ANIMAL HOUSE FASHIONABLE RESORTS PAMPER FAMILY PETS WHILE OWNERS AWAY.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- During the dog days of summer, it's not uncommon to find local dogs, cats and other pets enjoying vacations of their own.

Boarding kennels and pet sitters find themselves in demand as people leave town and leave some precious members of their extended family behind.

``We have quite a few regular customers,'' said Sharon Rose, owner of the Canine Country Club. ``It's kind of funny. They get excited when they get here, probably because they get a lot of biscuits and no one yells at them for barking.''

Jean Amour, better known as Jean the Cowgirl Critter Sitter, found her title tells people that she cares for all sorts of four-footed creatures, big and small.

``It's mostly dogs and cats, but I've cared for fish, horses, potbellied pigs and llamas -- and tortoises. You wouldn't think of them as being receptive to humans, but they are,'' she said.

Pet sitters provide periodic checks on animals, making sure they not only get food and water regularly, but also some extra attention. Gwen Casey, who owns Santa Clarita Pet Nanny, said that some owners have asked her to provide more than hugs for her charges.

``There are some who ask me to brush their dogs or cats,'' she said. ``And a lot of people leave their TVs on Animal Planet. They figure animals want to watch other animals. They also leave music on, mostly classical or New Age or jazz -- no rock 'n' roll.''

At the Canine Country Club, Rose sees more animals during the summer when families vacation, but she's also busy when people move or escrows don't close on schedule, and pets aren't allowed in hotel rooms.

Up Blue Cloud Road, sequestered a few miles from the beaten path of Bouquet Canyon, Rose and her Australian shepherd, Lacy, take care dozens of dogs in runs with misting equipment. The air-conditioned rooms, complete with carpeted trees in each cage, are filled with cats -- most of them aloof and some also finicky.

While she segregates dogs by size and temperament, they seem to care most about the basics: a comfortable setting and lots of playtime and attention.

``It's not a pet motel,'' Rose said. ``We make sure they have clean cages, good care, and we spoil them with treats.''

``It's hard in general for animal lovers to bring their animals to a boarding facility,'' said Sandy Lehmann as she dropped off her mixed-breed dog, Shelby, with Rose. ``But I trust them, and it was easier than getting someone to stay at my condo while I was gone.''

Casey said that about 60 percent of her business is from vacationers, while the rest is from regular customers who want the human touch for their animals when they are away at the office.

``I get quite a workout every day walking dogs. Just when I think I don't get exercise, I realize that this is my workout, too,'' Rose said. ``With cats, I just go in the house and talk to them or turn on some music. My job is to provide some normality for them when they're inside all day.''

Dogs willing to jump in the car when their humans go to work might end up at Paws for Fun, a day-care service run by Jennifer Bradley in Newhall. While their owners slave away at work, dogs romp through an air-conditioned facility, play with toys, sleep and get generally pampered.

``A lot of my clients are people with no children of their own, and their dogs are their children,'' Bradley said. ``Several of them call and check on their dogs. They want to know who they're playing with and who their friends are. It's very much like child care.''

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(1 -- 2 -- color) Terra checks out the surroundings at the Canine Country Club. The business is one of several local pet-sitting options for owners who go on vacation. Below, Laura Agajanian takes Terra out for a run.

David Crane/Staff Photographer