Leeward Pups Stay In Cage-free ‘Suites’ At Tradewinds

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Sandy Van welcomes Lyssa the Belgian shepherd to Tradewinds Pet Suites. Photo courtesy of bobthecameraman.com.

Sandy Van wants dogs to give a big bow-wow when they spend some time at Tradewinds Pet Suites, a West Oahu boarding kennel for dogs that has no crates or cages.

“I’m a dog owner and lover myself,“Van admitted. And with two German shepherds, Gabi and Gabi’s son, Tradewinds Achilles; Belgian shepherd Lyssa and mini-dachshund Muggsy, Van sure has the pets to prove it.

Boarding dogs stay in private indoor kennels that release outdoors into a fenced 25-foot run. Van and a part-time employee also take time to play with each dog individually in the large play area.

“Hopefully when the dogs come here they feel like they are on a vacation rather than in a boarding kennel,” she said of about the Waianae kennel, which she opened last year.“This is the kind of place I’d want my dogs to be if I had to leave them someplace.”

Makaha resident Jackie Barton said the kennels are spacious for Chico, her Chihuahua.

“Normally Chico doesn’t take to a lot of people, but he seems to love Sandy,” said Barton, who has used Tradewinds several times this year.

“We are so comfortable with the care she provides, and we don’t worry about him at all. It’s been a godsend for us; it helps us travel with a free mind, knowing he’s in good hands. If anything were to happen, she would contact us or she would know what to do.”

Rex and Kathy Irwin bring their bull mastiff Auggi and pitbull Magi to Tradewinds from Maui to Oahu for about one week a month.

“This is the first kennel that the dogs get excited about when we tell them we are going there,” said Kathy Irwin.“It’s probably the fact that she has horses and she has a place for them to run. It allows us to continue with our careers.”

In addition to dogs, Van also boards horses. The businesswoman started Tradewinds Quarter Horses LLC in 2007. She opened Tradewinds Pet Suites as a division of Tradewinds Quarter Horses, LLC a year later because of her love of pets and to supplement her income with something that she is passionate about.

“I love dogs, and a boarding kennel would make good use of a resource I already had - the kennel itself,“Van said.

“The kennel building actually existed on the property when I purchased it, but it needed a lot of repair.”

After renovations, she enlisted the help of her part-time staff, which includes certified veterinary technician Summer Hillen and kennel technician Sunny Kaapana.

Van said there isn’t a time limit on boarding animals, as she can board dogs of military members who may be deployed for long periods of time. For active-duty military, Tradewinds has a year-round 15 percent discount as a way of saying “thanks” to the troops and to show support.

With the holidays coming up, she said she still has some accommodations open, but they are filling quickly. She advises owners to bring their dog to the facility to meet her or, if time permits, leave their pet overnight for a day or two so they become familiar with the place.

Owners can bring the dog’s favorite toys, treats and food.

“I also ask the owners to bring a piece of clothing or a blanket that has the owner’s scent on it,” Van suggested.

All dogs must be current on their vaccinations. If pet owners provide their own food, boarding prices range from $23.95 to $43.95 per day, depending on the size of the kennel chosen.

Tradewinds is located at 86-626 Puuhulu Road. For more information, call 696-4900 or visit http://www.tradewindsqh.com/pets/.