five minutes away," Tammy said.

 

Pawnal Pets had its "soft opening" in May, but it plans an open house celebration on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15.

 

"The dogs we've had in have been happy," Tammy said. "All go to bed with a bedtime treat provided by us. There are no hidden fees."

 

"Our prices shouldn't have any hidden fees," Ryan added. "We don't feel that just because the owner can't pay $5 extra for something the pet should suffer."

 

To make reservations or learn more about Pawnal Pets, visit www.pawnalpets.com or find it on Facebook.