What do you get when you mix a passionate dog nerd with a visionary entrepreneur? A fresh take on pet care.

This isn’t your mother’s dog boarding facility—Far Fetched Acres is the brainchild of Colleen Safford, a renowned positive reinforcement dog trainer and founder of Walk and Train NYC. With over 20 years of experience in the dog care industry and an extensive background in Animal Science and Behavior, Colleen saw an opportunity to transform the way dogs experience boarding. She knew pet care needed a shake-up—so she set out to create something better.

Teaming up with co-founder John Manning, the duo packed their Subaru full of dogs and headed upstate, determined to build an enriching, welfare-focused retreat for city pups. Their vision? A boarding experience centered around safety, structure, and well-being, where dogs could enjoy a predictable routine, mental enrichment, and plenty of space to run, play, and just be dogs. After all, if humans escape to Upstate New York to relax and recharge—why shouldn’t their four-legged best friends do the same?

Since 2005, Far Fetched Acres has been the go-to retreat for city dogs of all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Welcome to the future of boarding—where dogs don’t just stay, they thrive.