hometown services oct 2013
TRANSCRIPT
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HHmetownmetownServicesServicesMeet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
BeautifulBeautifulWest KootenayWest KootenayHow many of us came here first as visitors, and
then couldnt bear to leave?
How many of us grew up in the West Kootenay,
couldnt wait to see the world, only to eventuallyrealize that paradise was at home?
The West Kootenay has so much to offer,but we cant afford just to play.
It takes character, industry and imaginationto be successful in this rugged landscape.
Read the stories of your friendsand neighbours in the next few pages
for an insight into the origins
and scope of some of thebusinesses and services
operating today inour West Kootenay
communities.
West Kootenay Hometown Services Oct 8, 2013 Section B 1
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2 B Section Oct 8, 2013 West Kootenay Hometown Services
HHmetownmetownServicesServicesMeet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
Nancy and I moved to Riondel from a city of 15 million people
to enjoy what many others have found here: a great lifestyle
relaxation, recreation, retirement. But living in the Kootenays
also has its challenges: golfing, hiking, cutting firewood
It wasnt long before we were looking to ease aching muscles
after a grueling 18 holes. Maybe a massage or a trip to Ain-
sworth Hot Springs? Soon it came down to the inevitable. It
was time to look for a hot tub.
Passing through Castlegar one day we stopped at a shop and
saw a Softub. It was perfect! The tub weighed only 85 lbs, so
we bought it, threw it up on the back of the truck, took it home,
rolled it down the hill and set it up next to our house in the
woods. We filled the tub with water, plugged it in, and a couple
of days later, life was good.
The next day, a call came from the dealer. She was moving to
Ontario and the business was up for grabs. Before we knew
it, Kootenay Springs Softub was born. And just like that, our
adventure began. That was seven years ago.
Softubs are manufactured in Sudbury by a great group of peo-
ple at Softub Canada. We paid a visit to the factory on a trip
down east one fall and spent some time learning the ins and
outs of how the product was made, but also when repairs are
needed and how to fix them. So now, if a client needs a repair,
they dont have to send their tub away. We can fix it here.
A few years ago Health Canada approved a non-chlorine water
treatment system. It uses powdered oxygen and a mineral
cartridge so the water is crystal clear and odourlessthe way
it should be!
The biggest rewards of selling Softubs are the people we have
met and the many hidden places in the Kootenays that we
probably would never know existed without our customers.
Kootenay Springs Softub
Simple, affordable, relaxing and fun
Phone: 250-354-8557
Owners: Arnold and Nancy AmesLocated in Riondel but serving all of the West Kootenay
ZAP Animal Protection SystemsPhone: 855-523-6377Owners: Ron and Brian Sargent
www.ZAPS.ca
Living in the Kootenays puts you in immediate contact with
the wild animals that live here. Unfortunately, every year, thou-
sands of animals are injured or killed because of human refuse
and other man-made animal attractants.
As avid outdoor enthusiasts as well as entrepreneurs, it was
natural that brothers Ron and Brian would want to find a way
to help preserve a resource that is so vital to both our economy
and environment; the animals that live in our forests. Thatswhy they founded ZAP Animal Protection Systems and devel-
oped Jolt, an innovative product designed as a harmless and
affordable way to secure refuse, preventing habituation and ul-
timately ensuring the safety of animals.
At ZAPS we realize that good habits are reinforced with
reliable products, so we take great pride in using only materials
and products that are designed and proven to last for years
of continued use, notes Ron. We guarantee our products,
materials and workmanship for a period of one year from
the date of purchase, adds Ron, who spends his time in the
Columbia Valley; Brian resides in Ainsworth Hot Springs.
Together the brothers have hiked almost every trail you could
name in the Kootenays, and in Brians case, with his two sons,
canoed many of the lakes, rivers and streams across Canada in-cluding a memorable trip down the Thelon River in the North-
west Territories. There they were presumably mistaken as cari-
bou and attacked by a barren grizzly bear. Happily both bear
and canoeists escaped unscathed.
