(970) 589-0502
Calm, structured dog boarding serving Grand Junction, Fruita, and Colorado’s Western Slope.
About us
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Meet the Founder - Angie
My experience working with dogs began in the early 2000s at our local humane society, where I worked hands-on caring for dogs of all ages, temperaments, and backgrounds. Since then, I've continued working in the pet care and veterinary boarding field while also pursuing a longtime passion for canine wellness, nutrition, and natural health.
In 2018, I became a Certified Canine Naturopath through the American Council of Animal Naturopathy and began supporting dog owners through whole food-focused nutrition plans and wellness education. That work deepened my understanding of how nutrition, environment, routine, stress levels, and enrichment all influence a dog's overall well-being.
Over the years, I've cared for senior dogs, rescue dogs, dogs with medical needs, bonded dogs, anxious dogs, and the dogs that sometimes needed a little more patience and understanding than others were willing to give.
Those experiences shaped not only how I care for dogs, but also how I believe boarding environments should feel.
I've long believed that thoughtful care goes beyond simply meeting a dog's basic needs. Careful observation, individualized routines, opportunities for enrichment, and an environment that supports both physical and emotional well-being all play an important role in helping dogs feel safe and comfortable.
Just as important as my professional experience is the simple fact that I'm a dog owner myself.
Many of the dogs featured throughout our branding and social media have been our own dogs over the years—including rescues, senior dogs, and dogs who found their way to us simply because they needed a home.
Dogs have never simply been a job to me. They've always been part of my life.
A Different Approach to Boarding
After more than two decades working with dogs in shelters, veterinary boarding, and pet care environments, one thing became very clear to me: The environment matters.
Not just for the dogs, but for the people trusting someone else to care for them.
High Ground Canine Lodge was created from a desire to offer a calmer, more intentional boarding experience. One built around thoughtful care, lower stress handling, honest communication, and treating each dog as an individual rather than a number.
Over the years, I saw firsthand how overstimulation, overcrowding, and high staff turnover can affect both dogs and the overall environment within many boarding facilities. I also saw how much trust pet owners place in the people caring for their dogs while they’re away.
That trust matters deeply to me.
At High Ground, our goal is not to pack in as many dogs as possible. Our focus is on creating a safe, structured, and more personalized environment where dogs can decompress, settle in, and receive attentive care throughout their stay.
Because boarding should feel grounded, not chaotic.
If this philosophy resonates with you, we'd love to help you determine whether High Ground is the right fit for your dog.
When you leave your dog with someone else, I don't believe you should spend your trip wondering if they're overwhelmed, forgotten, or simply waiting for you to come home.
My hope is that you leave knowing your dog is being observed, understood, and cared for as an individual. If you return home thinking, "That was easier than I expected," then we've done our job.
If we never become the biggest boarding facility in western Colorado but become the most trusted, I'll consider that success!
Meet Colton
Colton has grown up around dogs his entire life and has experience working alongside me in boarding environments as well as caring for our own dogs at home over the years.
From rescue dogs and senior dogs to dogs needing extra patience and care, being around animals has always been a normal part of life for him.
At High Ground, Colton helps with daily care routines, enrichment activities, cleaning, and helping dogs settle comfortably into their stay. He brings an observant presence to the day-to-day care of the dogs and understands the importance of handling dogs thoughtfully and safely.