Testimonials

Dear Auntie Ilene,

I love to go to Camp every Wednesday. Camp Ilene is my most favorite place to go. I'm a Transylvanian Hound, and until I started going to Camp, my mom and dad didn't know what to do with me! My name is Annie, but at Camp they call me Annie Bananie. On Mondays I wait by the door, but nobody gets out the leash. On Tuesdays I wait by the door where mom and dad keep the leash, but nobody gets it out. By Wednesdays, I'm sure someone has forgotten to take me to Camp, and I can't even eat breakfast, I'm so excited! But then dad gets out the leash and I jump in the car and off I go with mom! I love to play on the cool toys at Camp, and run in the corral, and play ball, and get squirted with the hose and jump in the pool. There's always something fun to do. I run all day, and by the time I go home I'm really tired and can't keep my eyes open. My mom and dad love Camp, because they say a tired dog is a good dog. It sure does wear me out - I sleep for two days! I even get to stay at Camp sometimes when mom and dad go on vacation. Our cat has to stay at home. She doesn't go places like Camp, which is just for good dogs like me. I have lots of friends at Camp and I tell everyone they should come and play. I wish I could go every day, I never want to leave Camp. Auntie Ilene, you're the best!

Your favorite Transylvanian Hound, Annie

Hello, my name is Charlie, I have not always been such a happy puppy. I had a pretty rough start and a not so nice person who kept me in a tiny area ALL day long. Lucky for me I was rescued and my new people, who call themselves mom and dad, take very good care of me. I am so happy now, but the best part is that because of my past, my mom refused to put me in a kennel type place while they went on vacation... Anyway, she told me she found a really neat place that I could run and run and run, cause that's what I do best-est!!!!! She went to meet Ilene to make sure she was nice and she met some of my doggy friends too and decided I would really like it with her and the other campers. She was sooooooooooo right, in fact I like Ilene and camp so much that I always forget to say goodbye to my mom and dad when they drop me off...ooooops! I just get to excited to see all my friends and Ilene and all her people helpers!!! Mom and dad went away for one week and they said they could watch me on the computer and that made them feel much better. Camp Ilene is the best-est place for us furry guys and gals so please send me some more friends to play with. Oh yeah and one last thing, I have not moved for about 3 days now, even my cat friends are not sure who I am!!!! Mom likes camp for me so much she is bringing me once a week for a sleepover so I can be with my friends for a couple days...my people are so nice, I am the luckiest puppy in the world....thanks CAMP ILENE!!!! Love, Charlie aka....Char-e bear :)

Dear Ilene,

I absolutely love romping in your oasis. I get to play with lots of other dogs and lounge in your little pool Don’t tell my mom and dad but your house is the only place I go swimming at. You are always so good to all of us campers and I can’t wait for my mom and dad to go out of town, because then I get to see you. I was adopted and spent some time in a cage and this is so much better! See you next time when my dad forgets to make reservations like a doufous and calls you last second! Love, Mia

Hi Ilene,
Thank you for the great stay....WE had a BLAST!!! Our Mom is so happy there is a place like "Camp Ilene" and we are too! We used to go to a "Cage Kennel" when Mom had to leave us and it was awful for all of us. Camp Ilene is so great because we all can be together. No cages, no separation, and just lots of fun to be had all day! Even when our Mom called to check on us Ilene was right there to take any concerns away. We will be coming again and again! XOXOX
Thanks for having us!!
Tonka, Zak, and Andi

Hi everyone, just want you all to know what a totally cool place Camp Ilene is. I am an only child at home, well that is unless you count the
chew toys......(my mom refers to them as cats) I used to hate it when my mom went on vacation. Luckily my mom had the good sense to continue
searching the internet for a super cool place for dogs to vacation when our parents are gone, that is when she found Camp Ilene. So my mom had a "meeting" with Ilene (ok guys, what that really means is my mom worries too much, and she wanted to check everything out!) When my mom goes out of town I go to Camp Ilene's and hang out with all my new friends. I don't sleep much when I am there, because I am afraid I will miss out on some sort of fun running, chasing game. My mom doesn't worry so much because she can check me out on the camera (and trust me guys, she does.....gawd help her if
she ever has a human child!) I am usually just a spotted blur on the webcam, does she want me to stand still and say cheese? Ok now seriously, Camp Ilene is a super fun place for me to hang out and be a lucky dog, but Ilene also takes awesome care of me and my health issues. I am a vegetarian, and I have to eat special (expensive) food, and take some little pills everyday, it is really important cause I don't every want to have surgery on my belly again. So all you worrying dog mothers and fathers
quit it, just load up your kids and take them to camp! My mom wishes we lived closer to Ilene's so I could go to camp when my mom is gone at work. Tiller
P.S. I sleep for a day and a half when I get home, and I even forget we have chew toys. Um, I mean cats!

