Taking puppy love to a new level

The subdued lighting and wild bird calls appeal to Sue, so he wanders toward a butter-yellow wall, curls comfortably on a carpeted perch and tucks his golden head under one paw.

“He’s a boy named Sue,” Tony Petillo says, referring to the Johnny Cash song and chuckling. He hoists the furry cat into his arms and scratches him on the neck until he purrs.

Sue doesn’t belong to Tony. He’s an overnight guest, one of dozens at the Paws and Claws Pet Resort in Coeur d’Alene. Owners Tony and Cyndie Petillo know every guest’s name, habits, characteristics and quirks. They know which owners on vacation will call their dogs and which dogs come with changes of clothes, homemade food or Valium. They know which cats need to scratch and which ones are happy playing with other cats.

“We designed a place I’d want to take my dog to,” Cyndie says. “And we knew it was going to work.”

She was right because Cyndie is a pet lover and, apparently, Coeur d’Alene is full of pet lovers. Cyndie understands people who place a priority on their pets’ contentment and comfort. She even understands people who live for their pets and treat them as if they’re royalty.

“One gal comes in with two Scotties and a change of clothes for each day they’re here,” she says. “She even sends pajamas.”

Such pet-pampering is not surprising in an area where most pet kennels have waiting lists, groomers are booked weeks in advance and dozens of people take their pets to church for an annual pet blessing. Byer’s Kennel in Post Falls was in such demand earlier this year that it stopped accepting new customers like a select preschool turns away prospective students.

“People are very close to their pets,” says Nancy Nelson, who organized a recent pet blessing at Coeur d’Alene’s Unity Church. Nancy asked her pastor for a special blessing to calm her dog, Mitzy – she calls her Skitzy-Mitzy. She also invited to the blessing a veterinarian and a groomer to clip dogs’ nails for free. “Some people are closer to their dogs than they are to family members.”

About two dozen centers in Kootenai County offer boarding for dogs and cats. Facilities vary from kennels just larger than the dog who’ll live in them to kennels with glass sides so dogs can watch the action in a vet’s waiting room. Some offer raised food and water dishes, dog runs, even guaranteed time for a dog to play alone with a kennel worker.

The Petillos designed Paws and Claws as if they were competing for a grand championship. Caring for pets is a mission more than a business for them.

Their facility opened five years ago after Tony and Cyndie tried to wash their Rottweiler, Guido, at home. It was too cold for the hose, so they hauled Guido into their bathtub. He shook water everywhere and filled their drain with hair. They decided to design a bathing center for dogs.

Tony built four tubs dogs could walk into so owners didn’t have to lift them. He added sprayers with warm water, hair catchers in the drains and waist-high drying and grooming areas for owners’ comfort. Steps allowed dogs to climb to the grooming counter and step down into the connected tub. Cyndie gave dog-washers baskets with soap, creme rinse, brushes, combs and gentle scrubbers. Walls separated the bathing cubicles so dogs couldn’t get excited about other bathing dogs.

It was so popular, the Petillos added three more cubicles. They hired a groomer to work on pets in view of their owners. Then Cyndie had a bright idea for a cat-only kennel. Tony built walls thick enough that cats can’t hear dogs and added a waterfall, play area and big perches.

The indoor dog kennel was next. The Petillos had room for about 80 regulation-size kennels.

They installed 21 6-foot-by-6-foot cubicles with cement walls on three sides so dogs can have peace from other dogs.

Artist Linda Fabrizius and Cyndie painted murals in each cubicle – dogs having morning coffee and reading the newspaper, dogs pumping iron, police dogs directing traffic, Realtor dogs selling doghouses.

“Some people ask for the same kennel every visit,” Cyndie says.

Just outside the kennel is a fenced yard for playing. Social dogs play with others all day, except during afternoon nap time. Unsocial dogs romp in a separated area. They sleep on beds on pallets raised slightly off the floor to allow easy washing and heat to circulate under them in winter. Classical music plays to calm pets.

At the kennel’s entry is a comfortable living room scene – two recliners facing a corner fireplace. When a nervous dog arrives for a stay, Cyndie rocks in a recliner with it on her lap until it relaxes.

Customers shower the Petillos with salmon from their fishing trips and elk from their hunts. They tell Cyndie and Tony when their pets die. Cyndie sends sympathy cards.

“They’re so warm and friendly and they love animals,” says Terri Porcarelli, who occasionally brings Nisha, a Doberman, in for day care. “Oh gosh, and the cute scenes. Nisha is so happy there.”