By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
EL RENO – A new pet resort and spa has become a “home away from home” for many of Canadian County’s finest pooches and kitties.
Reno’s Boneyard opened in January at 681 S Radio Road, north of Highway 66.
With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays looming, co-owner Jason Ratliff offered advice to anyone who wants to keep their animals at Reno’s Boneyard – whether for a few hours or multiple days.
“Book early!” said Ratliff, who owns the business with his wife Ta.
“This is my wife’s dream, so I helped her build it.”
Reno’s Boneyard offers dog and cat boarding, dog grooming and a doggy daycare. Their sparkling new facility has a capacity for 50 animals, with fenced-in agility and play areas outdoors.
There is 5,000 square feet of space on the inside and about 12,000 square feet outside.
“People travel a lot – whether it’s for work, kids’ sports or a vacation,” Jason Ratliff said. “When we opened, we thought we’d see a customer once a year going on a family vacation. But we see some of the same people every month.”
Dogs are separated by size, age and energy level. Kennel sizes are 3X4 (standard), 3X5 (deluxe) and 4X5 (executive).
Reno’s Boneyard has hosted dogs of all sizes – from 3 pounds to 180 pounds. All pooches are welcome, including those who are on special diets or need medications.
“It’s always clean here,” Ratliff emphasized. “We let out five times a day.
“It’s better for the dog because they’re getting exercise, and it’s better for us because we’re not cleaning up messes.
“We’re available for tours anytime; no appointment necessary. It’s always clean. No matter when you come. You can come take a look at where your dog’s sleeping; you can take a tour of the back. We want you to feel comfortable and know your dog is in good hands when you leave it here.”
The cats being boarded at Reno’s Boneyard stay in luxury cat condos.
Dogs boarded at Reno’s Boneyard must be up-to-date on their Bordetella, Rabies and Parvo vaccinations. Canines over one year old must be spayed or neutered.
Cats must be at least four months old and have their rabies and FVRCP (viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia) vaccinations. Felines over six months must be spayed or neutered.
The doggie daycare at Reno’s Boneyard is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Full grooming services on-site feature brushes, body clips, nail trims, ear cleans, and shampoos.
“That’s nice for the boarders, because a lot of people want a bath (for their pet) on the last day before they go home,” Ratliff said.
BETTER SERVICE, ROOM TO ROAM
Jason and Ta Ratliff have two children, Reno (3) and Remy (4).
“Before we had kids, my wife and I traveled a lot and would board our dogs – we had Aussies,” Jason Ratliff shared. “We always thought we could offer a little better service than what we were getting.
“We think this is a pretty good location. It’s outside the city a little bit so they have room to roam.”
While Reno’s Boneyard is in El Reno, many of the Ratliffs’ customers come from Yukon and Mustang.
The couple didn’t know what to expect when they opened their new pet resort and spa. They’ve quickly grown to seven employees.
“It’s been a learning experience,” Jason acknowledged. “We’ve been a lot busier than what we had imagined. So, we’ve had to ramp up and hire more help.
“We’re fortunate that we have really good help that really care about the animals and the quality of service that we offer. The people who work for us are great. They love what they do. And it shows.”
Outside of their normal Monday through Friday hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Reno’s Boneyard offers convenient pick-up and drop-off services from 9-10 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“Those are our open hours to the public, but we’re here from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. When everybody else has time off, that’s when we’re busy,” Jason Ratliff pointed out.
“We were busy all summer and we’re already about 75% occupied for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Already busy with their booming business and their young children, Jason and Ta Ratliff also buy and sell houses and own rental property in the metro area. Besides his real estate background, Jason previously was a petroleum engineer.
Book an appointment for boarding, grooming or the daycare at www.renosboneyard.com or call (405) 723-1934 for more details.
