Info needed about Dog Stuff (Savannah, Wilmington Island: credit, day care, hotels)

[FSUNewfies]

We recently visited Savannah, and we LOVED it. We have been trying to find a city to live after we finish law school, and it was between Charleston and Savannah. Well about a few hours after we arrived we decided that Savannah is the place for us (as long as we can find jobs). I love the history and beauty.

While we were there we noticed all the people walking dogs around the historic district. I have read many websites and seen about restaurants and hotels that allow dogs, but when I started looking around for pet services, doggie daycare and specialty dog food stores I couldn't find much info. I did research some of the older threads, but they are 2 years old and I just wanted to make sure they are still accurate. And yellow pages didn't have any reviews on a lot of places.

So my questions are:

1. Who is the best vet in Savannah? Way open ended I know, but there are around 55 listed in the yellow pages and I thought I would save some time and cut the list down by using recomendations. I will interview a select number before I choose one, but the specifics I look for are: an after hours emergency number for a vet at the office (not an emergency animal clinic number), knowledgeable about giant breed dogs and their care, at least 2 vets in the office, friendly staff, nice facilities and equipment. I know it's a lot to ask, but they are my babies.

2. Are there any pet stores that carry specialty dog food like Before Grain, Eagle Pack Hollistic, Solid Gold,...etc.? Or if you use these do you have to order it by a website?

3. Are there any nice doggie day care places? I know that there is a dog park, but during work hours we would like to be able to drop them off to have playtime a few days a week.

4. I know the beaches do not allow dogs (unless that has changed since older posts), but is there anywhere to take the dogs for a swim? We have newfoundlands and they cannot live without water!

If you're wondering about location, we are looking at Wilmington Island, or any of the islands out that way, Ardsley Park, and are open to any nice areas in or around Savannah, although when we told people we were going to look at Pooler they told us we probably wouldn't like that?? I don't know what that was about, but any advice would be wonderful.

So for those of you that are still awake after this long post, any dog info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Just Plain Al]

I'll be back with the rest of my answers later, but for now...

#1: I use Islands Vet Clinic on JMB. And have found them to be quite knowledgeable. But there are plenty more to choose from.

#4: No. You have to go to Hilton Head to get them near the surf.

[FFG3]

Originally Posted by FSUNewfies

We recently visited Savannah, and we LOVED it. We have been trying to find a city to live after we finish law school, and it was between Charleston and Savannah. Well about a few hours after we arrived we decided that Savannah is the place for us (as long as we can find jobs). I love the history and beauty.

While we were there we noticed all the people walking dogs around the historic district. I have read many websites and seen about restaurants and hotels that allow dogs, but when I started looking around for pet services, doggie daycare and specialty dog food stores I couldn't find much info. I did research some of the older threads, but they are 2 years old and I just wanted to make sure they are still accurate. And yellow pages didn't have any reviews on a lot of places.

So my questions are:

1. Who is the best vet in Savannah? Way open ended I know, but there are around 55 listed in the yellow pages and I thought I would save some time and cut the list down by using recomendations. I will interview a select number before I choose one, but the specifics I look for are: an after hours emergency number for a vet at the office (not an emergency animal clinic number), knowledgeable about giant breed dogs and their care, at least 2 vets in the office, friendly staff, nice facilities and equipment. I know it's a lot to ask, but they are my babies.

2. Are there any pet stores that carry specialty dog food like Before Grain, Eagle Pack Hollistic, Solid Gold,...etc.? Or if you use these do you have to order it by a website?

3. Are there any nice doggie day care places? I know that there is a dog park, but during work hours we would like to be able to drop them off to have playtime a few days a week.

4. I know the beaches do not allow dogs (unless that has changed since older posts), but is there anywhere to take the dogs for a swim? We have newfoundlands and they cannot live without water!

