Catawba facilities
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Dogwood Kennels and Cattery

1348 Buffalo Shoals Rd, Catawba, NC 28609

4.5
91 Google reviews
Staff overnightOutdoor yardPool / water playSmall dog areaAccepts puppiesReactive breeds OKMedication adminGroomingTrainingClimate controlledOvernight potty breaks

Overview

Dogwood Kennels and Cattery is a 14-acre boarding and daycare facility in Catawba, NC run by owner Robert Miller. They offer dog and cat boarding, dog daycare, grooming, and training services using only positive reinforcement methods. The facility features indoor kennels with large grassy fenced yards, pools, and separate play areas for different sized dogs.

Amenities & Policies

Cage-free
Webcam
Staff overnight
Outdoor yardreal grass
Pool / water play
Small dog area
Accepts puppies
Reactive breeds
Medication admin
Grooming
Training
Climate controlled
Overnight potty breaks
Online booking
Spay/neuter required
Temperament test

Required vaccinations: Rabies, Bordetella, Distemper/Parvo, Feline Distemper, Feline Leukemia

Policies & Details

Hours & Billing

Drop-off hours:7:30am-6pm
Pick-up hours:7:30am-6pm
Billing method:Per night

Cancellation & Deposits

Deposit requiredOne night's stay

Care & Play

Group play
Solo play
Daily updates
Comfort items allowed
Feeding policy:Owner provides food

Safety & Emergency

Emergency vet protocol:On call
Emergency vet cost:Owner

Extras

Multi-dog discount$40/1 dog, $68/2 dogs, $102/3 dogs, $136/4 dogs (same run)
Senior dog accommodations
Owner operated

What Reviews Say

87 reviews analyzed

Dogwood Kennels enjoys overwhelmingly positive reviews (82% are 5-star), with particular praise for staff kindness, dog happiness, and reasonable pricing. The facility is lauded for its patience with special needs and elderly dogs. However, there are notable concerns: one detailed 1-star review alleged severe cleanliness violations during a tour, two reviews reported dogs contracting kennel cough, and several mentioned communication difficulties. The owner actively responds to negative reviews, typically within a day, maintaining a professional tone while disputing allegations. The majority of customers are repeat visitors who specifically mention their dogs' excitement to return.

Dog happiness
4.8
Staff
4.5
Value
4.5
Drop-off / pickup
4.5
Safety
4.0
Facility
4.0
Cleanliness
3.5
Communication
3.5

People love

Staff kindness and patience with dogs(25)Dogs love attending - excited to go, happy when returned(20)Clean facilities(8)Reasonable pricing(5)Excellent with special needs/elderly dogs(4)Rob's training expertise(5)

Staff shoutouts

Rob(12 mentions)Anna(4 mentions)Ashley

Worth noting

Severe cleanliness violations reported during tour - dried blood on doors, feces-covered surfaces, dirty water buckets, unsanitary conditions

Dried BLOOD on one of the doors... The kennel absolutely STUNK (yes kennels will smell of dog etc, but it smelt as feces were smeared and left on the walls for days)

Dogs contracting kennel cough/illness while boarding

We get her to the vet and are told she has kennel cough... I now have a very sick dog who has no appetite and very lethargic.

Training program communication breakdown - customer felt ghosted after full payment

I was ghosted after paying in full... I reached out to continue scheduling in late 2024 and got no response.

Communication/responsiveness issues(4 mentions)

The staff demonstrated extremely poor communication skills and consistently failed to return my calls.

Dogs getting sick after boarding (kennel cough)(2 mentions)

she was throwing up and coughing. We get her to the vet and are told she has kennel cough.

Difficulty reaching staff/management(2 mentions)

VERY hard (next to impossible) to get anyone to answer the phone or return calls or emails.

Owner replies to 83% of reviewsAvg response: 1dprofessional tone22 repeat customers

Top Rated

4.5 stars from 91+ reviews

This facility has earned a Top Rated badge for maintaining a 4.5-star rating across 91 reviews.

At a Glance

Google rating
4.5/ 5
Review score
4.2/ 5
Amenities11 of 14
Reviews91
Repeat customersNumber of reviews that mention returning or being a regular customer.22

Pricing

Boarding

$40–$136/night

Daycare

$14–$28/day

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