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Oh where has my little dog gone?
To luxury boarding and doggie daycare at Monett Vet!

August 21, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones

When choosing a veterinarian for the family pet, there are many things people look for. For Monett Veterinary Hospital (MVH), the staff is doing their best to offer multiple options to their clientele, including luxury boarding and doggie daycare, unlike other services in the area.

While MHV was founded in 1953 by Dr. CJ McCormick, Dr. Erin Carnes purchased the practice in 2018. Since then, Dr. Carnes has made some changes, most recently luxury boarding and doggie daycare options.

Dr. Carnes said when she purchased the practice and building, she knew the former large animal hospital on the property would make a good kennel and doggie daycare spot. She said it was a lot of work, but now that it is up and running, they stay busy.

Dr. Carnes said, "We saw a need in the Monett community and surrounding areas for expanded grooming and boarding services. Both my husband and I have a passion for serving the community we live and work in, and we saw this as an opportunity to provided a needed service to the communities we love."

She said part of her plans for luxury boarding are because she is a doggie parent herself. She said, "My dogs are spoiled, too. I'd rather they be out here instead of standard boarding. So, I guess that's kind of how this all came to be."

The newest services to be offered at MVH are the luxury boarding suites available for dogs in addition to standard boarding previously available. Each of the 10 luxury boarding rooms has bed or couch and is temperature-controlled by a new HVAC system. Two dogs can share a luxury kennel if they are boarded.

There is also a price break for two dogs staying in the same luxury unit. She said, "If you've got two kiddos and you want them together, and they are good together, we will put two beds in there and keep them together. There is a price break for that, too. We don't do that with the standard kennels because they aren't big enough, but we do in the luxury kennels."

The goal of the luxury suites is to give dogs a home away from home where they will be comfortable and happy. They do their best to ensure dogs are happy and carefree while they owners are gone. There are even blinds encased in the double pane windows of the luxury kennel doors that can be closed to give them more seclusion and privacy if they are stressed.

She added, "If owners bring treats, we ask them how many they want them to have a day and when do you do that and we do it." They can also bring toys from home.

While staying, all dogs are given outdoor yard time in the morning and afternoon to stretch their legs and use the bathroom. They are also treated to at least 30 additional minutes of playtime during the day.

Dr. Carnes said, "Most of the time, the dogs are able to all interact together while they are here unless they are aggressive. We always test them on a leash before letting them play just to make sure they're okay with everybody.

"They are guaranteed at least 30 minutes of play time every day in addition to going out to the bathroom daily and evening."

Cat boarding is available in new kitty condos in a separate area of the luxury boarding facility, as well. There are four cat spots in the new luxury boarding area for cats, as well as additional spots in the actual hospital clinic.

She said, "We do a lot more cat boarding than you would think. It goes in cycles, but we have at least one cat here all the time."

While boarded, feline friends and canine companions in all of the boarding facilities are fed Hill's Science Diet food if they did not bring their own food. All pets must be current on vaccinations and test negative for intestinal parasites to be boarded. Vaccinations required include rabies, kennel cough and distemper/parvo.

On top of the luxury boarding, there are also 15 indoor/outdoor runs for traditional boarding.

Dr. Carnes recommends booking early if you need boarding for your pet over a holiday weekend.

She said, "We are staying pretty busy. We typically have at least half of our luxury kennels filled at all times."

Doggie Daycare is also offered at MVH. Each Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., furry friends can stay and play. There is an indoor play area as well as three large outdoor play yards. The outdoor facilities have a six-foot black chain link fence. The fencing is also embedded in a foot of concrete to deter any escape artists.

She said, "There are three different outdoor play yards for animals, as well. The exterior fence is concreted all the way around in the ground. And while they are never left out alone, we still wanted just to make sure."

On the veterinary service side of MVH, Dr. Carnes and her staff offer a full service veterinary hospital, with services ranging from preventative care, including vaccinations and flea/tick prevention, to full diagnostics, including radiographs, blood work, ultrasounds and surgical procedures.

Dr. Carnes has a cutting laser for use in her vet hospital during surgical procedures. They also have a therapeutic laser for arthritics and to help heal certain wounds.

MVH is open for vet services Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the first third Saturdays of the month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are open for boarding and grooming Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Boarding pick up is available on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Standard boarding rates are $15 per night for dogs under 30 pounds and $18 a night for dogs over 30 pounds. That also includes Hill's Science Diet food during their stay. Cat boarding is $15 a night.

The luxury boarding is $36 per night or $60 per night for two dogs in the same room.  There are also discounts for seven-night stays.

Starting in September, Monett Vet Hospital will also start offering dog training classes. “We are also going to have dog training classes,” Dr. Carnes said. "[Dog trainer Tristan Jolivette] will start doing training classes here starting September 7. It's limited to eight to ten animals at a time." While the round of seven-week training classes are full, there is a waiting list to get in on the next round.

Dr. Carnes encourages the community to stop in for tours daily to see what the facilities look like and talk about what services are offered.

Monett Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Boarding and Grooming is located at 215 Dairy Street, Monett, which is behind Pizza Hut. Reach them at (417) 235-5616 or through Facebook: www.facebook.com/MonettVetHospital.

Monett Veterinary Hospital is an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited facility. Only 12 percent of veterinary hospitals in the country have this title. There are over 900 voluntary standards to meet for accreditation.

Dr. Erin Carnes (Gasser) is from Monett and graduated from Monett High School in 2008, and then earned a Bachelors in Biology from Drury University. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 2017 with a doctorate of veterinary medicine. She resides in Monett with her husband, Zach.

Dr. Erin Carnes, Monett veterinarian, made her dream of having her own clinic a reality when she opened up shop in her hometown.

As part of the new luxury boarding service offered at Monett Vet Hospital, doggie kiddos get to play with doggie daycare attendees, as well.

Each of the luxury boarding units at Monett Vet Hospital offers high-end dog beds and couches. Canine siblings can even room together during their stay for a discount.

The canine clientele who stay at Monett Vet’s boarding get to have outdoor play time each day to potty and socialize. Three different pens are available so dogs of different sizes and energy-types can have a safe space to roam. Each pen has fencing embedded in concrete, and dogs are never left alone outside.