Dear Auntie Ilene,
I know that I should have helped my mom write this sooner, but I have Attention Dog-Ficient Hyperactivity Disorder, and I have trouble staying focused. My mom calls me Ellen Degenerate, Calamity Jane, and Houdini depending on the day, and what's been chewed while she's been at work. It was the couch last time....oops. OHMYGOSH!! I am still a puppy, doesn't she know?? Anyway, I want to be with my mom always and always, and I can't ever stand when she leaves to go to work, even though she tries to work at home as much as possible. Well, I love my dog park buddies, but I don't get to have overnights with them, we can just run and play for a while in the evenings. The great thing about you Auntie Ilene, is you let me have overnights with my friends at your house, and we can all sleep together, and we can play sneak attack, and tug of war, and splash water, and run forever and ever, until we can barely run another step. I win all the races because I have the longest legs, I am a Great Dane you know. So my mom and I decided, it's Camp Ilene for me whenever mom needs a long weekend, cuz it's just like home only more friends are there, and if I can't be with my mom then I only want to be with you Auntie Ilene at your house.
Love, licks, and tail wags,
Déjà vu

PS Oh, Mom had to add this: .

Déjà vu's

Ilene,
We just wanted to thank you again for having Carl. He must have played
a lot... He slept for two days almost each time he was there.
You have a truly amazing place and we are all so glad to have found you,
especially Carl!!! We will definitely be coming back, even if it is just to let Carl
play for the day.
Thank you again.
Robert, Mary & Carl McCorkle

Hi, my name is Riley. I'm a Jack Russell Terrier who loves to play with other dogs (both big and small, remember, I'm a Jack). I love to go with my family on vacations, except they can't always take me because they don't allow dogs in the hotel rooms or on the ski slopes. I used to stay home in the garage and get walked a few times a day by one of my family's friends. They were real nice, but I was very, very, lonely. (remember, I'm a Jack). Then one day my Mom was talking to her friend Melissa who told her about this totally cool place called Camp Ilene. We called Auntie Ilene and asked if she had room for me. Well, that was the bestest week of my life, (away from my family that is), and I was hooked. Camp Ilene is the most fun a dog can have when their family goes away. I love to play with the other dogs, run around the huge property, (I think Auntie Ilene has about 1 million acres), splash and play in the coolest dog pool known to man, and just hang out (there's even a Dog Web Cam, so you can see us having fun). The only problem I have is, I sometimes eat the other dogs food (Yum,Yum) and I get a big belly. Of course, it's very sad when I leave camp because I have to say goodbye to all my friends (actually I miss Auntie Ilene the most, she's my girlfriend but don't tell anyone). So if your looking for the best time known to Dogkind, check out Camp Ilene. It's the bestest, coolest, and funnest place for a dog to hang when our families can't watch us. One last thing, I usually sleep for two days straight when I get home because I'm exhausted from playing with all my friends, (remember I'm an active Jack).

See you at Camp

Doggie Licks & Hugs

Riley (I'm the white short legged jack with the brown spot!)

Turbo is my constant companion. He helps me with the hoses, he bites nasty little rodent heads, and keeps us laughing all the time. At home, he keeps the demons away and keeps my feet warm. The thought of putting him in a cold cage with strangers while I go off on my trips to Ireland is out of the question. He goes to Auntie Ilene's house, where he plays with his friends Mick and Magic and whoever else is there, and at the end of the day he crawls under the covers with Auntie Ilene and has feet to curl up with. Sometimes LOTS of other dog feet too. I know that he will be well cared for, and I get emails from Ilene reassuring me that he is fine. So, no matter if I'm in Ireland or Nevada, Turbo has a safe and happy place to spend his time. Another thing: Turbo was a bit of a bully until he went to Ilene's. The socialization he got there has made him a MUCH better dog. He used to lunge and try to fight with every dog he saw. Ilene's careful introduction to the other dogs (with Magic's help) has made him friendly, social and dependable around other dogs. PLEASE contact me if I can be of assistance in putting your mind at ease in leaving your dog with Ilene. Ruthanna Bridges, Bridges Training Stable 949.858.0970.

