You are ready to take off on your dream vacation: Bags are packed, tickets bought and the taxi waiting. But wait you forgot something, didn’t you? Where on earth are you going to leave your beloved dog? Not alone to shred the furniture or with another friend who will feed it God-knows-what.

Figuring out what to do with a dog can be problematic for many pet owners when planning vacations, especially if the destination is not pet friendly or the pet doesn’t particularly like new places. Even if you are traveling to a place where pets are allowed, you may find it more relaxing to travel without a pet in tow. Eastwind Kennels covers almost all the services a dog owner requires from boarding and daycare to training and even a pet taxi service, and their facilities won’t leave you feeling guilty about leaving Fido behind.

Eastwind Kennels is a five-star facility for dogs built on a ten-acre plot off the Alexandria Desert Road. According to its clientele, EWK is the best and most well-known kennel in Egypt.

Established in 2003, the kennel is a member of K-9 SENSE Hospitality Centers, . It was originally a training facility for police and security dogs, with many of its graduates exported to Europe, the United States and the Middle East for patrol and bomb detection duty. In 2004, a team of passionate, experienced handlers launched EWK’s first hospitality center in Cairo. There hasn’t been a lot of publicity, commercials or campaigns for EWK and with a high poverty rate and the recent economic crisis, it’s not easy to sell luxury pet services in Egypt. Still, the staff says that dog owners know about the place by word of mouth.

Each dog follows a daily routine of four walks in the wide, green park and play time with compatible canine friends overseen by a team of at least 20 caregivers. The walls inside the kennel are painted bright red, yellow and blue, and flowers and plants decorate the place. Relaxing music can be heard from large speakers throughout the property.

The kennel can accommodate all sizes and breeds, with Dobermans, Jack Russels, and bulldogs hanging out, playing and walking with their personal trainers. Melly, a 12-year-old bulldog and one of the kennel’s regular clients, is famous for napping in the grass right in the middle of the property.

Canine clients and their owners can choose from several boarding options. The Deluxe Room, an indoor boarding class, comes equipped with A/C, music and an air exchange system that keeps the rooms well ventilated to prevent kennel cough. The Room with a View is a separate kennel with a private outdoor veranda overlooking the garden where dogs can stretch and smell the country air. Then there is the Paris Hilton Lounge, a luxury boarding class, where dogs are free to roam, lounge on plush sofas and watch TV, with a butler to attend their needs.

EWK is located on the Twenty-sixth of July Corridor in Giza. The founders wanted to keep the kennel close to Cairo without compromising the countryside environment that most dogs enjoy. Finding the kennel might be a little tricky as there are few signs leading to the place, but the kennel does offer a transportation service that can pick your dog up at your door. The taxi service can also take your dog to and from the vet and airport.

Wearing the kennel’s motto “We’re simply for Dogs” on ID tags, kennel staff likes to make clients feel as if they’re part of a family. The staff learns the dogs’ names and interests, and a staff member is with the dogs at all times. A veterinarian visits the dogs at least twice a week for routine check-ups, and charts in the dogs’ rooms enable the supervisor to see whether the dog has been fed, bathed or walked by the trainer.

EWK is a member of a group dedicated to dogs and their wellbeing, founded and financed by Eastwind Care an NGO that fights animal cruelty. EWCARE has a mandate to educate young kids in the basics of dog care and builds a bridge of love and understanding between kids and dogs. This affiliation makes the clients comfortable in the knowledge that they’re leaving their dogs in safe hands, according to staff. EWK plans to open new facilities in Spain and Qatar.