Visiting the most unusual pet boarding house in Luxembourg

When you enter Hoka from the Limpach side, you first imagine yourself in an ordinary animal boarding house. But the latter clearly stands out from other comparable companies. In fact, dogs and cats are cared for by people who suffer from an intellectual disability.

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In 2021, Apemh (Association of Parents of Mentally Disabled Children) opened Hoka in the locality, which also includes Lampecher Buttek and Biscuiterie. The goal was to create new jobs for people with specific needs.

Reservations until 2026

The offer is in any case well received by pet owners. “In the beginning, we still had doubts,” recalls director Carine Schreiber about the opening three years ago. But in the meantime the Hoka has been established. “We have a large clientele of regulars. During the school holidays, we are always full,” explains the manager.

“We already have reservations for 2026. For next year’s carnival and Easter holidays, we are already fully booked.”

One of the reasons for Hoka’s popularity is its local service. “We know most of the cats by name because they’re here more often,” says host Andy. Carine Schreiber adds: “This is what our customers want. They value personal contact. Here we are more than just a number.”

To achieve this, 19 people work at Hoka, including Andy. “In the morning we start by cleaning everything and counting the cats. It’s not always easy, because they often hide,” Andy says with a smile as he talks about his everyday life, before continuing: “We take good care of the animals, we play with them and we cuddle them.”

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The duration of the four-legged stay in Limpach varies depending on the case. “Some cats only stay here for a few nights, others for several weeks or even months, for example when their owners have just been admitted,” Andy adds as he shows us around the large facilities.

Space for 60 cats

These particularly impress with their well-equipped rooms “Many pieces of furniture for cats were built in our workshops, for example at the Nossbierg centre,” he continues. Others come from private donations. “We accept everything, including cat food. If we don’t need it ourselves because we don’t use the donated food at home, we donate it to others,” explains Carine.

Four cat rooms are available in Limpach. Each room has an interior and an exterior space that cats can easily pass between thanks to a trap door. Each room can accommodate up to 15 apartment tigers. Carine Schreiber explains: “For cats, it is no problem if they have to share a room. If they don’t get along, there may be some grumbling, but that’s it. For dogs, it’s different.”

A daycare center for dogs

They each live in separate rooms, each equipped with an outdoor room. “It is only when there are two dogs from the same household that we can place them in the same room,” says the director.

30 dogs have their place in Limpach, but only 16 can spend the night there. Unlike cats, there is a day structure for dogs in addition to the boarding itself. Owners can leave their four-legged friend in the morning and bring them home in the evening.

But there is another difference with the cat room. “It’s definitely noisier here,” describes Carine Schreiber, while the barking of the fluffy inhabitants can be heard from all the rooms around her. “People who are sensitive to noise can’t work here,” she continues.

But for Hoka employees, working with animals has its advantages, because they have to learn to communicate with the four-legged ones. “Our employees must constantly ask themselves: what does the animal want to tell me? How should I interpret his behavior?” explains Carine Schreiber. This is especially important for people with disabilities.

This article was originally published on the website for Luxemburger Wort.
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