Our Story
In 1989, Julie Whitmer brought her childhood dream of working in the pet care industry to life by opening D and J Kennels. The original building, located in Mount Pleasant Mills, PA, started with only a few humble kennels built by her loving husband, David Whitmer. As their family grew, fur kids and human, they slowly built more kennels - filling them with the pitter patter of feet and wagging tails. Their children, Sabrina and Keri, developed the same love for animals and caring for them as they grew, thus resulting in a family journey in the pet care industry.
In the year 2003, David and Julie added 70 kennels to their original facility. During that time, the business name was changed to D and J's Boarding Kennel, LLC. For the past 16 years, the Whitmer family has been providing expansive dog and cat boarding services to their beloved furry friends within their local community.
Over the years, the clientele of D and J's Boarding Kennel, LLC has continued to grow. In 2018, David and Julie decided to expand their business yet again. This time at a new location with more acreage entitled D and J's Pet Lodge. The grand opening for the new facility was held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
At their new location, David and Julie were able to incorporate some new pet care conveniences that they once had only been able to dream of offering. D and J's Pet Lodge will now offer individuals suites for dogs. Each room will be equipped with TVs, beds, music, and private outdoor access to make your furry friend feel more relaxed, as if they were at home on a leisurely vacation. The cat boarding section of the building is fully furnished with glass townhouses to provide the natural light that cats enjoy. Each townhouse is multi-level to provide more room for exploration and space for multi-cat households! Maybe even a nap in one of the townhouses homemade oak beds with cozy mattresses. Additional playtime, storytime and treat pet care packages are available for purchase upon booking or check-in.
In addition to dog and cat boarding, D and J's Pet Lodge is also expanding their daycare facility. No more worrying about boredom chewing in your home, or what Fido may be up to while you're not home during the day, we've got you covered! Bring your pets to D and J's Pet Lodge for an exciting day of activities and games one on one if needed or with other pets, whichever is preferred or necessary due to your dogs temperament and personality type.
Whether your pet is spending the day or week at our facility, they will have the opportunity to take advantage of our new Full-Service Grooming Salon! Just remember to ask about our grooming services when you book your pet for boarding or daycare, as grooming is available by appointment only. Not boarding with us? No problem! Call us today to book your grooming appointment.
We look forward to welcoming both new and returning customers to D and J's Pet Lodge!