If you're wondering about location, we are looking at Wilmington Island, or any of the islands out that way, Ardsley Park, and are open to any nice areas in or around Savannah, although when we told people we were going to look at Pooler they told us we probably wouldn't like that?? I don't know what that was about, but any advice would be wonderful.

So for those of you that are still awake after this long post, any dog info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Have you tried the store that opened a couple of years ago called Tail Spin?

It is a couple of blocks from Forsyth Park on Whitaker. I have heard they have a large variety of dogfood and are very knowledgable.

[gamecock43]

I use Dr. Steve Marlay at 800 Ash street (right off liberty street). 912-232-1741. The vet lives on the premises and it is a family run business. He has a german shephard, and the daughter has some large pitts.

Victory Feed & Seed carries "alternative" dog food. The woman who runs it is very knowledgeable and believes her products are healthier than the grocery brands. I bought some kind of prairie brand that my dogs are loving. She also had Inova...and a bunch of other brands I had never heard about. The store is on the corner of Victory drive & Bull street.

Doggie day care...no idea

Swimming- not sure. There is a tidal creek on a property that I go to, but its a private farm. I found it by asking someone at a dog park about swimming for my dogs and they brought me to the farm. Everyone at the dog parks are super enthusiastic about their dogs and dispensing knowledge.

I have not heard of any beach that will allow dogs on it.

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by gamecock43

I use Dr. Steve Marlay at 800 Ash street (right off liberty street). 912-232-1741. The vet lives on the premises and it is a family run business. He has a german shephard, and the daughter has some large pitts.

Victory Feed & Seed carries "alternative" dog food. The woman who runs it is very knowledgeable and believes her products are healthier than the grocery brands. I bought some kind of prairie brand that my dogs are loving. She also had Inova...and a bunch of other brands I had never heard about. The store is on the corner of Victory drive & Montgomery street.

Doggie day care...no idea

Swimming- not sure. There is a tidal creek on a property that I go to, but its a private farm. I found it by asking someone at a dog park about swimming for my dogs and they brought me to the farm. Everyone at the dog parks are super enthusiastic about their dogs and dispensing knowledge.

I have not heard of any beach that will allow dogs on it.

Marlay is quite good.
My outfit uses him sometimes.


Islands Pet Centre on JMB carries Chicken soup brand, Wellness, and a few others.

Doggie Day Care...I'm still working on this one.

[Pamela_S]

Tail Spin moved to Habersham. There is also Canine Palace downtown. Not sure what brands they carry.

There is a new doggie daycare place that opened. I forget the name but there is an ad for it in either the current Savannah Magazine or The South Mag.

Still looking to find a small dog playgroup here in SAV if anyone knows of one.

[Just Plain Al]

"Still looking to find a small dog playgroup here in SAV if anyone knows of one."

Tybee has a dog park.
I believe it is separated into large and small dog areas.

Doggie Day Care...?
OBCC Pet-Sitting
Moderator removed: Please don't publish phone numbers on here. Use Direct Message for info exchange instead, please !

[Pamela_S]

I've been to the Tybee Dog Park. There never seems to be anyone there since they moved it off that main st.

[athomepetsitters]

Islands vet is awesome! As are most of the vets in town. No doggie day care's yet, but one is coming to the Savannah area! In the mean time, try At Home Pet Sitters, At Home Pet Sitters, Pet Sitting, Savannah, for exercise for your dogs during the day. They are awesome, insured, bonded, pet first aid/cpr certified and accredited by Pet Sitters International.

[Linda6]

The old Bremer Veterinary Clinic on Wilmington Island is under new management and is now the Wilmington Island Animal Hospital. The new owner, Dr. Reidlinger, is great. She is very knowledgeable and caring. My 2 dogs are usually wary of strangers but they absolutely adored her during their visit. Dr. Reidlinger has updated the equipment used in diagnosis and treatment to utilize new technological advances and the building and grounds are being renovated. [/FONT]

The hospital does have a doggie day care with separate areas for little and big dogs. Another area is for boarders