About Us

• Our Facilities
• Our Staff

Our Facilities

The retreat originally consisted of 52 indoor/outdoor runs, a small room for cats, a bathing room, and a holding/crating area. Since 1998, we have made numerous improvements and updates:

• We combined the small cat room and the holding/crating area and made a bigger room especially for little dogs. This added 10 spaces in our little dog room.
• In 2002, we replaced our old HVAC system with 3 new central units featuring 13 tons cooling/heating capacity, thanks to Kimbro Air in Hendersonville.
• In 2003, we tore out all the old chain link fencing and added all new Mason Kennel Panels. Mason Fencing is the leader in commercial pet housing systems especially for dogs. These panels make The Hairy Moose Pet Retreat an even safer place for your beloved pets.
• In 2003, the county cut a huge swath down the middle of the property and put in a new road. While we will be more visible and easier to get to, we will be more visible and easier to get to. To combat this new lack of privacy, security and seclusion, our friends at A-Plus Fence in Gallatin erected a 6-foot commercial grade chain link fence around the entire perimeter. This is just an added measure to insure your pets’ security and safety and your own peace of mind.
• In 2004, we connected all kennel drains to the sewer system, which insures that all waste and wash water will be taken away instantly. Our friends at Thurman Plumbing also added a RHEEM on-demand hot water heater, so that we will never run out of warm water for bathing the dogs and doing laundry.

The present day facility consists of 52 indoor/outdoor, spacious kennel enclosures, 10 little dog spaces, a bathing and grooming room, a laundry and storage room, a drying room, and a large romper room for our daycare and training classes.

Our Staff

When you get right down to it, boarding facilities are more alike than different, except when it comes to staff. The caregivers on duty are the bottom line between warehousing pets and truly caring for them.

The staff at the Hairy Moose Pet Retreat are without question some of the finest people I have ever had the joy of knowing. I am fortunate to call them my friends and even more fortunate to call them my colleagues. They are caring, compassionate, conscientious and knowledgeable. They are all responsible and particular dog owners themselves and believe in caring for your dog as they would want their own to be cared for.

You can rest assured that your pet will be observed carefully, fed properly, exercised sufficiently and provided for in a manner that is second to none.

LISA — Lisa has been greatly missed the past several months. Customers have asked about her, the dogs have never stopped looking for her, and The Hairy Moose hasn't felt the same without her. Lisa has been on an extended leave to care for her ailing father. We eagerly await her return.

JESSIE — Jessie was a customer before she became an employee here. She is wife to Mark and "Mom" to 6 little fur children—Babs, Zoe, Fritz, Sophie, Toupe, and Tori. Jessie frequently fosters an adoptable dog for us as well, and they have all gone on to fill the lives and homes of several lucky people.Jessie is following her artistic calling and is training to become a photographer. Her specialty will of course be those she loves the most... DOGS!

JO ANN recently came to the Hairy Moose after a long career working as a veterinary assistant. Along with a wealth of experience, she is a very hard worker with a friendly personality, and a dedication to doing a great job for us and most importantly for the animals that we love to care for.

DALLAS, no longer the minority male here. He is a very hard worker and comes to us with a great deal of dog experience, most of which he learned from his mom, Karen. Dallas is his mother's son—he is careful, observant, conscientious, and kind. We are pleased to have him here when he is not training for football, basketball, or baseball. Dallas is a freshman at Station Camp High School.

REED joined us this summer. He has been a welcome addition to the Hairy Moose family. He takes very good care of the animals and knows each and everyone of them by name. He is very interested in every animal that comes through our door. Reed often takes one of our adoptable dogs home to visit. We are very proud to have Reed on staff here. Reed is a junior at Westmoreland High School.

MICHAEL also joined us this summer. He is very thorough and conscientious. The knack for caring for animals comes natural to him. His mom has worked for McMillan Veterinary Hospital for years. Michael is also on his quest to become an Eagle Scout and has chosen Friends of Hannah as the recipient of his Eagle project. Michael is a junior at Gallatin High School.

CASSANDRA comes to us after working at an ice cream place (a very different kind of "scooping"). She is very caring and conscientious and has the observation skills that are so important to us here at The Hairy Moose. Cassandra is in charge of the afternoon daycare play group. She is very good at handling this group of hardy players. Cassandra is a senior at Station Camp High School.

LINDA, PRISI, AND ANNETTE make their homes on the Hairy Moose property and work together on the day to day operations of The Hairy Moose Pet Retreat. We really enjoy the challenge of operating a small family business. There are personal aspects that are woven into the fabric of a small family business that you just can't find with a corporate affair. Animal nuts through and through, we have spent our lives opening our homes, hearts and purse strings to less fortunate critters of all shapes and sizes.
Currently, Linda shares her home with Priscilla, Pearl, and Miss Lady. Prisi and Annette share their home with a myriad of pets, including Hannah, Edgar, Buffy Girl, Kirby Lee, Bossie Jean, Stanley Possum, Margarita Isabella Pompadora Tortellini, Henny Penny, Sheldon, Thomas, Peko the Guyo, Taylor, Twinkie, CiCi and Mickey. They also have four feline family members—Salvatori, Luigi, Moko Vino, and Sassy Cat.

MISSED BUT MOVED ON

NATALIE — started here as a puppy herself, she was practically a fixture here. However, Natalie has moved on to married life and motherhood. We enjoyed having her around here to help with anything and everything. She is now wife to B.J. and mom to Titus. We miss Natalie, but know that she is exactly where she wants to be. We wish her and her family all the best.