Photo Karen Graham.
Sylvia and Rob Anderson with daughter, Rachel, operate Forest View Kennels, which has been serving pets and their owners in the area since 1994.
This marks the 26th year that the Anderson family has been serving canine and feline customers with boarding and grooming services through their business called Forest View Kennels. Nestled in the Ganaraska Forest just south of Millbrook, they have a comfortable facility with heating and air conditioning for their charges, as well as separate fenced runs so they can play outside. They have a capacity for up to 35 dogs and a dozen cats, which are housed in separate rooms in the kennel.
Sylvia Anderson began the business from their home outside Newcastle in 1994, but they soon found their current spot which provided more room and more privacy. When her husband Rob retired, he assumed some grooming responsibility, and now daughter Rachel, who has been helping out since the age of 10, is taking over from her parents.
Over the years, they have held fast to their mission of taking care of their customers’ pets like they were their own, providing clean, comfortable bedding and regular walks. Sometimes the pets end up actually being their own: when the owners learned that one of their customers had passed away while the pet was at their kennel, they offered to keep the animal rather than have it put up for adoption by the owner’s family.
The kennel offers grooming services for dogs and cats of all sizes. It’s an activity that Rachel particularly enjoys and so do the pets. The more frequent the grooming service, the easier the process and the better the result. For those who choose an annual service, Sylvia is cautious about owner expectations, suggesting that they are groomers, not magicians! Rachel is also quite adept at providing nail clips so quickly the animals are oblivious to her activity.
If you’re planning a trip and don’t want to burden friends or family with the care of your pet, or they need a new “do” for the spring, the Andersons can help. For more information, visit www.forestviewkennel.com. KG
