Read feedback from our customers.
This is genuine content and will provide confidence and enable you to make an informed decision, when boarding your pet.
If you wish to contribute to our Read Feedback column, visit the Send Feedback page or send us an email.
Hi Karen,
We just wanted to thank you so much for the wonderful
care you all took of Ralph over Christmas. Ralph
was happy and relaxed coming home, it is clear he had
a wonderful time. Ralph also put on 1kg!! So that
was awesome!! We have changed his food as a result and he
is loving it.
Aaron & Jen Fenemor
December 2014
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Hi Karen,
I was just about to email you to say thank you for looking after our boy so well.
It’s a huge relief to know that he is happy and safe while we are away.
Lovely to have him back.
Moira Smith
March 10 2014
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Hi Karen
Razz looked great! He was pleased to see us and didn’t look like he’d missed us.
Thank you so much.
It is comforting to know your kids are cared for while you’re away.
Ron Morrissey
August 22 2013
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Hi Karen,
We wanted to acknowledge your care and thank you so much for looking after Charlie so wonderfully well while we were on holiday.
He is looking in such terrific condition and is bouncing around as if we haven’t been away at all. We’re very grateful.
And thanks also for the fantastic photos, you’ve done so well to catch him at the best angles and in good light.
Thanks again and kind regards.
Warnock Family
18 July 2013
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Hi again Karen
Our Scully spent her first Xmas in 11 years away from us and thanks to you she had a grand time!
We also relaxed on our holiday knowing she was in the best care.
We can’t praise you enough. At a busy time of the year it’s lovely to know our pets are in safe hands!
Viv and Allan Newman
January 30 2013
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Hi Karen
We would like to thank you for all the care and kindness you gave our Scully during our six weeks away in UK and Europe. We know that leaving a dog with a kennel for that length of time is not without some apprehension but we need not have been concerned. Scully had a ball by all accounts and your email contact and pictures for us made us feel right at home – so much so we can now plan the next trip with confidence. You are such a great person to leave our Scully with and we thoroughly recommend Alrona.
With Thanks
Allan and Vivienne Newman
May/June 2011
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Hi Karen
I would like to thank you for the excellent care you took of Roger and Cassie while we were away in Auckland, they were both pleased to see us home again, but it was great to see they had been well taken care of by you, thank you so much.
Kind regards
Carolyn Stewart,
February 2011
Hi Karen,
Just wanted to say thank you for your care of our dog Benny while we were on holiday from Auckland.We know Benny enjoyed his stay as he was quite happy to go back for another visit. Our daughter was so impressed when she went to pick Benny up for us, she has also recently boarded her dog Rosie with you.
Thank you for your care and devotion, we will be back!
We highly recommend ALRONA!
With Thanks
Theo and Serena Blaauwbroek,
February 2011
Hi Karen,
Thanks so much for taking care of Gino. He’s absolutely fine and in great shape.
Shona Henderson.
May 2010
I would like to thank Karen for her care of and patience with mytwo fur boys while I was in hospital. Although they were both glad to see me and to come home, I think they both thoroughly enjoyed their stay. Pippin would have enjoyed being outside and seeing other dogs, while Zebedee enjoyed the challenge of trying to escape to find the people. He is not your average dog and is a very adept Houdini. I think he provided Karen with some challenges as well as lots of laughs – which would have been his goal. I am just thankful that Karen has said they are welcome back as they will definitely be booked in at Alrona when I go on holiday!
Thanks Karen, JanEdwards
23/06/09
Hi Karen
Just wanted to say thank you so much for the love and attention you have given to our beloved Westies Manson and Holly, while we returned to the UK. It really did make a difference that you sent regular emails, and we can not recommend you and Alrona kennels enough, your one to one care is wonderful. Thank you so much, it made our return home so much easier knowing you were caring for our pups!!
Lisa, Thornton and Jake Humble
18/05/09
Hi Karen,
Just thought I would drop you a quick email to let you know that Rufus has been really good since coming home from your boarding kennels!! We were really pleased as normally we get a week or two of him acting really depressed!! We will definitely be sending him to you again!
