PROCTORVILLE — It seems as though the number of pampered pets is on the rise locally.

Or at least that’s the way Cara Nelson, owner of Aloha Pet Resort, sees it.

Since she opened her business on State Route 243 in 2001, Nelson said the number of fluffy friends and their owners who come to see her has nearly tripled.

Nelson offers boarding, grooming and day care in an air-conditioned environment for both dogs and cats.

This time of the year, boarding during vacations is what many pet owners need. Each weekend, more than 60 animals visit Aloha while their owners are away.

Nelson said she doesn’t just offer the typical boarding that one might find at other businesses. All animals receive one-on-one attention while they are in her and her staff’s care, she explained.

For dogs, they are walked three times a day and there is a fenced-in play yard for their exercise. There are also television sets and beds for pooches that want to especially feel at home. Prices range from $13 to $26 a day.

Cats are also pampered in their owned activity-filled enclosed area. Boarding for cats is $11 a night.

Aloha was remodeled over the winter and can now accommodate up to 80 dogs, Nelson said.

Unlike other places, Nelson said Aloha is truly a getaway for animals. Many times, the owners are more sad to drop off their pets than the pets are to see them go.

“You can see them coming

up the sidewalk practically dragging their owners,” Nelson said. “They (animals) are excited to be here. They are wagging their tails. We really just love to see them happy.”

She said 90 percent of the business she sees is from repeat customers — most she knows by name.

But, there is always room for new furry friends, she said. Reservations are filling up fast for the summer, she said, so accommodations should be made as far in advance as possible.

All animals who come to Aloha are required to have all of their vaccinations.