It is Ron and Brians mission to find innovative ways to protect
and keep the wild wild and the people safer, so that we will
always be able to enjoy the creatures that make the Kootenays,
and other places like it, so very special.
HELPINGPROTECT
PETSANDWILDLIFE
FROMOUR
HUMANENVIRONMENTS.
RIGHT: BRIAN SARGENT
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West Kootenay Hometown Services Oct 8, 2013 Section B 3
HHmetownmetownServicesServicesCelebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services
For Randy and Nancy OBrien, moving from Lethbridge to
the beautiful Central Kootenay meant closing out a well-estab-
lished window coverings and home decor store, as well as a
home renovation business, and establishing a home studio in
Meadow Creek.
We basically met, merged and married, says Randy, although
really it wasnt that simple. The first challenge was to get their
bearings. We needed to familiarize ourselves with the local
business scene, Nancy explains. There was no point in offer-ing products or services that people werent interested in, or in
trying to recreate what was already being offered by existing
businesses. Just as it is in design, the idea is to complement.
One of the mainstays of their business is custom blinds and
custom drapery, and its not just a matter of providing a product
that fits the window. You need to consider the function that
you want the window covering to perform, Nancy says. You
might need light control, or privacy, or you may want it to be
simply decorative, or all
three! We do everything
in-house, from design to
manufacturing, installa-
tion and accessorizing.
There are different con-
siderations when it
comes to restoration and
redesign services. Itsimportant to attend to
the infrastructure of a house before making cosmetic changes,
Randy emphasizes. Another challenge is ensuring that it works
with the rest of the home. Our goal is to help you assess the
overall impact of the proposed project and determine where you
will get the most value.
Randy and Nancy invite you to visit their website at
grayhorseinteriors.com or like them on Facebook!
Gray Horse InteriorsInspired Interiors
Owners: Randy and Nancy OBrienPhone: 250-366-4499
Located in Meadow Creek
Derek Diener, Your Local Mortgage Broker
Making Your Dreams a RealityOffice: 250-229-5711 Cell: 250-505-5850
www.derekdiener.com [email protected]
At the ripe age of 37, Derek Diener is a young energetic entrepre-
neur who is finding his niche in the West Kootenay as a Mortgage
Broker. A prairie boy from Saskatoon, Derek first moved away
from home to pursue his hockey career in the Western Hockey
League. Derek eventually signed an NHL contract with the St.
Louis Blues. He played two seasons in the American Hockey
League for the Blues affiliate Worchester Ice Cats. But his hockeyhopes were cut short at the age of 23 when he suffered a career
ending injury at the Vancouver Canucks training camp.
From that day forward Derek has dug his heels in, put himself
through college, worked in the golf industry, and for the past
seven years has pursued his passion for real estate and entrepre-
neurship in what he considers to be the best place in the world
Nelson, BC. I think all Canadians should check this place
out because I feel it exemplifies the picture of what Canada is
water, mountains, nature and a peaceful serenity.
As a Mortgage Broker, Derek works for Dominion Lend-
ing Centres, which is Canadas largest mortgage broker firm.He works with a team of individuals with backgrounds in real
estate sales, devel-
opment, finance and
banking well rounded
resources to ensure
competence for any-
ones financing needs.
And Derek adds, With
my personal back-
ground of working on
my own projects for the
past ten years, raising capital for large scale real estate develop-
ments as a consultant, and having a hands-on approach to all that I
have done these attributes will bode well for my clients.
Mortgage Brokers do not work for the banks; they work for the
client to obtain the best rates and product to fit their needs. The ser-
vices Derek provides are FREE; he shops the market for you and
gets paid by the lender. I can arrange my schedule around your
needs, says Derek, and will do everything I can to streamline the
borrowing process and save you money, so that your dreams willbe that much closer to becoming a reality.
