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About Us
Our Facilities
The retreat originally consisted of 52 indoor/outdoor runs, a small room for cats, a bathing room, and a holding/crating area. Since 1998, we have made numerous improvements and updates:
- We combined the small cat room and the holding/crating area and made a bigger room especially for little dogs. This added 10 spaces in our little dog room.
- In 2002, we replaced our old HVAC system with 3 new central units featuring 13 tons cooling/heating capacity, thanks to Kimbro Air in Hendersonville.
- In 2003, we tore out all the old chain link fencing and added all new Mason Kennel Panels. Mason Fencing is the leader in commercial pet housing systems especially for dogs. These panels make The Hairy Moose Pet Retreat an even safer place for your beloved pets.
- In 2003, the county cut a huge swath down the middle of the property and put in a new road. While we will be more visible and easier to get to, we will be more visible and easier to get to. To combat this new lack of privacy, security and seclusion, our friends at A-Plus Fence in Gallatin erected a 6-foot commercial grade chain link fence around the entire perimeter. This is just an added measure to insure your pets’ security and safety and your own peace of mind.
- In 2004, we connected all kennel drains to the sewer system, which insures that all waste and wash water will be taken away instantly. Our friends at Thurman Plumbing also added a RHEEM on-demand hot water heater, so that we will never run out of warm water for bathing the dogs and doing laundry.
The present day facility consists of 52 indoor/outdoor, spacious kennel enclosures, 10 little dog spaces, a bathing and grooming room, a laundry and storage room, a drying room, and a large romper room for our daycare and training classes.
Our Staff
When you get right down to it, boarding facilities are more alike than different, except when it comes to staff. The caregivers on duty are the bottom line between warehousing pets and truly caring for them.
The staff at the Hairy Moose Pet Retreat are without question some of the finest people I have ever had the joy of knowing. I am fortunate to call them my friends and even more fortunate to call them my colleagues. They are caring, compassionate, conscientious and knowledgeable. They are all responsible and particular dog owners themselves and believe in caring for your dog as they would want their own to be cared for.
You can rest assured that your pet will be observed carefully, fed properly, exercised sufficiently and provided for in a manner that is second to none.
 LISA — Lisa is the axis upon which the Hairy Moose turns. She loves dogs, I mean truly LOVES dogs and knows what dogs LOVE. She is very attentive to their every need and whim. She shares her home with several dogs, many of them dachshunds, and a very tolerant husband. Lisa knows every dog by name, even though she may not know yours!
JESSIE — Jessie was a customer before she became an employee here. She is wife to Mark and "Mom" to 6 little fur children—Babs, Zoe, Fritz, Sophie, Toupe, and Tori. Jessie frequently fosters an adoptable dog for us as well, and they have all gone on to fill the lives and homes of several lucky people.Jessie is following her artistic calling and is training to become a photographer. Her specialty will of course be those she loves the most... DOGS!
JO ANN came to the Hairy Moose after a long career working as a veterinary assistant. Along with a wealth of knowledge and experience, she is a very hard worker and an excellent cleaner/organizer. She has a dedication to doing a great job for us and most importantly for the animals that we love to care for.
REED has been with us over a year now. He has been a welcome addition to the Hairy Moose family. He takes very good care of the animals and knows each and everyone of them by name. He is very interested in every animal that comes through our door. Reed used to take some of our adoptable dogs home to visit, but then he took Spotch home and the rest is Hairy Moose history. Spotch worships the very ground that Reed walks on! We are very proud to have Reed on staff here. Reed is a senior at Gallatin High School.
ALEX has returned to The Hairy Moose and all of the dogs are happy to have him back. He has a very special way with even the most difficult dogs. He is our own "Cesar" of sorts. He is very thorough, kind hearted and conscientious. He truly cares about each and every dog on the property. His own dog is "special" in that she loves him and only him—she is a very territorial Lhasa and Alex is HER territory!
MICHAEL has been here about a year. He is a driven and motivated fellow. He completed his Eagle Scout Project this summer. He built new fencing for the horse rescue group for which we foster several horses. He is very thorough and conscientious. The knack for caring for animals comes natural to him. His mom has worked for McMillan Veterinary Hospital for years. Even though it is NOT a requirement, Michael also adopted a dog from here. Brownie is a very selective, somewhat neurotic Chihuahua mix that took a special liking to Michael. Michael is also senior at Gallatin High School.
KATHY has been an absolute Godsend to The Hairy Moose. She is a very hard worker and is always the dogs' advocate. She is as sweet as can be and is very caring and conscientious. She watches over each and every dog here as if they were a part of her own family. She shares her home with 3 cats and her big Boxer Boy Gotti. We are proud to count her as friend, employee and family member.
CHRIS is our Day Care Counselor. She takes pride in caring for and playing with all of her charges. She comes to us from a career of caring for people and now she has "gone to the dogs!" All of the Day care dogs adore her and would follow her anywhere. She always has something special for the group to participate in, be it bubble catching, sit contests, or playing tag. When dogs go home from being with "Miss Chris" all day, they are POOPED!
BRENT is our helper with the little dogs. He is a great little dog referee and they all love him. We are proud to have him here. He is a good worker and an excellent cleaner. The Hairy Moose is a cleaner place because Brent is here.
ELENA just started here, but she is already a cherished treasure. She has found her niche in the Little Dog Room. She possesses a natural ability to convey her care and concern to even the most difficult little dogs. We are happy to have her on board!
LINDA, PRISI, AND ANNETTE make their homes on the Hairy Moose property and work together on the day to day operations of The Hairy Moose Pet Retreat. We really enjoy the challenge of operating a small family business. There are personal aspects that are woven into the fabric of a small family business that you just can't find with a corporate affair. Animal nuts through and through, we have spent our lives opening our homes, hearts and purse strings to less fortunate critters of all shapes and sizes.
Currently, Linda shares her home with Priscilla, Pearl, and Miss Lady. Prisi and Annette share their home with a myriad of pets, including Hannah, Edgar, Buffy Girl, Kirby Lee, Bossie Jean, Stanley Possum, Margarita Isabella Pompadora Tortellini, Henny Penny, Sheldon, Thomas, Peko the Guyo, Taylor, Twinkie, CiCi and Mickey. They also have four feline family members—Salvatori, Luigi, Moko Vino, and Sassy Cat.
MISSED BUT MOVED ON
NATALIE started here as a puppy herself, she was practically a fixture here. However, Natalie has moved on to married life and motherhood. We enjoyed having her around here to help with anything and everything. She is now wife to B.J. and mom to Titus. We miss Natalie, but know that she is exactly where she wants to be. We wish her and her family all the best.
DALLAS — When Dallas was here, he was the minority male. He led the way for all the other great fellows to follow. We wish Dallas all the best in everything he wants to do in life. For now, we wish him great success in the class room and on the ball field at Station Camp High School.
CASSANDRA — After taking great care of the Hairy Moose horses, Cassandra is off to bigger and better things. She is a freshman at UTK and only comes here on her holidays off from her studies. We wish her the best of luck at that precarious balancing act that comes with that first year at college.
AMANDA — After years of working here and being very active with our rescue efforts, she has ventured out on her own with a petsitting business in the Columbia-Spring Hill area. Her business is called For the Love of Dog.
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