Penrod Kennels – “We wanted to create a kennel that you didn’t know could exist.”

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Quotes courtesy of Katie Rodighiero

When you first arrive on the grounds of Penrod Kennels, the first thing you’ll see is a miniature outdoor oasis with a waterfall feature and a shallow bathing pool fit for any animal kingdom. Adjacent are fenced-off yards with trees, grass, and concrete before the surrounding cherry trees gobble up the landscape. This current facility is a far cry from where it started back in the 70’s, when Katie Rodighiero’s Mother-in-Law, Penny Rodighiero, started Penrod Kennels. Penny passed Penrod Kennels down through the family and the Rodighiero clan has continued its legacy, employing many family members over the generations.

Today, there are three buildings on-site, all of which are “concrete and metal, and things that can’t be destroyed by dogs or absorb smell.” The first building was constructed back in the 1980’s, the second in 2002, and finally the third in 2008. All three buildings are built for boarding, boasting a whopping 125 dog runs and facilities perfect to care for dogs and cats of all ages. Each indoor/outdoor dog run is 5x15ft, with ample space to run, play, and socialize with a friendly neighbor. When it comes to establishing a home-away-from-home for animals to flourish and be comfortable, Penrod Kennels has successfully built a facility that checks every box. Katie explains that “we wanted to create a kennel you didn’t know could exist.”

We step into my personal favorite building- the one dedicated to cats! Cats everywhere lounge around, play, and bathe in their multi-story cat condos. There are “Catios” (patios- for cats), outdoor-themed rooms, lots of windows with natural light, and, most importantly, birds. “It’s really light in here and birds fly by and the cats can sit in the sun.”

As Katie walks the sprawling facilities, dogs are playing with each other in the water, and curious about why we are here. Katie points out Cinder, the kennel dog, who is used as a “tester to see if a dog is friendly. She gets along with everybody.” For dogs that are more unsocialized, tiny, allergic to grass, or even geriatric, Penrod has programs for everybody from VIP areas to concrete play yards: “We don’t mix dogs that don’t get along.” When a dog stays at Penrod Kennels, you can be sure that they will go home tired; “We have critters- deer and fox, and people working on the farm. Your dog will be busy all day and all night.”

Troy Rodighiero, who’s been working at Penrod for over 10 years (ask KT about that), works diligently behind the desk. Troy jokes about the display board they once had showcasing all the funny things they’d discovered encased in animal feces- a personal favorite being some perfectly-preserved crayons… And we will just leave it at that. Katie cheerfully tells stories only someone who’s been working with animals for over two decades could tell… “You can always tell when a dog eats carrots.”   

For more information about Penrod Kennels, visit http://www.penrodkennels.com/, check out their Facebook page, or call (541) 938-7633

Originally posted by Milton-Freewater Chamber Downtown Alliance via Locable