Adriane Pope and her husband, Darrell, are the proud owners/operators of Rivertown Bed & Biscuit, located in Conway, South Carolina. "When people enter our facility, we want them to say 'Wow!'" said an enthusiastic Adriane. "And they do!"

"When you go into most boarding kennels, the first thing you see is a reception area, office equipment, and computers," said Adriane. "No one sees the back where the dogs are kept."

"Ours is different," she continued. "It was my dream to design a kennel where I would be happy and comfortable leaving my own dogs."

Although the Rivertown Bed & Biscuit has only been in existence since 2007, the Popes are not strangers to the industry. "My first job was at the Tamroc Boarding Kennel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina," recalled Adriane. "I was only fourteen when I started, and I worked there all through high school. They boarded over 100 dogs a day at that kennel, and I know how much staff, time, and energy it took to care for them.

"I didn't want that for our kennel," Adriane continued. "I wanted to make it the size that my husband and I could take care of by ourselves. That way, we could give each pet the personal care and attention they deserve."

The Popes live on 10 beautiful acres that are located about 25 minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Adriane has operated her own mobile grooming business, Adriane's Groom & Go, since 1992. Adriane services very upscale areas, and most of her clients spare no expense for their pets.

Her clients often told Adriane of their reluctance to take their pets to a big boarding kennel. Those comments soon launched the Popes into the boarding kennel industry. Adriane and Darrell saw the need for a specialized facility and began to design a kennel that would appeal to the most discriminating pet owner. Their concept would pair modern technology with the elegance of long ago. In 2007, they made their dream a reality.

The Popes wanted their kennel to be the focal point when you enter their property. Many people have said that the setting reminds them of the historic mansion, Tara, which was featured in the epic movie Gone with the Wind.

As visitors enter the driveway of the Rivertown Bed & Biscuit, they pass through stately iron entrance gates. Beautiful, three-rail white fences line both sides of the drive, and the Popes' two horses and a pony graze in the lush pasture.

The drive leads straight to their breathtaking kennel. It does indeed look like a Southern mansion. Instantly, the grace and charm that is the Old South unfolds before your eyes.

The stately white columns of the building take you back to a time when the world moved at a slower pace. The beautiful landscaping around the building and the comfortable rocking chairs on the veranda invite you to "sit a spell" and enjoy.

The elegance and beauty that greet you as you drive up to their door set the stage for what you will find when you enter their establishment. The inside of Adriane and Darrell's facility is truly unique - not at all what you would expect a boarding kennel to look like. Instead of impersonal cinder block and chain link fencing, you are greeted by the warmth of beautiful brick work, hand-laid tile, and decorative wrought iron.

When you walk in, you come into a living area with suites on both sides. Looking through the French doors, you can see every room they have. A spacious, well-lit aisle provides access to each of the rooms - and they are always referred to as rooms, not runs. Ceiling fans line the tiled walkway, and battery-operated lanterns along each wall create a warm ambiance in the evening.

Adriane is very artistic, and her talents are evident all over the kennel. She created three stunning, inlaid mosaic designs on the tile floor - each one about 30 inches in diameter. There is an elegant Show Poodle, an awesome Cavalier, and a huge paw print.

She also designed a mural that covers the back wall of their kennel. It started out featuring some of Darrell and Adriane's own dogs, but it has evolved into more of a memorial wall, as they keep adding the likenesses of some of their favorite clients' pets that have passed away.

Two luxury suites are available for those owners who want their pets to have the royal treatment. They are each beautifully decorated according to their theme. One is the Poodle Suite, and the other is the King Charles Cavalier Suite. They have flat screen TVs, wrought iron beds, sofas with fluffy pillows, and more. Each one features a large window where the pets can comfortably watch the horses grazing by the pond.

One of the most amazing things about their kennel is that Darrell and Adriane designed and built most of it themselves. "We laid every tile," said Adriane. "And Darrell did all the wiring, plumbing, and brickwork. We did almost everything but erect the trusses." To see their one-of-a-kind facility and the services they offer, you can visit their website at www.rivertownbandb.com.

Besides boarding dogs, the Popes have a special area for cats, and they have even boarded the occasional bird. Pets that need special diets, medications, or even insulin are welcome.

At the Rivertown Bed & Biscuit, Darrell and Adriane do much more than just board pets. They also have a thriving doggie daycare business, and they offer pick-up and delivery for the clients who use any of their services.

Because Adriane operates her mobile grooming business five days a week, most of the kennel duties fall to Darrell. "My husband loves dogs as much as I do," shared Adriane. "He really caters to them. He does all the doggie daycare. We have three large sections in the back area for them to play in, and our daycare pets are always supervised - we never leave them alone.

"Darrell also does all the yard work and keeps the kennel spotless. He's busy all the time."

Recently the kennel was the site chosen by Sam, a handsome bulldog mix, to hold his first birthday party. The entire kennel was decorated and lined with tables and chairs for the pets (and their owners) that Sam invited. Darrell made a special bone-shaped cake for Sam, and Adriane planned party games for the pets and their owners. The Popes plan to add even more services soon. They will be offering obedience training and are designing an agility course.

It is Adriane and Darrell's goal to provide a memorable and rewarding experience for all their clients - both the two-legged and four-legged ones. And they do. Everyone who visits the Rivertown Bed & Biscuit agrees - it's pampering at its very best!.

Next Article