It’s all about the love at Pawderosa Ranch.

It’s a normal playground scene: friends chasing a ball, taking turns going down a slide, splashing in water, jumping and running while making lots of noise and having a great time. There’s only thing missing: children!

The friends playing together on this playground are the furry four-footed kind, and it is just another typical day in doggy daycare at the Pawderosa Ranch Doggie Play and Stay. The dogs have so much fun here that they don’t want to leave, as was evident by the amount of coaxing Laurie Clement had to do to convince her Boxer, Brutus, that it was time to go home.

“He loves coming here,” she giggles. “He gets to interact with other dogs.” Clement says that Brutus, who attends daycare two or three times per week, knows when it is his day to go and runs to the door in anticipation.

Kimberly Smith and her fiancé Mike Mitchell opened Pawderosa Ranch in July 2006 and have met with enormous success.

The facility, designed to resemble a ranch complete with an old west façade on the buildings, features every amenity a canine could want: Large outdoor and indoor play areas, toys, bathing and grooming facilities, kennels complete with beds for those who wish to board and, most importantly, people who love them and want them to have fun!

They also want the animals to get along, which is why all dogs must go through an evaluation process prior to being accepted. Mitchell and Smith first make sure the dog is comfortable with human contact and then they introduce the animal to the other “play group” members.

Of course that doesn’t mean that situations don’t arise. Like any play group, there is always going to be one individual, be it kiddo or canine, that wants to make trouble. Surprisingly, the method of dealing with both two-footed and four-footed mischief-makers is the same: time out! There is a “time-out” pen at Pawderosa where the offender is placed for 30 minutes in order to calm down.

There is also no need to worry about illness or (ahem) romance. All dogs must have proof of vaccinations and must also be spayed or neutered. And, in case of minor emergency, members of the staff are pet first aid certified through the Red Cross Association.

But it’s not just the pets who are pampered at Pawderosa Ranch. The owners are taken care of too! “We want to be fun and involved with our clients,” says Smith.

Four Web cams are mounted throughout the facilities for owners to view the activities of the beloved pet any time they choose. When the animals are picked up, the owners are given feedback about the dog’s day including activities, eating habits, discipline, etc.

For those owners who need to board their pets while they are out-of-town, Pawderosa offers a “bark and ride,” which provides the owners with transportation to the airport when the dog is dropped off.

Pawderosa Ranch Doggie Play and Stay is located at 923 Clydeville Rd., close to the airport. For information on packages, pricing and amenities, call 404-4991 or visit www.pawderosaranch.com.