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4 B Section Oct 8, 2013 West Kootenay Hometown Services
HHmetownmetownServicesServicesMeet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
In 2003 I moved to Nelson and started doing general labour in
construction and renovations. I was asked to repoint a chimney
because I liked working at heights. I kept looking for those jobs
and eventually got WETT certified to work with wood heat
systems. For two years I joined the family at the Gray Creek
Store as their stove guy, and learned about real service in the
hearth industry. We still work together to provide a complete
service to those looking to upgrade, or install a new, high-
efficiency wood heat system.
I do repointing, crown construction, flashing and masonryrepairs for brick chimneys, as well as insurance inspections,
installations of woodstoves and fireplaces, and service and
sweeps for all wood heat systems.
I love how I get to deal with the clients who really care about their
woodstoves. Its a very intimate action to make and maintain
a fire in your home for warmth, comfort and light during the
dark winter months. I love meeting all the unique people who
live in this community. I feel honoured to be invited into their
homes, and I appreciate
all the effort and care that
has gone into the artistic
and aesthetic homes and
gardens. The community
has been very supportive;
I basically survive on
referrals.
Sometimes I find inter-
esting things in chim-neys. Recently I found
five full sized ducks who thought it would be a good idea to
gather in a large fireplace. They were on the smoke shelf and a
little singed, but very well preserved.
The seasonal nature of the industry allows me to do lots of
backcountry skiing during the slower months. Also I love rock
climbing redpoint means a clean ascent with no falls, placing
protection while climbing.
Redpoint ChimneyHelping You Burn Smart To Keep Our Air CleanOwner: Louis JuligPhone: [email protected]
www.redpointchimney.comLocated in Nelson
The Meadow Creek Hall is more than a building. As the cen-
tre of our community it is a treasure chest of memories. The
hall was originally built as a recreation facility for workers who
built the Duncan Dam, but since 1967 it has welcomed the en-
tire community.
Remember the bustling, fun preschool with Val Brenton? And
then there were the logger sports at Lardeau Lew Days. Maybe
as a kid you earned pocket money setting the bowling pins be-
fore we got the automatic pin setter. The hall has served us well
for generations now.
So many people have worked hard over the years to keep this
hall open. Columbia Basin Trust, Kaslo Community Forest and
RDCK have given great support. People have gathered at the
hall for weddings, birthday parties, reunions, funerals, meet-
ings, potlucks, seasonal events, family events, and it has also
served as an outreach for community health. For the last 25
years we have celebrated the seniors in our area with an an-nual appreciation dinner. Its been our polling place, our class-
room, our bowling alley, our
gym. We organize and sponsor
swimming lessons, and aKids
to Camp program.
We welcome new ideas. There
are lots of fall and winter
programs coming up: dance
classes, ethnic cooking etc. We have a well equipped kitchen,
which we are developing as a certified commercial kitchen, and
an industrial size generator and shower facilities. We are in the
process of equipping the hall to be a safe, welcoming emer-
gency centre for the valley in the event of any crisis.
Join with us to make this a community hub. We have this great
amenity to help keep us pulling together even as our population
decreases. Come use our free internet, join a bowling league,
exercise in our weight room, serve on our board...
The hall is open Monday to Thursday from 6 to 8 pm, Friday
from 6 to 9.
Lardeau Valley Community CentreLardeau Valley Community CentreA Community TreasureHall Manager: Eliscia SomersPhone: 250-366-4236email: [email protected]
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West Kootenay Hometown Services Oct 8, 2013 Section B 5
HHmetownmetownServicesServicesCelebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services
After spending 15 years studying herbology and cleansing,
learning how to grow food and trying out all kinds of different
ways of eating, I was motivated last year to start my own busi-
ness,Nourish Cleansing. My family has always been a huge
inspiration for me on this journey of learning how to eat well.I wanted my kids to have the best start in life that I could pos-
sibly give them. They werent always into what I was serving
for dinner, but we all benefitted!
