Father, Son Bridgeport High School Grads Team up to Open Area's First "Dog Resort" for Boarding of Pets
By Jeff Toquinto on January 26, 2023
For anyone who has had to leave their dog behind for a vacation or any type of out-of-town situation, finding the right place to stay or someone you trust to take them in or sit with them is not always an easy decision.
Now, a father and son duo who just happen to be Bridgeport High School graduates, believe they have the answer in what the son described as a “truly unique” business. And on Feb. 1, those Bridgeport alums will have a grand opening for their business.
The business in question is Highland Dog Resort that will be open soon in Nutter Fort. And it is exactly what it sounds like.
“It is a premier luxury, boarding facility for dogs. We do everything there, and we built this from scratch,” said Curt “Bryan” Lamm, who is joined by his girlfriend Emily and father Bryan Lamm, a 1972 BHS graduate, in the business endeavor. “All of our suites are custom made; designed and built on site.”
According to the son, a 1993 graduate who went by Bryan in his high school days, there are no chain link fences in the boarding area. Materials are anti-microbial, which cuts down on bacteria and viruses that some pets may be quick to pass on to one another.
The business itself is an 80x40 structure. Inside, there are 16 suites for dogs built and ready to do. The suites range in size from $60 a night to up to $100 a night for the biggest, which is 100 square feet.
“The big one is like a college dorm, or bigger,” he said.
The doggie “dorm room” has vinyl flooring, pet friendly wallpaper, and the items inside are water resistant and pet friendly.
Along with the suites, there are plenty of amenities available. Lamm said they have story times where dogs are read to if desired, internal bay walks, bathing, and turf time, which is uninterrupted one-on-one interaction with a dog and a staff member. Once outside, there is fencing so the dogs are enclosed and in the event they would happen to get past that, there is a safety fence in place as well.
“That is not the walk, but actual play time where we’ll be doing things to have fun with the dog such as romping in our yard and playing tug of war,” said Lamm.
There are homemade organic snacks, and even a lick mat – where peanut butter or apple sauce is placed – that helps take anxiety away from dogs as they are away from their owner. There will also be frozen treats in dog safe plastic containers available.
So, where did the idea come from? Lamm said it was his father’s idea, and the reason he moved back from Montana after spending 25 years there.
“I spent my time there working with nonprofits and the last five to six years my dad wanted to do dog boarding; it’s been his dream for years. When we got our own dogs, trying to find a place to board them was at times a nightmare,” he said. “They would come back anxious and nervous after being boarded, so we thought maybe we could give dogs a better experience.”
Eventually, with his father’s desire in his head, Bryan Lamm and Emily decided they were both “down for an adventure” and headed back to his home. In September of 2021, he returned.
“We’re a little more than a year removed and this is the fruition of all of our hard work,” he said. “We’re confident because we feel it will be a welcome service and Emily has started several businesses, so she has that covered.”
The hard work has Highland Dog Resort on the brink of opening. Lamm said the motto is “your dog deserves a vacation too.”
The facility is strictly boarding with no daycare option. He said they are aiming for a legitimate resort type of experience for the dogs.
The address for the business is 11 Cherry Tree Drive, Nutter Fort, right across from Clarksburg City Park – or Norwood Park. Lamm expects reservations to be taken a few days after the Feb. 1 grand opening as they finish up with a final issue with plumbing and need the city to sign off on everything.
You can visit their Facebook page HERE and message them. There Web site is expected to be ready Friday and is highlanddogresort.com, where additional contact information can be found. Individuals can also email them at highlanddogresort@gmail.com.
The community is invited to attend the grand opening, but to assure the health of future boarders, dogs are not allowed to attend. Promotional giveaways and discounted items will be offered during the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. event.
Here is additional business information:
Hours are 7 days a week:
Drop off: 3-5 pm
Pick up: 9-11 am
Suite sizes:
Standard: 35 sq ft
Window suites: 54, 72, 94 sq ft (presidential suite).
Editor's Note: Top photo show Curt "Bryan" Lamm, and his father, Bryan Lamm, in front of their new business. Next two photos show a couple of the dog suites (more of which can be found on their Facebook page), while the bottom photo shows Pocket and Vedder (the owner’s rescue dogs) enjoying the new space. Photos courtesy of Curt "Bryan" Lamm.
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