Daycare for Dogs comes to Christchurch
Don’t leave your FurKid at home to chew what takes their fancy or tell all in the neighbourhood what a bad parent you
are by leaving them alone all day…give you and them a better relationship by providing the stimulation they need at
Furkids – Christchurch’s first, purpose-built, Daycare for Dogs! Yes it is finally here! From 17 January 2005,
Christchurch’s luckiest four-legged residents can enjoy the spoils of Daycare for Dogs in the brand new FurKids complex
located right in the heart of the City at 45 Fitzgerald Avenue (in the “Habitatz” building).
The brainchild of Shona Harrison and Alanya Limmer, FurKids was borne from a mutual passion for dogs and a desire to
make life easier for the modern-day dog owner. Knowing first hand how difficult it can be to juggle the demands of work
and life in general with providing adequately for the pooch (or pooches) that bring you so much joy, Shona and Alanya
were determined to design a facility that would be loved as much by owners as by their dogs.
All of the FurKids team have a genuine passion for and knowledge of our beloved 4 legged children and proudly includes
staff with qualifications in Canine Behaviour and Vet Nursing.
The FurKids creators, Shona and Alanya, are New Zealand Kennel Club registered owners and breeders with over 20 years
combined experience in being owned by dogs. With 9 adult dogs between them – from pugs to boxers to even a great
dane…and a litter of 3 week old babies to boot - you can rest assured that every aspect of your FurKid‘s wellbeing will
be carefully catered for.
Eight months in the making, the FurKids team is proud in the knowledge that FurKids Daycare is just what the canine
community of Christchurch needs. Dogs are instinctively social creatures and FurKids provides the company and
interaction they crave. It also assists with the development of “manners” and socially acceptable behaviour.
FurKids is essentially a huge indoor playground for dogs which provides supervised play in a clean, safe environment
with endless fun and attention. The Daycare is divided into two main areas – one for large dogs and one for smaller
dogs. The Daycare comes complete with a Puppy Lounge for very young dogs who need lots of sleep, cuddles and a mid-day
feast as well as individual Special Care Units for elderly or post-operative pets that require plenty of R & R.
Whilst a relatively new concept in New Zealand, daycare for dogs is a burgeoning industry overseas and a proven success
in enhancing not only the dogs wellbeing, but also the relationship between owner and dog. A happy dog really is a good
dog and the FurKids team promises a happy, tired pooch at the end of each long day playing!
Developed with the busy person in mind, FurKids offers much more than just fun-filled days for your pet and stress-free
days for you. Your FurKid can be treated to optional extras such as therapeutic massage, a daily country excursion, or
fur-styling from our resident Fur-Stylist.
For your convenience, FurKids offers a select range of the trendiest in canine supplies as well as delicious, wholesome
foods - place your order in the morning and pick it up, along with your FurKid, that evening. Qualified in Holistic and
Clinical Aromatherapy, Reflexology and having worked in the natural health industry for over 8 years now, Shona can also
offer advice on a range of natural options for your pet including homeopathics and bach flower remedies – and this
service is not just reserved for Furkids participants!
All potential attendees are required to get their owners to fill out an Enrolment Application Form after which a short
evaluation process takes place to ensure compatibility with other FurKids. Once accepted into Daycare, FurKids are
monitored closely to ensure appropriate behaviour. Over-exuberant or rough play is corrected by “time-out” and FurKids
are quick to learn the value of playing nicely with their companions.
FurKids Daycare operates in conjunction with FurKids BarkPackers - a boutique boarding solution for your pet located
just 20 minutes north of the City. You can either take your FurKid out there yourself or have the FurKids team arrange
transport from Daycare for you. You can then enjoy peace of mind knowing your FurKid is holidaying with canines and
humans they already know and trust.
FurKids Daycare is open Monday-Friday for drop-offs between 7:30am - 9am and pick-ups from 4:30pm – 6pm. Any visits
between these times are by prior arrangement only for the comfort of attending FurKids. An uninterrupted day lets them
concentrate on the more important things in life – that is, wrestling, chasing and playing with their FurBuddies!