Dear Camp Ilene,

RUFF RUFF from Shadow...I wuv you guys at camp! I'm a big black lab, who loves my visits (day or overnight) to Camp Ilene. I was "adopted" (aka rescued) by my "mom" from a local Humane Society (May 2005). I was barely 1, so I was pretty attached to her from the very beginning. Well, my mom says "by the grace of God" she heard about Camp Ilene. He coincidentally met a local dog sitter in a Lake Arrowhead Starbucks…the day she brought me home! So now she can rest easy when her and my dad need to go away…and me, I can have lots of fun with all the other “kids” at Camp. By the way…my Mom and Dad love to watch me on the “Pet Cam”….so do all the relatives!

I used to have to stay in a cage like this when my dad went out of town. Sure I would get out for walks, but its not the same as going to the dog park. Then he found Camp Ilene. Its like living at the dog park. I miss him when he is gone but Camp is like a resort for us dogs. Sometimes I would like him to take a trip just so I could have a little vacation. So make sure to tell your parents Camp Ilene is where it's at and I'll see you there! Lucy

I love Camp Ilene! So does Fleur, my two year-old lab-shepherd mix, who asked me to write on her behalf. Here is Fleur’s story:

Last August when I moved to Corona, my mom and I felt like complete outsiders. We didn’t really know anything about our new home. I found my mother when she came to the Long Beach Animal Shelter looking for a companion. I was rather shy then, but I knew that we would make a good team. She took me home and my life has really changed. She tells me that I saved her life. My mom is a college professor and she keeps strange work hours. I felt very lonely when she went to work. I mean, I only have one sibling and his name is Buddy. Buddy is an old orange and white tomcat, who is pretty set in his ways. He doesn’t have time to play with me. I try to get him to play games, but he seems to prefer his own company. I told my mom that I was unhappy being home alone. She understood right away. She went online and found a really interesting place called Camp Ilene. Mom took me there to meet Ilene, who is the nicest person I know, after my mom. At first I was shy that is my nature you understand. I am a very calm and mostly quiet young lady. I soon grew to love Camp Ilene. I have lots of fun there with all the other ’kids.’ I’m always really happy on the days I go to doggy daycare, because I know that I’ll get to romp and play with all of my friends. Did I mention that I have a boyfriend? His name is Zeus and he is the dreamiest Akita ever! Camp Ilene is my favorite place to be when I can’t be home with my mom. My name is Fleur Levin and I hope that your parents will be as good to you as my mom is to me. She knows that it is better for me to be with other ‘kids’, because I am a social animal after all. Camp Ilene is the best place for all of us social animals, when our moms and dads have to be away.

PS: I got to spend a week at Camp Ilene when my mom went to a conference last month. I didn’t really have time to miss her because there is always so much to do at Camp Ilene.

Dear Ilene (and everyone else!!),
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Scrappy had so much fun, he slept the whole next day! (I think he actually grew a little, too!)
Scrappy is definitely looking forward to his next visit to camp to play with all his new friends!! Thanks, again!! Steve, Melanie and Katie Shaw

Thank you so much for letting Scrappy come over last Saturday on such short notice. (I promise not to do that again!) He needed the reassurance and companionship of "good dogs" after our trip a few weeks ago where he experienced the "unacceptable behavior" of some undisciplined pets and owners. I think he got a little scared and started to feel unsure about other dogs. I know that CampIlene was just the medicine he needed! Thanks for taking such good care of him, and I know he looks forward to his next vacation to camp (with more advanced notice, of course!).

