Why We Started Zaine's Stay & Play
We started Zaine’s Stay & Play because we believed there was room for something more personal than traditional boarding.
Every dog has their own personality, routines, preferences, and ways of feeling comfortable. We take the time to learn about each guest and provide attentive, individualized care within a calm and structured environment.
That may include enrichment walks, supervised outdoor time, brushing, play, quiet one-on-one attention, or simply learning what helps a dog feel comfortable and secure.
Our goal is simple: to provide the kind of care we would want for our own dogs while giving their families genuine peace of mind.
Meet The Family Behind Zaine’s
Stacey
For as long as she can remember, Stacey has been happiest with animals by her side. As a child, she spent countless hours outdoors exploring nature, caring for animals, and getting to know nearly every dog in the neighborhood. If a family pet ever wandered off, there was a good chance Stacey was the one who safely brought them home.
Her lifelong passion eventually led her to work as both a kennel technician and at a doggy daycare, where she gained valuable hands-on experience caring for dogs of all ages, sizes, and personalities. More importantly, those experiences confirmed what she had always known—helping dogs feel safe, comfortable, and loved is what brings her the greatest joy.
Stacey has a remarkable gift for building trust with dogs who may be shy, timid, or unsure in new environments. Through patience, gentle encouragement, and genuine compassion, she enjoys helping each dog settle in at their own pace. Whether it's a quiet cuddle, a favorite brushing session, or simply sitting nearby until a nervous guest feels comfortable, Stacey believes every dog deserves to feel safe, understood, and loved.
Jon
Long before Zaine's Stay & Play became a reality, Jon's life was shaped by an extraordinary bond with a tiny puppy named Zaine.
Rescued at just three days old, Zaine was hand-raised by Jon and quickly became far more than a beloved dog—he became family. When Stacey entered their lives, she became the loving mom Zaine deserved and the perfect partner to Jon. What began as an inseparable duo became an amazing trio, built on love, adventure, and a shared devotion to animals. That bond would ultimately become the heart and inspiration behind Zaine’s Stay & Play.
Jon has always been fascinated by understanding dogs as individuals. He enjoys observing their body language, learning what makes each one feel comfortable, and adapting his approach to meet their unique personalities rather than expecting every dog to fit the same routine. In 2020, he completed the Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer Program, further expanding his knowledge of canine behavior and positive reinforcement techniques. While Zaine's Stay & Play is not a training facility, that education helps him better understand the dogs in his care and create positive, low-stress experiences for every guest.
Whether it's taking enrichment walks around the property, helping a nervous dog gain confidence, or simply discovering what makes a particular dog happiest, Jon believes the best care begins with patience, understanding, and treating every dog as an individual.
Experience You Can Trust
Our experience comes from professional education, hands-on animal-care work, and years of caring for our own dogs and the dogs entrusted to us.
That experience has taught us to observe carefully, communicate honestly, recognize changes in a dog’s behavior or well-being, and respond proactively when something does not seem right. It has also taught us the importance of knowing our environment, understanding our limits, and accepting only dogs whose needs can be safely and responsibly met here.
Being thoughtful about the dogs we welcome is an important part of protecting our guests, household dogs, caregivers, and the calm environment families expect from Zaine’s Stay & Play.
Our Approach
We are not a large commercial kennel, and we are not trying to be.
Zaine’s Stay & Play is a small, family-operated boarding service located on our private residential property. Our environment is designed to feel comfortable, structured, and personal.
Our approach includes:
Enrichment walks when appropriate
A limited number of boarding guests
Clean and comfortable private suites
Supervised outdoor breaks and exercise
Personal attention from familiar caregivers
Carefully managed interactions between dogs
Time for activity, companionship, and uninterrupted rest
Camera monitoring when caregivers are not in the boarding room
Our own dogs live on the property, and boarding guests share the environment with a small number of other dogs. For this reason, guests must be able to remain calm around other dogs and safely blend into our small-pack setting.
Dogs do not have to play with every dog they meet. However, they must be capable of peacefully coexisting without persistent reactivity, intimidation, excessive disruption, or the need to remain continuously separated throughout their stay.
What Matters To Us
We focus on creating an environment where dogs can feel comfortable and their families can feel confident in the care they receive.
That means:
Taking time to understand each dog
Keeping our space clean, comfortable, and secure
Using pet-safe cleaning products
Communicating honestly with owners
Providing photo and video updates by text
Watching for changes in behavior, appetite, or health
Managing interactions carefully
Addressing concerns before they become larger problems
Protecting the comfort of every dog in our care
Maintaining a calm environment sometimes means declining a reservation or determining that a dog is not a suitable fit for future stays. These decisions are never made lightly, but the safety and well-being of our guests, household dogs, and caregivers must come first.
The Legacy Continues
Zaine's name is on our sign, but his legacy lives on in every dog who stays with us.
Every wagging tail, every new friendship, and every family who leaves knowing their dog is loved reminds us why we started this journey.
We would be honored to meet your dog and determine whether Zaine’s Stay & Play can become their comfortable home away from home.