I like what I do for a living because I get to help people feel bet-
ter about themselves and their lives. I can help my clients who
experience persistent digestive problems, or re-occurring colds
and flu they cant seem to shake, sleep disturbances, anxiety,
stress, low energy levels, weight problems or skin problems.
Its been really rewarding working with the clients I have had
Ive learned so much. Everyones needs are different when it
comes to changing their diet. Focussing on where people areat and helping them to implement changes in a way that works
with their lifestyle is key.
A side benefit is that my
research involves eating
really great food and that
the more effort I put intomy work, the better I feel
and the healthier I am.
I have written a book
calledDiary of a Cleanse
to give people an idea of what they can expect from doing an
internal cleansing. Im working on creating a Cleansing Work-
bookthat will outline procedures for different types and levels
of cleansing so that people can easily create their own personal
program.
I love living in Kaslo because the people inspire me, the
scenery keeps me sane and the fresh air makes me want tobreathe deeper.
Nourish Cleansing
Health and Cleansing ConsultantOwner: Janet Pearson, Master Herbalist,Certified Colon Hydrotherapist, Certified Iridologist
319 Front Street, KasloPhone: 250-353-7170 www.nourishcleansing.com
My name is Gaelan Emery Burns Graham, but most people callme Sean. I took over the duty of Kaslo and areas plumber in
2009 from long time friend and mentor Jim Van Horn.
I graduated from JVH in the summer of 2005, after spending
a few months in Calgary, where I worked as a roofer and for
Cana construction doing reshoring for high-rises. I relocated
back to Kaslo and began my plumbing apprenticeship, then
moved to Nelson to continue my apprenticeship. In the summer
of 2007 I moved back to Kaslo. I temporarily was cooking at
the Kaslo Clubhouse when Jim Van Horn came in for a burger.
Ill never forget him saying Why the hell are you cooking my
burger? I thought you were a plumber. He then informed mehe would have a day or two of work for me if I was interested.
After Id been working for Jim for two days, he asked if I would
like to be Kaslos plumber. So began my position in this small
town we call home. I really enjoy being part of this community.
I have been very lucky and consider my self very fortunate
to have a great mentor in life as well as the trade, and such
great fellow tradesmen. I have plumbed small summer cabins
and large timberframe homes from Bulmers Point to Murphy
Creek to Procter. I lovehow much my jobs vary,
from working in the
crawl space under the
Treehouse Restaurant, to
trouble shooting septic
systems, to million dollar
plus custom homes. My
customers continue to
be very supportive and
seem thrilled to have
my expertise available. I
hope to get into solar assist hot water heating as well as rain
water collection and private water systems.
I would like to thank all my customers. Sometimes Im at up
to eight jobs in a day, and the variety of work as well as the
variety of people keeps my job interesting. My son Kavan will
be three at the end of December and I am so pleased he has had
the chance to grow up a mere block from where I lived at his
age. I hope to be able to stay here for the long run and continue
to upgrade my expertise in my trade.
Virgo EnterprisesKaslo and Areas Local PlumberOwner: Sean Gaelen Graham
Phone: 250-353-3237 email: [email protected]
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6 B Section Oct 8, 2013 West Kootenay Hometown Services
HHmetownmetownServicesServicesMeet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
Loki Tree Service
The West KootenaysTree Care ExpertsOwners: Jake and Galen Roos
Phone: 250-353-2405
www.lokitree.com
Brothers Jake and Galen Roos have spent their lives living and
working in the West Kootenay. Born and raised in Queens Bay,
the brothers worked their respective ways through universityin the fields of arboriculture, vegetation management and
forestry. In 2008, having spent several years working separately
with trees, Jake and Galen combined their faculties, expertise
and experience to form Loki Tree Service. Since then, Loki
has provided full-service mobile tree care for the diverse
communities of the West Kootenay and Revelstoke area.
Galen operates from his headquarters on the North Shore of
Kootenay Lake and Jake operates out of Revelstoke. Both
are Certified Arborists. Together they offer year-round tree
removal, pruning, land-clearing and brush chipping services
to Nelson, Kaslo, the North Kootenay, Arrow Lakes, SlocanValley and Revelstoke.
