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Couple marks 25 years of kenneling kritters

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By Karen Brainard

Vacationing at Kritter Kamp has been a treat for many a pooch over the past 25 years.

The boarding kennel off Old Julian Highway marks its 25th year in business this month. And during that time, not only have owners Jim and Kim Lasley seen their clients’ pets grow up, they have also seen clients’ children mature into adults who now bring their animals to the kennel.

“It’s kind of funny, after 25 years we’re hitting different generations,” said Kim.

Kritter Kamp has clients from all over San Diego County and even from Los Angeles, the Lasleys said.

“Pickup and delivery is what a lot of people thought was nice,” Jim said of their convenient service.

Clients have included vacationers at the timeshares in San Diego Country Estates who pick up their dogs during the day and bring them back at night.

The dog runs at Kritter Kamp are much larger than at most kennels, noted Kim.

“They have access 24/7 to their run,” Kim said of their canine clientele. In addition, dogs get play time in the field but do not interact to avoid any risk of fighting. They do see each other through the fences of their runs.

Unlike many kennels, Kritter Kamp does not charge by weight of the dog.

When being picked up from their homes, dogs often come running to them, said Kim.

“If the dogs could write testimonials, that would be awesome,” she said.

Before opening Kritter Kamp, the Lasleys, who both hail from southeast San Diego, had a grooming shop in Rancho Bernardo called Kim’s Kritters. When clients asked them about boarding, they decided to look into the kennel business.

They bought about 18 acres on Creek Hollow Drive, off Old Julian Highway, and started with 10 runs. Over the years, while raising their three daughters, they gradually expanded and now have 65 runs including some with air conditioning and heat.

Kritter Kamp has weathered a few challenges over the years, most notably surviving the October 2007 Witch Creek Fire that came within 4 feet of their house.

When the fire began on Oct. 21, Kim said they kept an eye on its progression and made a list of animals, got crates and gathered food.

“We got to a point, we loaded everybody up,” said Kim. The couple sent their youngest daughter, Jayme, to be with Kim’s parents while daughters Krysta and Deanna and friends helped to evacuate 69 animals.

Because of the gridlock in town as residents tried fleeing, Kim said they parked their vehicles — two vans and two RVs — at Kmart and took turns walking the dogs.

“We really felt the house was gone,” she said.

At one point the Lasleys went back to check on the property. Using buckets of water from their pool they worked to extinguish spot fires.

After they were able to return with their daughters and the animals, Kim said they had no power for three weeks and used a generator. People in the area would come over to eat.

“The kids learned a lot,” said Kim. “They learned surviving. You make the best of it.”

For those clients who lost their homes, the Lasleys said they kept their pets for free.

In addition to the boarding business, Kim breeds Great Pyrenees. The dogs serve as family companions, show champions, livestock guardians and therapy dogs.

“They’re known as the gentle giant,” Kim said.

Highlighting the breed recently was a video shown on the Oprah Winfrey Network called “Steep Your Soul: The Watchful Guardians of Apricot Lane Farms” that features dogs from Kim’s Mistry Great Pyrenees.

“My family all watched it and I had tears in my eyes,” Kim said. “I was seeing 37 years of everything we have worked for in breeding to keep Pyrs the way they are supposed to be in every way.”

The Lasleys welcomed the addition of 11 Pyrs Oct. 1, the first litter for “Eva.”

For years, Kim has taken her puppies to classrooms in Ramona to let students see how they change each week. The difference in their weights and measurements are incorporated into math exercises, she said, and for the first six weeks students are not allowed to touch the puppies.

“You treat animals how you would want to be treated,” Kim said she tells the students.

That could explain why Kritter Kamp clients keep coming back.

Kritter Kamp boards dogs and cats and can be reached at 760-788-6799.

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