Thanks
Kerry Rice
07/02/09
Hi Karen
Just wanted to say how grateful we are to you for looking after Scrabble and Smudge for the last 6 months, while we travelled back to the UK. Knowing that they were being cared for by you made the long separation easier for us. Your regular email updates of what they had been up to kept us smiling and in touch, and the photos that you emailed to us were such a lovely thought – thank you so very much for that.
They are now safely back in the UK and we will be able to bring them to their new home in a few days when the quarantine period is up. We can’t wait to see them again – it has been a long time.
I cannot recommend ALRONA highly enough – your devotion to the animals in your care is evident for all to see.
Thank you Karen,
Sue Abbott
12/12/08
Hi Karen
Thank you so much for taking such good care of our two little boys. For one of them, it was his first time away from home and you made him settle in and gave him that extra attention whilst he made himself at home and we so appreciate that. It was a difficult time for us and knowing that they were both safe, happy, healthy and well-cared for gave us such peace of mind as they are both very precious to us and have their ‘ways’!
They came home with smiles on their faces and looking fabulous – and even though I know they loved coming home, I know they won’t mind another visit to see you at Alrona again the future! Thanks once again and thank you for keeping us posted during their stay.
Kind regards
Donna Malneek andChris Machin
25/11/08
Dear Karen
We have been very happy with the service we have received from Alrona during the last 13 years both from John and yourself and wish you continued success.
From our experience we would have no hesitation in recommending Alrona, under your ownership, to others.
Kind regards
Bill and Earlene Kempt
06/11/08
Dear Karen,
We thank you very much for your excellent care of our canine children. We shall certainly look favourably upon your care when next we need a babysitter.
Sincere regards,
Gwenda Farrell and Paul Kelly
17/10/08
Karen
Your website is absolutely brilliant and the booking form concept awesome
I also, (even though we haven’t used it), love the idea of Day care etc combined with Obedience training. And the ability to purchase treats to be given to our furry child during her stay.
Kirsten
8/08/08
Hi Karen
I would like to thank you and your staff for providing an excellent environment over the Christmas break for our dog Storm. As you know, she is a 12 yr old Keeshound and a member of our family whom we treat like one of our kids (truth be known, pampered more than the kids!)
Kennel care (or Dog Camp as we call it) is very important at her age and I am happy to say that when we picked her up from Alrona after our holiday, she was very happy and relaxed and not stressed like she usually gets when at other kennels. When Storm is happy, we are happy parents. Thank you so much and we will see you again soon
Peter Jenkins
January 2008
Dear Karen,
Re: Alrona Kennels
Iam pleased to be able to write this testimonial for Alrona Kennels. Our miniature Schnauzer, Floyd, has been visiting Alrona two to three times a year over the last 10 years and it has become literally, his “home away from home.”
I’ve always rated the establishment highly as our dog’s tail will start wagging as we go up the drive – not a normal reaction I would suggest from a dog going to a kennel.
Floyd’s experience has always been positive. He has always been well looked after and returned home clean and healthy.
Since Karen has taken over the business the experience has actually improved. Karen is very obviously an “animal person” and there is a real interaction with the animals that is plain to see. Floyd I know reacts very well to her. In short, Alrona is a kennel that I would recommend to anyone for their pets, a recommendation that isn’t given lightly as I know most pet lovers are like myself in that we are very concerned about who we leave out pets with.
The experience at Alrona has been nothing but positive.
Stephen Shearer
Dear Karen,
In all the years I have owned dogs and boarded them at various kennels here and in the US, I have never been more satisfied than I am with Alrona.
When I drop Lulu off with you, she leaps from the car and is very happy to see you. She goes with you gladly when you take her up to the kennel block.
When I pick her up at the end of her stay, her health is always perfect. Her coat looks glossy, and she is happy and active. I can tell that she is well-cared for during her stay, both physically and mentally.
The extra services on offer at Alrona, such as hydrobaths and pick-up/drop-off service are also greatly appreciated.
Most importantly, I know I don’t have to worry about Lulu when I’m away. I will always miss her when I have to leave her behind, but I know she’s in good hands and is having a good time at Alrona. I can’t thank you enough for providing such an excellent facility.
All the best,
Abby Letteri
Karen,
Where shall we start !! Robson and Maggie Mae flew all the way from England in early March 06. You picked them up from the airport and loved them as your own for three months.