Hi, my name is Dutchess; I was born 10/13/03 . I am a Weimaraner mix, my mom is a Weimaraner and my dad was a fence jumper. Well enough about me, I want to tell you about the happiest place on earth (for dogs that is) Camp Ilene ! The first time I went to Camp Ilene was the best day of my life, now I get to go there three days a week. Every time I hear the magic words ‘ Camp Ilene ’ I start racing around and can’t wait to get there. Camp Ilene is the perfect place to go to run, play and have fun with so many of my canine (and human) friends. When I get home from camp I am so tired, I eat my dinner and fall right to sleep. Sometimes my family will wake me when they laugh, hug and kiss me. They think it is so funny that I am fast asleep but my legs are pumping, and I have a big grin on my face. Everyone knows that I am dreaming that I am still at Camp Ilene having the time of my life! Dutchess Miller

I can't express to you how content I am. In the last 30 years, this is the first time I have no worries about the dogs, and actually been able to relax. I watch the webcam just to see them and say mommy and daddy love you. I don't watch for worry. This is how my dog training customers must feel when they tell me, they now enjoy their dogs so much, they are in the house and part of the family. Im sure there are days you don't want to pick up the poop or get up early to meet customers, and I feel the same way when I go teach a dog lesson. Because a job is still a job, but the fulfillment I receive when I see how happy the dogs are when I teach the people how to co exist with their dogs and get them out of the backyard and in the house to watch tv, and lay with their people makes me smile. You do that for people who want their dogs to stay in a loving, caring environment. I'm not easily impressed, but HAT'S OFF TO YOU AUNTIE ILENE ! you are the best and I hope you stay in business for a very very long time. The peace of mind you offer is well worth any amount of money any day of the week. And oh yea, the dogs enjoy being there more than any kennel I have ever seen.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart :) Sondra

We LOVE Camp Ilene, and highly recommend it to you and your favorite dog. We discovered Camp Ilene last year when we decided to take our daughters to see New York City over spring break and we weren’t sure what to do with our Golden Retriever puppy, Kobe. Our dog is very much a part of our family, he goes camping with us, he lives in the house with us, he brings us so much joy, and OK, maybe he is a little spoiled! It was our first time to leave him, and we couldn’t bear to leave him in a kennel, so I began looking for an alternative. One day I found an advertisement for Camp Ilene and thought it sounded perfect. I called and asked to come and see the facility, and I was so happy to find a huge, clean yard, filled with about 10 very happy, well-behaved dogs. There were wading pools, plenty of clean water to drink, and lots of fun doggie toys outside. There were also sturdy security gates circling the property. Inside, it seemed everywhere I looked there were doggie beds and pillows here and there, and it was obvious that the dogs were welcomed inside. I knew I had found Kobe’s “home away from home”. Well, Kobe had a wonderful week at Ilene’s, he came home so happy and so tired! Since then, Kobe has been back at Ilene’s for a couple of additional vacation trips: he’s also spent a few days of daycare at Camp Ilene when we have had busy weeks where we didn’t want to leave him alone during the day; and Kobe even spent our recent moving day with his friends at Camp Ilene, so he wouldn’t get stepped on by the big moving men! If you are looking for a boarding alternative to kennels and cages, we would highly recommend that you send your special dog to Camp Ilene. Tom, Christie, Allee & Alyssa Alkema…….and Kobe!

Dear Ilene,

You have no idea what a burden it lifts from my mind to know that Muffy & Sammy will be happy with you, should we need you again. They were like new dogs after their stay with you, and seemed so much more calm and behaved. They slept a lot for about four days so they really must
have played hard. I sang your praises to our vet, and she was interested in your philosophy in not caging the dogs. She knows how hyper Muffy can be, but associating with the other dogs must have taught Muffy how to be a good dog. Thank you again for taking such good care of the dogs, and for loving them as we do. Sincerely, Donna Junghardt

Dear Camp Ilene,

My name is Syrus and my mommy keeps nagging me to sit down and write this letter. She threatened to take away my snacks so here it is.

I love camp Ilene because I have met so many new friends that I get to play with every day! Each day I come there are new people for me to meet and get to know (and I get to eat their snacks).

