For many local dog and cat owners, the opening of another pet daycare and boarding facility, Hearth & Hound in Lee, is a “godsend” amidst an ever-increasing shortage of such businesses in the Berkshires. Indeed, Hearth & Hound inhabits the space vacated in August 2024 by Love Us and Leave Us, another boarding operation that maintains its Pittsfield location.
A few years back, the venture seemed unlikely for proprietor Alexis Montgomery who spent a decade as a registered nurse at Berkshire Medical Center in various roles, including telemetry, case management, neurology, and clinical education. She also earned postgraduate degrees in nursing and business administration/healthcare leadership.
On March 24, however, Montgomery realized a dream by opening the doors, albeit softly, to a bright new future. “I’m going to put the same vigor here that I put into keeping the patients at the hospital safe and happy, by keeping everyone’s pets safe and happy,” she said.
The Pennsylvania native recalled having a passion for animals since she was a child, carrying books listing dog breeds as a toddler, and doting on the family pets at home. So when Love Us and Leave Us closed its Lee business, Montgomery—a customer herself—seized the opportunity. Describing her experience, she said she would drop off her Chow, Simba, at the front vestibule, only to contemplate what her life would be like if she served at the helm of such a business.
Through extensive research, Montgomery became an expert on canine and feline care, as well as their body language. Montgomery closed on February 13, purchasing the 5,000-square-foot facility at 915 Pleasant Street. Since then, she has painted the interior public spaces upstairs in a green hue, which studies suggest pet owners deem the most trustworthy for animal care. Soon, Montgomery’s paintbrush will dip into shades of blue and yellow—colors that dogs can see—for the downstairs portion of the site where the animals stay and play.
She admits that, from interpreting a dog’s body language to the best disinfectant for a boarding program, “there’s a lot to learn about animals and there’s a lot to do to keep them safe.”
For starters, Montgomery financed the business through a local bank line of credit, with assistance from the federal Small Business Administration. She also obtained coverage from a local insurance company to safeguard the operation. Then, there’s the site. Visitors will find four large, fenced-in outdoor play yards and two smaller side yards in the back of Hearth & Hound, with the latter able to accommodate the one or two dogs who can’t acclimate well to bigger groups. Three large indoor playrooms serve as training areas.
With its three-person staff, encompassing a manager, a team lead, and an animal care attendant, the operation can accommodate up to 20 dogs and five cats for overnight boarding. Montgomery said she plans to expand the boarding program to a maximum of 30 dogs as staffing levels increase. (Note: She is currently hiring.) Hearth & Hound’s five ‘catios’ (cat areas) are situated in a dog-free space.
Montgomery keeps the staffing ratio low, at 10 to 15 dogs per kennel worker, “to ensure that the dogs are supervised.” Overnight animal boarders are monitored via closed-circuit cameras, which feed into her phone. And she lives just 15 minutes away on the Pittsfield/Lenox town line, in case an issue arises.
Dogs are separated by size and temperament into structured playgroups, where stimulation is provided through enrichment activities patterned after those found in zoos. On an average day, the staff arrives early, taking care of the boarded animals before the daycare clients are dropped off and introduced to the group. Playtime and enrichment sessions follow, with quiet time worked in afterward. “Not every dog wants to do quiet time; everything is very dog dependent, but we try to get quiet time because it’s beneficial for dogs to have a nap,” Montgomery said. “It’s not good for them to be playing nonstop all day, and we don’t want to send the dogs home cranky.”
In addition, manager Michelle Turner, who is also a certified trainer, provides canines with “manners sessions,” which Montgomery has found helpful for dog owners.
Hearth & Hound evaluates all new dogs as part of the application process. Patrons must also provide proof of their dog license in compliance with a new state regulation, Ollie’s Law, whether their pet is attending daycare or boarding, and a paper trail of vaccinations and flea and tick prevention. “We take our infection control practices very seriously,” Montgomery said, an obsession that, with her hospital background, comes with the territory.
Although Montgomery has only been in business a short time, she is already planning for the future. She’s coordinating dog training for community members and a weekend course designed to help reactive dogs that don’t do well in daycare. She’s also eyeing a collaboration with local businesses to offer a “yoga and puppies” experience and a “sniffer,” or canine scent activity. A grooming option might also come to fruition in May.
When Montgomery and Simba, Hearth & Hound’s “chief dog officer,” return home after a long day at the “office,” they’re greeted by her physician husband.
As a dog mom herself, Montgomery has felt the pain of Berkshire residents who spend hours searching through the area’s dwindling supply of boarding options. Recently, she was even forced to cancel a trip because she couldn’t find a trusted caretaker to tend to Simba. “There’s a huge need for people to have a safe place to bring their dogs,” Montgomery said. “This is 100 percent a dream come true.”
Daycare is available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at a daily rate of $50. Overnight boarding fees run $75 per day and $30 for a half-day. Discounts are available with package purchases. For more information about Hearth & Hound, visit the website or call 413-394-4014.
