By Lisa Carolin
Chelsea has a new day care/recreation center/training facility, and it’s all aimed at dogs.
It is called the Chelsea Animal Recreation Center, and it’s located in the building adjacent to the Chelsea Animal Hospital, at its previous location at 1475 S. Main St.
Dr. Christie Donahue, a veterinarian at the Chelsea Animal Hospital, is one of the people who had a vision for the space after it was vacated.
“We want it to become the ‘go to’ place for companion animals,” said Donahue, who grew up in Chelsea and started working with Dr. Paula Rode at the Chelsea Animal Hospital in 2005.
“My day of job shadowing Dr. Rode turned into almost 20 years of incredible mentorship,” said Donahue, who likes that dogs and owners can have positive experiences on the same property as veterinary visits. “Dogs come for fun at day care and a park-like environment, spa days with Kim Hammer (groomer), relationship building at puppy pre-school and other training services.”
The Chelsea Animal Recreation Center offers group play dog care three days per week from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. along with a variety of add on services such as scavenger hunts, sensory walks, and training sessions, as well as private lessons for dogs working toward group play. Puppy pre-school is offered and there is an option for kennel boarding on request for day care attendees.
Dogs must be at least 12 weeks of age and in their vaccination series, up to date on parasite prevention and health screenings, and be feeling well to visit the Recreation Center. All dogs must participate in a temperament test prior to attending group play to evaluate their comfort with people and other dogs as well as their play style and ability to pick up on social cues. Intact dogs may be asked to attend private lessons to address behavior problems or to come back after sterilization.
Dogs must have been in the owners care at least two weeks prior to attendance.
Donahue is working on future plans for the Recreation Center that include team members training to become canine fitness coaches, additional socialization and basic manners classes for older dogs, outdoor spaces for day care play, holding birthday parties for dogs, and maybe even adding a pool for fitness and rehabilitation.
“We currently offer acupuncture, laser therapy, and massage to Chelsea Animal Hospital patients and would like to expand our rehab offerings as I pursue further training and as the Recreation Center space allows,” said Donahue.
For more information, go to https://sites.google.com/view/chelsea-animal-rec-center?pli=1
