New Palmer-area business caters to pet owners in need of a sitter

PALMER — Valley residents — and Alaskans in general — love their dogs, and with that love comes myriad choices when it comes to doggie daycare and boarding.

Krystal Hallman wants to stand out in that department with amenities and location, and her new venture — Krystal’s Canines — is poised to do just that.

From an indoor treadmill, segregated large- and small-dog rooms and almost a half-acre of fenced-in outdoor space, Hallman is hoping foster a comfortable relationship with pet owners who can often be uneasy with leaving their pets with someone for a day — or week.

“I want it to be a place where people know their pet is being taken care of. I love dogs,” said Hallman, 23, who has two Australian shepherds.

Located at 6474 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, midway between Palmer and Wasilla, the new business opened Dec. 1 in a former construction company office.

“People have commented on how good the location is,” Hallman said. “I think it is going to make a difference for convenience.”

The 2,000-square-foot building, previously occupied by TBI Construction, needed some TLC to open up the space for dog rooms.

“We did a lot of remodeling,” Hallman said. “It was basically an office. TBI helped out a lot with the demo work and my boyfriend James Schachle did all the carpentry. We have gotten so much help from friends and family.”

Along with the open floor plan, Hallman said new flooring was installed and the walls covered with fiberglass-reinforced plastic wall panels that can be easily wiped down. Hallman said the business is insured and licensed to handle a maximum of 25 dogs.

She added that a state law passed in 2015 required pet boarding businesses to either have 24-hour staff availability or have someone live on-site.

“I think there had been some issues with these businesses popping up and dogs not being cared for properly,” Hallman said. “That’s not a problem here — I live on-site.”

Along with divided rooms for large and small dogs, Hallman said she also has a “secluded room” for those dogs that are uneasy around others.

Two of the rooms also have televisions.

“It’s great for the dogs as they settle down in the evening,” Hallman said. “They like ‘Beethoven,’ ‘Balto’ and ‘Scooby-Doo.’ They also like the movies with toys.”

Hallman isn’t a certified trainer, but said she does provide some on-leash and agility training.

“I have worked with dogs for a long time,” she said, adding that she also offers scheduled “social hours” — opportunities for owners to drop by with their dogs for a meet-up.

Daycare rates run $25 for a 12-hour day for dogs 45 pounds and up, $20 a day for dogs 20 to 44 pounds and $15 for dogs 20 pounds or less. Half days of six hours or less run $15. A second dog with the same owner is eligible for a discount, Hallman said.

Boarding rates run $30 per day for dogs 20 pounds and up and $25 a day for dogs less than 20 pounds. Daycare and boarding packages are available as well, Hallman said. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hallman said while the business planning had been ongoing for at least year, she has long-term goals as well.

“I was born and raised in the Valley and wanted to stay,” said Hallman, a Colony High School graduate. “It’s your hometown and you feel like you don’t want to leave.”

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com

Find out more:

Krystal’s Canines

6474 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway

414-dogs (3647)

www.krystalscanines.com