Dogville: Tulsa Daycare And Boarding For Special Needs Pets

You can find lots of boarding and daycare opportunities for dogs large and small, but not always for dogs with special needs. A retired Tulsa veterinarian opened a place with normal services plus a higher level of care for dogs who really need it.

Shelby is a 5-year-old dachshund who's partially paralyzed. She's also a perfect example of why Delana McNac - a retired veterinarian, opened Dogville in the first place.

"She's not a candidate for hospitalization," said Dr. Delana McNac, DVM. "She's recovered from her surgery, but needs extra care."

"I tried to come with something like a home environment with 24-hour care."

Dr. McNac found a perfect building for what she wanted to do.

"It was a tanning salon on this side and a pizza parlor on the other side," she said.

The tanning side had small rooms where she could board small groups or special needs dogs like Lizzy, who has recently lost her sight and isn't coping well with it.

"She's a special needs dog, the kind we would take care of," McNac said.

There's even a room for the staff; somebody's there overnight to check on the special needs dogs. Every couple of hours the healthier dogs hit the back yard for some time in the pool or on the trampoline.

Despite her disability, Shelby the dachshund loves to play catch.

"She doesn't grieve what she doesn't have," said retired veterinarian Delana McNack.

She just makes do with what works. A good lesson for all of us.