Alrona was their home. You not only provided them with love and training but you succeeded where every boarding kennel in England failed. They have never settled before when they have been left in kennels, but at Alrona they thrived. We visited, as you know every Sunday and took the dogs out in the forest, never sticking to your opening hours, but always looking forward to our chats. You were more than flexible with that.
The dogs were rescued from neglect in the UK and probably due to that they were not that well behaved and were certainly true individuals. Since their stay at Alrona, Robson the Rhodesian has become a different dog, he is well behaved and pretty much trained ( a credit to the time and effort you put in with your dogs), as for Maggie Mae, she’s still as loving as ever, and I kid you not, the drive from Alrona to Tauranga was emotional. She sat looking longingly out of the window, she missed the cuddles and the love she received from you. Thankyou for all you did for us, you made the move to New Zealand a pleasant one and if anyone wants a home from home for their dogs then for us there is no other place… choose Alrona.
Forever Grateful
Lee, Emma, baby Maxwell, Robson and (girlfriend) Maggie Mae. We write with a tear in our eyes thanks Karen
It was December 2005 when I first used Alrona to board my dog Angel. Alrona had been recommended to me by a friend who had been taking her dog there for some time.
I arranged a viewing and was very impressed with the set up and the treatment of all the cats and dogs.
I booked Angel in for the weekend. When I arrived to pick her up she had had a great time playing with her new best friend Lulu, she seemed to want to stay but it was time to say goodbye. A few months later I was flying out to the UK and needed to find a cattery and kennel that also did animal exports, so I went to the Alrona web site and was pleased to find that Karen was able to assist me in this. I had been impressed with the previous care given to Angel and decided to book my five cats and dog in to Alrona using the web site booking form. Karen sorted out all the paper work for the export to the UK. I dropped all my animals off knowing that they would get the best care and that I would see them a week later in the UK. They all arrived at their new home bright eyed and in good health. I would recommend Alrona to anyone who has pets, as the staff are always friendly and very helpful.
Thank you for taking such good care of my cats and Angel.
Nicola Crossland.
I have been leaving my dogs at Alrona since February 2005, having brought them over from the UK in March 2004. And since my marriage she now gets to see Sarah’s dog too! They are always happy to arrive – Biff gets so excited he yips as we come up the drive and drags us eagerly to the top of the hill. He just can’t wait to settle in! We live much closer to a different kennel but are so impressed with Alrona that we will keep coming back. The dogs always leave in such good condition and they have obviously had a great time while we’ve been gone! On top of all that Karen is always very friendly and is lovely to deal with.
Many thanks.
Joe & Sarah Worsley
Dear Karen,
I know of no better way to express my sincere appreciation for your tender care regarding Sargent than to make a posting.
Shipping a pet overseas is always a stressful time not only for the pet but for the owners. My initial feelings were positive as the planning stages progressed; you quickly replied to all my queries, provided options that would make Sarge’s trip a good one, and worked diligently with the state-side shipper to ensure we could make this happen in spite of the extreme temperatures.
I can’t express my gratitude enough for your extra efforts to make Sargent comfortable, from putting him on a cot to keep him off the cold floor, to putting on extra coats to keep him warm, since he had a hair cut in preparation for his trip back home.
The photos were adorable, again, a testament to your thoughtfulness in knowing I would like them.
Thank you Karen for your tender loving care you extended to Sargent and your warmth and thoughtfulness you’ve extended to me.
Big hugs,
Michelle
Dear Karen,
Thank you so much for taking care of our border collies while we were in the U.K. They returned to us happy and healthy and very clean. We will be bringing them back to you in the future, as they seem to really enjoy their holiday. We have been recommending you to everyone as we have every confidence in your expertise, and your facilities. It’s great to have had no worries about our dogs while we were away.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
Julie & David
Hello Karen,
I just wanted to drop a note to say thank you for the fantastic care you have always given Ridge and Sinai on their “holidays” with you. I think they are really going to miss it! They fly back home on Wednesday and I just wanted to drop you some photos… thought they would put a smile on your face.
I take it if anything had to happen to Wayne and myself – you would be there adoptive mother??
Have a great day!
Kind Regards,
Terri Goss