I have a 13-year old dog that I have had to board frequently due to travel for work. At other facilities, I have had to drag him in or, when picking him up, had to go back to get him because the staff was afraid of being bitten (he's a fear-biter). This has never been a problem at A-VIP. From the first time I dropped him off, the staff has been extremely accommodating and attentive to my dog and his quirks. When we pull up to the building now, he simply walks in and then tries to walk back to the area where the runs are located before we finish checking in.
Because my dog is a rescue dog and is a fear-biter, I never request to have him groomed prior to pick up. At A-VIP, he still smells great when I return for him. He doesn't have that funky kennel smell that so many places have. I've also had every toy or bowl that I leave with him returned and not just disappear into the kennel abyss.
An extra feature that they have is heated floors. Obviously these are only in use in the winter. For my 13-year dog, the heat feels great on his joints instead of laying on the typical cold kennel floors.
One of the best things that makes it feel even more secure is the fact that the owner lives on the second floor of the facility. So, someone is always there should anything unfortunate happen.
They are also in an extremely convenient location that is great for pick-up and drop-off on my way to the airport or if I'm driving south out of town.
And to top all of that off, they're reasonably priced. I leave my dog in a medium in-door/out-door run with play time every day and it's $25 per day. I've had to pay more than that at much worse facilities.
This is the first kennel that I've gone out of my way to recommend to every pet-owner that I know. I hope I never have to find another kennel because I know that there's no chance that it will be able to compare to A-VIP.