Club Pet adds indoor dog shelter

Homeless dogs waiting for owners can now do it in style at Club Pet.

Dave and Dianna Estman, owners of Club Pet Adoption, at 20 Schaller Road in Delaware Township, finished a new indoor shelter for rescued strays in August. They started building the shelter two years ago.

Previously, the strays had to stay in outdoor pens. Now they can rest comfortably in the new building, which is heated, air-conditioned and has access to an outdoor play yard on one side. The Estmans still have to raise money to build a play yard on the other side.

The building houses 18 individual kennels. Each dog has its own indoor pen, complete with bedding and toys. Dogs that are happier with a companion are housed together so they can play.

The dogs even have music to listen to.

"We take care of their emotional well-being ... we take care of them emotionally as well as physically," said Mrs. Estman, explaining that in many shelters the animals are kept in crates and have no toys.

"It's a home-type environment," she said.

The old outdoor pens will be used to quarantine new animals for two weeks before they are moved into the indoor facility. All the strays are spayed, neutered and have their shots, Mrs. Estman said.

When they began building the shelter in 2000, the Estmans planned to complete it with money raised from fund-raisers; however, most of that money went to cover veterinarian bills. They ended up taking out a personal loan to complete the building, Mrs. Estman said.

The Estmans have been operating Club Pet Boarding Kennel for about eight years and starting taking in strays in danger of euthanasia in 1999, establishing Club Pet Adoption. So far this year, Club Pet has placed 167 dogs and puppies and 66 cats and kittens. Club Pet holds adoption days every two weeks at the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage and advertises animals on www.petfinder.com.

The non-profit organization gets no state funding or grant money and relies mostly on public contributions. Donations of toys, food, treats and blankets are also accepted.

Club Pet Adoption will hold a public open house on Oct. 20. Everyone is invited to look at the shelter, as well as the animals in it who need good homes.

For more information, call lt (724) 962-0877.