|
 Kay Armbruster is the owner of Cha-Dai along with
her husband Dr. Bill Armbruster. Kay is the owner/general manager/
pet groomer at the business and can be found there daily looking
after, playing with, caring for, and showing love to all the animals
that have been put in her charge.
She is accompanied by staff who share her compassion for small
animals (some not that small as you will see later), and want to
provide those animals with the best possible care in the absence of
“pet parents.”
The pet motel has been in Lincoln since 1986 when it was opened
utilizing funding from the estate of Charles and Ethel (Daisy)
Hoelscher. For those who may not know, the name Cha-Dai is a
combination of the Hoelschers first names – Cha for Charles and Dai
for Daisy. The original intent of Cha-Dai was to be a shelter for
animals, but Armbruster said she doesn’t think that worked out all
that well. The facility morphed into a motel offering boarding for
dogs and cats, but under the original ownership that also proved to
have its financial challenges.
In January of 2006, Cha-Dai closed. The Armbrusters then purchased
and re-opened the business in July of that same year.
Since then, taking care of other people’s pets has become a labor of
love for Kay Armbruster, and if you doubt that, ask to see all the
pictures of ‘guests’ she has on her phone!
Armbruster said that dogs and cats come to stay at Cha-Dai for a few
days at a time, a week or so, and one even has been known to stay
for three months at a time. All the animals are cared for alike with
plenty of time to play, a good place to sleep, bathes when needed
and their own blanket given to them when they arrive.
In recent times, Armbruster has also seen a growing demand for day
care services at the motel. She noted that many pet parents don’t
feel comfortable leaving their four legged family member home alone
all day. They feel that it is hard on the pet emotionally, so having
a day care service gives those animal owners the option to leave a
pet with people who will interact with them on a regular basis and,
of course, watch over them, protect them from harm, and see to it
that they have food and sometimes even medications at the proper
times.
Missy Levi with Jazzy
Part of the changes at Cha-Dai that will be
celebrated at the ribbon cut include the remodel of a front room in
the office specifically to be used as doggie daycare. The room has a
very homey feel with toys, couches, large ceiling to floor windows
for gazing and watching the traffic go by and close proximity to the
office staff.
When pets come to Cha-Dai, Armbruster says they should be in good
health and the motel requires proof of proper immunizations. Some
animals are considered special needs because for example they have
to take medications on a regular basis. She noted one of the common
conditions is diabetes. Armbruster and her staff monitor those
animals with health conditions carefully and see to it that they are
given the proper medications at the appropriate times.
In addition to health and immunization records, owners also provide
Cha-Dai with contact information for their veterinarian of choice,
should an emergency arise. Armbruster said it is rare for an animal
to become ill during a stay, but in the worst case scenario, she
wants to have the proper authority to take an animal to a
veterinarian. In addition, if the veterinarian of choice is not
available, Kay’s husband – Dr. Bill can be called for a consult and
treatment if necessary.
Armbruster did note that several years ago, they had a large dog
come to stay for a while. During that stay, Armbruster, who is a
Veterinarian Technician, noted that the dog seemed to be having some
belly issues. She noted an extension and hardening of the abdomen
and was immediately concerned. She took the dog immediately to the
vet of record and within just a few minutes the dog was undergoing
an intestinal surgery that undoubtedly saved its life. Armbruster
said the story provides a fine example of good reasons not to leave
pets at home alone for extended periods of time. Had no one been on
hand to see that the dog was struggling, it could have passed away
before the owners got home.
A second addition to the motel is a large dog run area that was
installed at the end of the year in 2018. A six foot chain link
fence outlines 23,000 square feet of run and play space for the
dogs. Armbruster said that pet owners have to give permission for
their dogs to be allowed out into the run area. When permission is
given, then the animals have the opportunity to go outside, run,
play, and do their potty business in a natural setting.
[to top of second column] |
 Asked about how the dog run is managed, Armbruster
said that pets are not grouped together unless they are animals of
the same household. Staff go out with an animal, give it run and
play time, then bring it back in and take out another. If someone
wants their animal to socialize with other pets, that could be
arranged as long as there are two owners with the same desire.
Inside the facility, a favorite spot for cats is the
all-season sunroom areas. Located on the front of the building, the
sunroom houses individual stalls for cats.
Each stall is loaded down with toys, clawing and climbing areas,
food, water, and more. The cats she said are quite comfortable in
the room. They have plenty of space in their stall, can look out the
window and watch people and birds. They can climb or play with toys,
and particularly in the morning hours they can lie and nap in the
sun.
Kay Armbruster with
Jazzy In addition to boarding,
Armbruster also offers grooming for dogs and cats. She has a special
room set up for bathing, clipping, combing and sprucing. Then when
the pet is perfect, there is a backdrop for a picture to share with
pet parents.
Armbruster says they are very careful about ‘sharing’ photos. Not
all pet owners want their pets pictures posted on social media or in
a news article. She has dozens of pics on her phone though, and did
find a few to share for this article.
She noted that it is a security concern, so she is careful to ask
before she lets anyone have access to a pet picture. She noted that
one concern is when you post a pic on social media for example, that
is an advertisement that someone is not at home, and most people
would prefer that would-be burglars not know when they are on
vacation or out of town on business.
In addition to Armbruster, she has a number of staff members who
help out during the day.
First is Missy Levi. Levi is from the Lincoln area and has been with
Cha-Dai since 2017. She loves the animals and enjoys being the one
to take them outside to play in the new dog run area.
Maggie Anderson is a kennel aide at Cha-Dai. She is also a senior at
Mount Pulaski High School. Maggie has been with Cha-Dai since 2018.
Another Mount Pulaski High School student at the pet motel is Leah
Beckers. Beckers is a junior at Mount Pulaski and started working as
a kennel aid earlier this year.
And, starting next week, on May 13th, Kim Huynh will be joining the
staff. Huynh has been raised with animals and enjoys spending time
with them very much. She also has grooming experience and will serve
as an assistant groomer for Armbruster and will also be the day care
supervisor.
Then there is Jazzy. She is the company mascot and
Armbruster says she is an excellent receptionist when Missy is busy.
She also served as the model for some of the photos taken the day of
the interview with LDN.
The regular business hours for Cha-Dai are Monday through Friday 8
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Staff will arrive early to accommodate early
drop-offs upon request. The pet motel is also open on Saturdays from
9 a.m. to noon.
Armbruster is looking forward to the May 15th ribbon cut and is
hopeful that the community will come out and take a good look
around. When pets are a priority, she wants pet parents to know that
there is an excellent care option available to them right her in
Lincoln.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
[Nila Smith] |
