Fun, freedom and lots of love at Dog Meadow at Millbrook

MILLBROOK — When Laura Evans and Kleber Santos met eight years ago, it was a meeting of not only of the hearts, but also of the minds; they had many things in common.

She is a musician and a music teacher; he is an artist and a photographer. Evans’ love of animals, in particular dogs and goats, soon had Santos not only interested, but learning a great deal about them. Living in Westchester, they dreamed about having a place where they could have meadows, space, a place to create a foundation.

They began looking at properties north of Westchester, something rural, and as soon as they saw the property at 578 Tyrrel Road, they knew they had found their ideal location for Dog Meadow at Millbrook.

In July of 2019, they made their move, planning a home for themselves, their dogs and their business, boarding and offering daycare for other people’s dogs. But even the best-laid plans can go awry. A storm in early August of 2019 tore down 20 trees from their property. A deck they were building at the time of the storm was also destroyed and while they have since rebuilt, it took a long time to clean up all of the debris from that day.

Now, even during COVID-19, with fewer people leaving their homes to go to work and very little travel, the pair is still fortunate to gain customers. They limit visiting dogs to six at a time; the dogs are never fenced in, caged, kenneled or tethered. Instead, they have a living room with a leather sofa, comfy chairs, a wide-screen television, canine art on the walls and music playing 24-hours a day. There are two additional rooms: Lily’s Pad for the older and more sedate guests, with a fenced-in area for roaming, and Jack’s Den for those who want a little more action. 

They emphasize that this is not a farm, although there are a few goats, sheep, ducks and chickens. They also have four cats who came to them through Guardian Angel Cat Rescue: a mother and her three offspring. There are barn cats on site, with their own room and heated beds, sharing in the special treatment all Santos’ animals enjoy. They are also in close proximity to the Country Comfort Animal Hospital should the need ever arise.

Santos takes the dominant role in the caring for the dogs while his wife teaches music in Valhalla, a job she loves. She describes him as cool, competent and great in emergencies.    

At Dog Meadow they offer all of the amenities they want their own dogs to enjoy. Those include Lily, a 14-year-old miniature poodle and Jack, a 6-year-old hound mix. They also provide foster care for Ashley, a golden retriever mix, who came to them pregnant and in bad shape. Her six puppies didn’t survive in spite of round-the-clock care. Ashley almost didn’t make it, but she has come around and is now the picture of good health.

Their home is on the same road as the famed Innisfree Garden. July of 2021 will mark Dog Meadow’s second anniversary, and after surviving last year’s violent storm and the rigors of the COVID-19 pandemic, they hope the future will be just a bit more placid. 

Having a safe place to board a family dog, whether for a day or longer, is a welcome addition to the Millbrook business community.

Santos has a website for his photography at www.fotosbysantos.pixieset.com. Dog Meadow at Millbrook also has a website, at www.dogmeadow.com. They are also on Facebook, and have a blog with photos, recipes and insights about life at Dog Meadow.