Abu Dhabi: With the summer holidays fast approaching, many pet owners are faced with the dilemma of what to do with their furry friends.
In the worst-case scenarios, some unscrupulous owners abandon their pets on the street.
However, the idea of placing your dog in a temporary home is becoming more commonplace.
One such pet hotel is Cloud 9 in Khalifa City, which has been open for more than two years after receiving support from the government’s Khalifa Fund initiative.
Speaking to Gulf News, Cloud 9 owner Afra Al Daheri said: “There is a huge demand, we are busy all the time, as well as fully booked. We’re looking to open up at another location.”
Al Daheri said room prices range from Dh105 to Dh160 per night, with both standard and VIP rooms available to accommodate every size and shape of dog.
“Pets are given three meals a day, and in the VIP rooms they have their own plasma televisions,” Al Daheri said.
Cloud 9 doesn’t simply end with giving your pet a place to stay, with a whole range of other services for the animals.
“The pets are groomed, and we also have a veterinary clinic,” Al Daheri said.
“We also have doggy training, so if people have a new puppy, or a dog with behavioural issues, we help train them.”
Cloud 9 also features an indoor and outdoor pet cafe, so “people can come with their pets and have coffee if they want.”
A pet taxi service is also available. “We pick the pet up and take them to the hotel, and drop them back as well, if clients want as well. We also deliver pet food to their homes,” says Al Daheri.
And judging by the pet hotel’s Facebook page, clients have been impressed with Cloud 9’s service.
“Friendly and knowledgeable staff,” wrote Enrique Raul Montellanos. “First-class facilities and best operating hours in Abu Dhabi. Veterinary services are less expensive than other facilities.”
A publicly owned pet hotel also exists with Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Hospital, which was originally built to treat falcons but has expanded over time, with treatment available for other types of animals. There has also been the establishment of what it calls its ‘five-star boarding hotels’.
Falcon Hospital has received numerous awards for its services over the years. In 2013 it was awarded the Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award by the World Travel Awards.