I used to go to work everyday with daddy. It was great! We would share our lunch and have long talks and mommy would greet us at the end of our day with a big dinner. I got very attached to being with him and when daddy started a new job I hated being left alone. He took me one day to his new job and I was so afraid that he would leave me that I jumped out of his Big Rig window and broke my leg. Daddy couldn’t bring me to work anymore but I couldn’t stay at home by myself because I missed him so much. I used to cry everyday until Mommy found Camp Ilene. I went every day for a while when mommy and daddy were working long hours and I got to know everybody there. My social life improved, I was happy all the time, mommy was happy that I was eating better too. Then we moved to a bigger house with a huge backyard and mommy said that I could just stay at home and play with my twin brothers Cling and Clang. I tried to tell her that cats are NOT the same but she would not listen. You know how stubborn humans can be, and mine are the worst! One day the power went out on our block and mommy had to go to work. So she dropped my off at Ilene’s because she knows better than to leave me home all day without my Animal Planet channel. I had so much fun catching up with all my buddies and meeting the new guys. Unfortunately, the power returned and mommy kept me prisoner at home again for a while until I finally decided to protest for my right to go to school. One Saturday I jumped into the car and refused to get out. I was going to Ilene’s or bust! They say every dog has his day, and this one was mine. Mommy shut the car doors on me and left me in there for 30 minutes. When she came back out she opened the door and told me to get out. I refused. I wanted to go to school. She tried food, snacks, yelling, and pushing but I wasn’t moving. Finally she decided to drive me to school to see if that was what I wanted. As we turned the corner onto Ilene’s street I was so excited I shook the whole car and almost ran mommy over trying to get out of the door. Ilene came to the gate and said I could come to school that day. I emerged VICTORIUS! Now mommy and I have an agreement that I can go to school if I promise not to bark at night, to eat my veggies, to pick up after myself, and be nice to Cling and Clang. I love Ilene’s so much that I told my cousins Max and Clyde to stay here while my aunt and uncle go on vacation. They love it too! Syrus Rippa

My name is Beam. Border Collie, 1 1/2 years old and very shy. (But I am excellent at Frisbee!) Anyway last year when my Mom went on vacation she left me with the Vet. Mistake! I was caged and only walked twice a day. Came home and forgot my manners. I was just peeing on the floor, cause that's when you do when your in a cage all day. As a Border Collie I am an active dog so cage life was not for me. ( I also sleep on the bed) So, Mom said a prayer and found ....the greatest, most bestest place for Dogs. You got it, Camp Ilene. Yahooo for me! Oh yea I forgot do to my shyness I did not care for other dogs or people. Ilene said being around the other campers would be good for my social skills. How right she was! Recently when I went to the Vet and I was a different dog. The clerk even mentioned it. I was happy, wagging my tail, going up to other dogs and smelling them to see if I knew them from Camp Ilene's. Mom says it is camp life that has changed me. Ilene is just the neatest dog person. She plays Frisbee with me and even lets me chase the water fromthe hose. (That's another one of my hobbies) When I get picked up I say greet Mom and then follow Ilene back to the house. I just am having the greatest time there, what is the rush to go home. Oh by the way make sure you see me pictures in Ilene's collection. You will how great of a Frisbee girl I am.

Dear Camp Ilene,
We want to thank you for providing such a wonderful place for Sydney to stay and play. Sydney is somewhat new to us as we rescued her from the Irvine Shelter. She is a spunky little dog with a lot of energy who really thrives on positive interaction with other dogs. Whenever we take Sydney for an overnight or a day visit, she has the BEST time! And the fringe benefit is---she gets a lot of great exercise so she is "dog tired" when she gets home (sorry I couldn't resist). And there is a HUGE difference between taking your dog to any other boarding place and taking your dog to Camp Ilene. One time (before we knew about Camp Ilene) we had to leave town suddenly due to a death in the family. We had to place her at another place and she was just a WRECK when we got back. She had stomach problems (yuck!) and it was just like being in "lock down" for her again. But at Ilene's she has the freedom to roam around, play with other dogs, chew on a toy, and visit with Ilene. It really is a winning situation all around. And Ilene is flexible with pick up times and want charge you and arm and a leg for extra days. AND---if your dog has special dietary needs, you can bring his or her food. When we learned that Camp Ilene was moving we panicked! Oh No! Just when we find a great place that Sydney fits in, the place is moving away! But we were excited to hear about Ilene being able to do pick ups and we sighed a breath of relief. (We might even be able to meet her halfway to make the ride quicker for our canine companions). All in all, We just wish we had learned about Camp Ilene sooner! It's a great place and I highly recommend it for your dog.
Sincerely, Phil and Aerin, Sydney's Puppy Dad and Mom

Hi Ilene and all my friends at camp. Well, mom and dad and me are finally moved into our new place in San Jose. Jeepers, things were really crazy busy for awhile! I guess the best part of that was I got to come see you and all my pals at Camp Ilene. I had so much fun being there I didn’t even notice mom going away here and there and all the boxes piling up. Boy, w