Nancy Crane Pet Care is a Family Affair

in High Ridge is located on two country acres with beautiful trees and white picket fences.

“Our business was started from the ground up in 1960 and is still family owned and operated,” said Mike Crane, who runs the kennel with his mother Nancy, now semi-retired. “Our staff is trained to give you and your pet exceptional service and care.”

Crane said one of the advantages of running a kennel in the country is the lack of neighbors.

“There’s a lot of indoor kennels, but they can’t have 100 barking dogs like we do. It’s about noise,” he said. He said that dogs staying at his kennel have unrestricted access to their outdoor covered patio when the weather is over 50 degrees. The indoor portion of the kennel is air-conditioned in the summer and in the winter the floors are radiantly heated to keep pets comfortable.

Crane said the business grew naturally from his mother’s love of dogs. In the 1960’s, Nancy Crane bred St. Bernards and her customers would often call back to see if she could care for their pets while they went on vacation.

“We had some kennels, nothing fancy,” Crane said of the business’ early days.

He said the operation really took off in the 1980’s when the Cranes built their first indoor/outdoor kennel. Before that dogs were kept in a converted barn.

Mike Crane grew up with the family business, working part time at the kennel when he was a boy. He started working at the kennel full time in 1984.

“I decided this is where I wanted to stay,” he said.

The kennel employs up to 20 people during vacation season.

“In January and February we’re very slow, but during all your major holidays, when the kids are out of school, that’s when we’re really busy,” he said.

The boarding service now has space for more than 100 dogs, all with indoor/outdoor kennels. For an extra fee dogs can get private recess time in a play yard or on a leash—dogs are never mixed with strangers for safety. Other extras that owners can purchase for their pets are “breakfast in bed” or “happy hour,” which are special treats like eggs and toast in the morning or ice cream in the evening.

Cats are kept in a separate cattery, far from the noise and stress of the barking dogs. The building is climate controlled and most of the cages are placed near a window for the cat’s enjoyment.

Nancy Crane's Family Pet Care also has a grooming facility so clients can have their pets bathed and trimmed while they are away. They also offer grooming for customers who are not keeping their pets overnight.

Though the kennel is not staffed 24 hours, both owners have homes adjacent to the kennel property and can check in on the pets in their care after hours. The kennel has fire and smoke alarms in all their buildings.

Pricing to stay at Nancy Crane's Family Pet Care starts at $16 per day for dogs under 49 pounds and $18 for dogs over 50 pounds. Cats are $10 a day. Standard rates include one evening feeding, with extra feeding for one dollar. They also offer a discount for long stays.

A final service the Crane’s offer is a pet cemetery, a grassy garden set apart by a white picket fence and shrubs. Here a beloved pet can be laid to rest or their ashes can be sprinkled. Customers can purchase burial supplies and memory plaques to use at either the garden or their own property.