Three Wags for Kennel1

You’ve booked yourself a beach island, with spa room cantilevered over the sea. You’d be leaving on a jet plane yesterday — if only poor Rusty weren’t whining under your bed.

No, your nervous neighbour isn’t the best person to soothe your desolate doggie. What he needs is a little extra TLC, and the place is Kennel1.

Smart pooches wouldn’t want to leave. Acres of green lawn. A pool to splash in. The grub he grew up with (meals are made as per instructions). Frisbees to chase; squeaky shoes to gnaw. Daily grooming to ward off ticks — and loneliness. Soft mats to sleep on, in a cool room, with a dozen humans — full-time Kennel 1 employees — at his beck and bark.

Started by dog’s best friend, Shailendra Uniyal, who used to travel a lot on work, and got tired of leaving his seven shaggy pals in dire straits. Someone’s lawn, backyard, garage or two rooms at most, which is what most pet homes amount to. Soon other pet owners began queuing up to check their tail-waggers into this 5-star poochery.

The dog house is a good place to be.

Kennel1, Begumpur Khatola (near Hero Honda Chowk), Gurgaon; 95124-3251385, 9818601094, 9818442510; www.kennel1.net. Costs: Boarding Rs 250/day for air-cooled chamber; Rs 300 for private A/C room. Can house up to twenty at a time; but book ahead when holiday season looms.