Dog care facility opens

As the end of December approaches, some people may be heading out of town for the holiday season. While making sure that every family member is safe, secure and jolly throughout Christmas, one member may tend to be forgotten. Dave Carr and Paula Russello have that special member in mind. Carr and Russello are owners and head trainers at Complete Canine, a 9,500 square-foot dog care facility that provides a dog day care, boarding, private training, grooming and pet portraits. Their goal is to provide dogs with a relaxing, stress-free environment.

The state of the art facility, newly opened on Dec. 1, is located at 6746 Martin St. in Rome. The building houses a reception area, indoor and outdoor play area and kennel. This may sound like a typical canine kennel but the philosophy that Carr and Russello have instituted at Complete Canine is what stands out in the dog-eat-dog world of canine care.

"We believe in training dogs with structure," says Russello.

"We run a very regimented program. We teach dogs leadership skills, stress socialization with other dogs and animals and we also conduct in home behavior modification that focuses on home problems such as playing too rough, barking, etc."

This, combined with approximately 15 years of experience and life-long passions for dogs, explains why Complete Canine has garnered attention.

Russello and Carr both dreamed of creating this haven for dogs back when they started Complete Canine in 2006. Training out of their backyard, the two planned for a move into an actual facility that featured an indoor area. After a year of preparations, they decided on the Martin Street location. Russello, a self-proclaimed "germophobe," took over from there.

"Being a mother and dog owner myself I wanted a place that would be safe and clean for dog and child alike," Russello says. "The material that covers the ground and up the walls of this facility is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. The dog's waste is immediately cleaned up whether playing or in the kennel area. If I find any sign of waste, dirt, etc. left unattended, someone is going to be in trouble. That is how serious I am."

Dogs and their owners are pleased and impressed at the setup and protocol of the indoor play area. The room is divided into two sections. A little dog area that can fit 25 dogs and a big dog area that can maintain up to 50 dogs comfortably. The room is replete with innocuous toys and obstacles that allow the dog to let loose while still remaining safe. The dog toys are rubber and hard in order to maintain the anti-bacterial environment that Russello strives for. The outdoor play area, just outside of the indoor area, is concrete as opposed to grass in order to make it more difficult for the dogs to contract any bacteria or viruses.

The kennel section contains dozens of custom-built boarding cells that provide a dog of any size the space to sleep and relax comfortably. Privacy is stressed and exhibited by the fact that each cell is walled on three sides with a gate that deters the dog from feeling boxed in. Above each cell is a panel hung down from the ceiling. These panels are designed to absorb sound, such as the echoing bark of a dog, to relieve the dogs of unneeded stress. When asked why the couple has gone to such lengths to cater to the animals, Russello has flashbacks.