Your summer vacation may be going to the dogs.

The owner of one of the county’s largest kennels recently began informing customers that she’s closing the business next week, and other kennel operators said it likely would create a serious shortage of space for pet owners in the area.

Margaret Middleton, owner of Morning Star Pet Care, 1609 N. 1650 Road, said she would close the business July 11. She said the business had never fully recovered from a downturn after 9-11.

“September 11 just really did us in,” Middleton said. “That Christmas after, we were down by 50 percent. People just weren’t leaving home anymore.”

Middleton said the 20-year-old business also was having trouble finding reliable help. The business had room to board slightly more than 100 animals in its five buildings full of kennels. Middleton said the business was one of the largest kennel operations in the county. She thinks the closing probably will create a shortage in the marketplace.

“I’m afraid it will create some problems for some people,” Middleton said. “Some of our customers that we have had for a long time are already upset.”

Jerri Phillips, owner of Country Meadow Boarding Kennel, 660 E. 1452 Road, said her business had begun receiving calls from people looking for a place to board their pets this summer vacation season.

The problem, she said, is that boarding space in the county is tight. She said her 20 kennels were booked solid through July and most of August. Christmas and spring break is already half full.

“I think there are going to be some irate people,” Phillips said. “People have made their vacation plans, but now they don’t have anywhere to take their animals.”

Connie Merritt, of Kennel Crest Country Club for Pets, 1610 E. 476 Road, said she also thought the closing may cause a shortage of space during traditionally busy times, usually in the summer and around holidays.

Phillips said she thought the problem may become worse because the number of pets will increase as the county’s population grows. She also said she thought it would be difficult for new kennels to open because receiving approval from county officials could be difficult.

She said new kennels were required to have a conditional-use permit, which gives the county broad ability to rescind the business’ ability to operate if problems arise.

“I can’t imagine the possibility of somebody investing the type of money to start a kennel, if the possibility exists that you could lose it in a couple of years,” Phillips said.