Our mission
Ruffin Inn exists to be an extended family for your pet when care is needed most. When life pulls you away — a vacation, a work trip, a long day — we're the backup family that keeps your fur baby's world steady while you're gone.
But we're after more than keeping your dog safe. We want them to come alive here: to play hard, make friends, and have a life of their own for a while. Dogs deserve that — and so do you. Nothing is worse than spending a vacation worried about your pet, and nothing makes it better than seeing in the day's photos that your best friend is having the time of their life too.
So we share as much as we can, as openly as we can, and we work to build a bond with your pet that's as strong as the one you already have. It's the same reason we don't rely on collars: we know every animal here by name. At play, collars do more harm than good, so we take them off and lean on the thing that actually keeps your dog safe — knowing them.
What luxury boarding actually means
Most boarding facilities stack dogs in chain-link runs with concrete floors. That's the industry default, and it works for moving lots of dogs through a building. It just doesn't work very well for the dogs.
At Ruffin Inn, every boarding dog gets a private suite with solid sheetrock or glass walls and a raised cot, plays in open group yards with trained handlers, and gets a midday nap break to decompress. No cages. No chain-link. No barrier between the dog and the people taking care of them.
Safety is an obsession
We're always evolving, and technology is a big part of how we operate. Every feeding and every medication is documented electronically, so nothing is left to memory. Every dog is sorted into the right playgroup — or held to isolation criteria when that's the safer call — and we keep watching all day to make sure the mix stays right.
It's a living ecosystem, and we monitor it constantly so the day stays fun and everyone stays safe. Safety isn't a checkbox here. It's an obsession.
Our open-door tour policy
Walk in during business hours and ask for a tour. Any time. We'll show you the suites, the play yards, the grooming area, the cat boarding wing, and anywhere else you want to look. If a facility doesn't want you to see what's behind the doors, that should tell you something.
Why we post photos every day
When your dog is here, you should be able to see how they're doing. We post fresh photos on our Facebook page regularly so you can check in any time. 5,500+ families follow along.
The team
Our staff are local, trained, and stay with us. Many have been here for years. They know your dog's name, your dog's habits, and which playgroup they fit into best. Grooming is handled by Marilyn on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a quiet space separate from the play yards.
Service area
We serve pet families across Wright County and the surrounding 50 miles, including Monticello, Elk River, St. Michael, Albertville, Delano, Rogers, Maple Lake, Big Lake, and Andover. Many families drive in from the Twin Cities west metro for the luxury boarding experience.
Come see for yourself
Stop in any time during business hours, or book a scheduled tour.