Sheila Kemp/Endless Love Pet Palace: Paying it forward with love and care

Sheila Kemp has an endless love for animals so much so that she opened her own pet boarding business and named it Endless Love Pet Palace. She has been in the boarding business for 16 years and has been at her current location, 1012 Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins, for 11 years. Kemp said animals helped save her life.

“I get emotional when I start talking about it,” said Kemp, tearing up. “I grew up on a farm and have always loved animals. I didn’t have the easiest of childhoods and I feel like my dog saved me. The business that I am in is some small way for repaying the love that my dog and the other animals showed me when I was growing up.”

That is what is most important to Kemp, showing that love and care. She said there is always more than one person on shift to take care of the animals.

“During the peak of the year, summer and holidays, I have about 13 to 17 employees,” said Kemp. “When we slow down, I have about 12. There is never just one person here. We know it’s tough on the animals when their environment changes temporarily and it’s tough on the parents. But we make sure they get that one-on-one contact and love. We do what’s best for them, not what’s easiest for us.”

Kemp shared a story about a dog that just did not want to leave Endless Love Pet Palace.

“Two years ago, we boarded a dog for two weeks,” said Kemp. “She was not a regular boarder. Well, the week after she was picked up, I was at my insurance agent’s office when I got a call from work. They told me when they were opening up, that dog was on the front porch and walked right in. I called the owner and she was relieved because she said the dog got out from their backyard this morning. Mind you, they live four miles from my business. I laughed and told her she wasn’t through with her vacation.”

Boarding hours for Endless Love Pet Palace are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Kemp said during the week, they also have a night shift from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. for boarding. The business is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We can board 85 animals,” said Kemp. “What makes us unique is we are very observant about everything with the animals, very detailed oriented. We never group our big dogs together, but we will do a temperament test to see if they can have one playmate. We do group our small dogs but limit to six in a group, and we also do a temperament test with them. We will not put them together if there are signs of aggression. If a dog shows aggression, then we let the owners know and we just spend individual time with them. No animal is ever left alone; there is always someone with them.”

For more information about Endless Love Pet Palace, visit www.endlesslovepetpalace.com.

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