‘Pet hotel’ enterprise thrives as Kenyans journey for festivities – Investorempires.com

On the coronary heart of Kahawa Sukari, simply off Nairobi’s Thika Highway lies a vacation pet lodge for slithering, fishy and four-legged members of our households.

One is welcomed to a energetic scene of canine frolicking, and a few basking within the morning solar.

In a nook of the reception space, there’s a cute white hamster scurrying about in a glass enclosure.

Additional indoors, are rooms unfold out over two flooring in a white, dazzling constructing with brick roofing and broad home windows the place the pets are boarded. Welcome to Royal Pets the place pet mother and father depart their fur infants whereas they journey for the vacations.

For the ten years that Roy Oliver Oduor, who based this boarding kennel, has been in enterprise, it’s this group of holidaymakers that drive his numbers.

Learn: My canine and I

“If left alone with out water, canine will starve to loss of life. They will go for between two and three weeks with out meals and can turn out to be skinny, however for those who don’t give them water each day, they’ll die. Fish, just like the goldfish, will eat one another within the fish tank if you don’t feed them each day or each different day.

“On the flip side, if you have a roaming cat, it will run away from home, walk for about six or seven kilometres a day or night to eat whatever it can find, mark its territory and then come back,” says Mr Oduor.

Travelling with pets is a traumatic ordeal.

“It’s hard going on vacation with pets. It’s too much work for the pets, they become stressed. Dogs don’t like long travels and being out of their normal environments. Cats don’t like moving at all. They are the worst because they are more sensitive. And you can’t travel with fish or leave them alone. Snake pets are easier and very chilled out because they don’t move a lot if they are in their cages but you know the negative reputation attached to them. No one will want them around,” says Mr Oduor.

This has led to booming enterprise for pet accommodations and lodges, particularly in Nairobi, charging per day, relying on the animal and days of the week.

At The Royal Pets, Mr Oduor has already acquired bookings for 20 canine, 10 cats and 7 rabbits.

The Royal Pets founder Roy Oliver with a few of his pets at Kahawa Sukari Property in Nairobi, Kenya on December 18, 2023. PHOTO LUCY WANJIRU | NMG

Learn: Find out how to choose the right canine

“The average number of days they stay with us is five days and five nights (during the holidays as owners travel),” he says.

He prices Sh900 for small canine and Sh1,300 for large canine. Moreover, some pet house owners request grooming of the fur infants for Sh4,500 for small canine and Sh5,500 for large canine comparable to German Shepherds. Some additionally ask for the pets to be picked and delivered or shipped throughout native and worldwide borders.

Booming enterprise

Throughout the vacation season, the pet lodge will get absolutely booked, with some kennel house owners having to provide precedence to their shoppers, earlier than boarding any new pets.

At Planet Canine Kenya, a kennel situated on Nairobi’s Ngong Highway and strictly coping with canine, on common they count on between 20 and 30 canine throughout this peak season. They cost between Sh700 and Sh1,000 per day, relying on the dimensions of the canine.

“On average, during this season, clients leave their dogs for between two and three days,” says Caroline Mutuku.

Portam Kennels, which additionally strictly lodges canine, and is situated in Dagoretti South off Naivasha Highway, hosts 30 canine on common.

“Per week, for large dogs, we charge Sh2,000 while for smaller dogs Sh1,500. On average, the pets stay with us for two to three months. Over this festive season, the bookings are still rolling in,” says Newton Mwaniki.

Different pet-stay amenities comparable to in Wangige off Waiyaki Means, Nairobi, as an illustration, cost Sh2,000 for weekdays and Sh2,500 on weekends whereas one other in Kiambu County prices Sh2,700.

Learn: Pet grooming kits enterprise

Tick all bins

With the rise within the variety of pet-stay amenities in Nairobi, house owners are competing on how snug the pet lodging is, security measures in place to guard the animal from hurt, train areas, nutritious meals offered comparable to rice and minced meat except the pet has any particular dietary wants, medical care in situations of emergencies, skilled workers, well-maintained and hygienic areas in addition to handy areas and hours.

The American Eskimo canine at The Royal Pets at Kahawa Sukari Property in Nairobi, Kenya on December 18, 2023. PHOTO LUCY WANJIRU | NMG

Mr Oduor appears to have ticked the bins going the variety of loyal shoppers, together with Kenyan comic Njugush, born Timothy Ndegwa, who boards his three social media-famous dogs- Sam, Bobby and newest stray acquisition, Simba (with a silent m), based on him.

“First-time shoppers who wish to have their pets boarded with The Royal Pets have to supply paperwork proving that their pets are vaccinated.

“This will prevent the spread of diseases to other pets. The pet also has to be microchipped as well as have taken medication for tick control. They will also have to provide all necessary information in the event their pets have an emergency while in our care and how they expect us to proceed when it does occur,” says Mr Oduor.

Learn: The enterprise of pet cremation

Sh300,000 on a pet

The longest the Royal Pets have boarded a pet was 9 months. A consumer dropped off his canine whereas he accomplished the development of his residence. He paid Sh301,400.

Has Mr Oduor met pet mother and father who’re too connected to their pets that they fear in the event that they depart them behind?

“Yes, I have. They are more sensitive because they want to know that their pet is safe. Most are too attached to how they are with their children. I’ve noticed this with pets that are six years old and above. Both the owner and the pet have seen each other through many seasons, including difficult and happy times. When the pet is away, we find ourselves in positions where we have to show that the pet is happy and waiting for its owner to come back for it. Even on trips, you find them wondering how their pets are doing. If you are used to your pet, you will know if it is doing okay or not but we have a calm environment here and it’s easy for pets to adapt,” says Mr Oduor.

Nelson Saitu, a Nairobi-based counselling psychologist, says some pet mother and father go above and past for his or her pets as a way of thanking them for being a part of their lives.

“Some pet parents can get too attached and spend lavishly on them because, on one hand, they want to tell their pets ‘Thank you’ for accompanying them and getting them out of many deep mental health and psychological pits. It is a way of thanking them by wanting them to experience the best. Sometimes, people consider this lavish spending on pets as lavish spending on themselves—they have linked the identity of the pet with their own. It can be unhealthy at times because this money can go into other things but again, it’s their money and they can use it as they please,” he says.

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