Loki Tree Service also specializes in wildfire-mitigation
strategies, such as forest fuels management. They have conducted
fuel treatment projects near communities across southern BC,
including Cooper Creek, Creston, Edgewood and Harrop. Over
the years Loki Tree Service has also employed a highly skilled
trail building crew, who are responsible for an array of projects
in the region, perhaps most notably a large section of the famed
Frisby Ridge mountain bike trail near Revelstoke.
Lokis diverse background has allowed for a holistic approach
to the health of our forests, both urban and wild. Jake and
Galen look forward to their continued contribution to theircommunities beauty, safety and ecology.
Kaslo VintageCome in and Browse!Owner: Cari Toews
Phone: 250-505-4156 email: [email protected]
502 Oak Avenue (Golf Course Road), Kaslo
When I came to the Kootenays a few years ago to visit with
an old friend in Nelson, I was struck by the sense that Id
finally come home. For years I had been pursuing a career
throughout BC and Alberta in the fields of hospitality and
catering. It was time to make a change!
I wanted to create a business centered on what I love
collecting and selecting treasures and sharing with others.Ever since I was a little girl, my best times were when Iwas working on transforming interesting things that Id
discovered cleaning them up, fixing them, re-purposingthem. Over the years, wherever I have travelled, Ive
always kept my eyes open for the special and the unusual.Sometimes the items I find need fixing, or they call out to be
transformed and sometimes all they need is a little attentionlike cleaning and tightening.
I opened my store, Kaslo Vintage, in June this year and
was off to a flying start immediately! I love what I do, from
picking which is basically one big treasure hunt to seeing
peoples eyes light up at finding something that brings them
joy. Im very grateful to everyone who has come out to support
me, and Im looking forward to my first Old Fashioned
Christmas Sale.
This community is rich in quality people and beauty. The relics
of history in this area provide a playground for me. On my days
off I plan excursions: I investigate old mines, pan for colour in
the creeks, or go metal detecting on the old wagon trails.
Come into the shop and take a Lily Tomlin moment
on this old hotel switchboard rom Banf.
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West Kootenay Hometown Services Oct 8, 2013 Section B 7
HHmetownmetownServicesServicesCelebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services
My name is Mike Poetsch and I am the owner of Balfour
Autobody and Kootenay Lake Automotive. I have lived in
Balfour for almost 40 years, so my roots are deep in this
community.
I was born with a strong urge to fix things. That must be why
I have two automotive shops! I leave the mechanical side of
things to my brother, Dave. He is a master BMW technician
and has been a licensed mechanic for about 30 years.
These days, I focus mainly on Balfour Autobody. Collisions,
door dings, and restorations I love making a vehicle look
like new again. John apprenticed under me and has become avery talented and valuable employee. My sister-in-law Penny
care of the customers and keeps both businesses running
smoothly. Recently my wife, Julie, has started helping out
with the books. We truly are a family business!
I cant believe I am entering my tenth year of business. I think
my biggest accomplishment was meeting the strict guidelines
necessary to become an ICBC accredited valet shop. That
was my main goal when I started up. I want to take this
opportunity to thank you to all my loyal customers for theircontinued support.
Balfour Autobody & GlassPhone: 250-229-5788Kootenay Lake AutomotivePhone: 250-229-5799
Owner: Mike Poetsch. 7699 Hwy 3A, Balfour
Kootenay TowingOwner/Operator: Hamish Shaw
250-353-21106635 Highway 31, Kaslo www.ickr.ca
Hello from Hamish Shaw at Kootenay Towing!
Although raised in Ontario, Ive called Kaslo home for overfifteen years and I am raising my family here. After years oftechnical training, world travels and adventure, it was theKootenay lifestyle that brought and kept me here. After fouryears of operating Kootenay Towing, Ive seen some horrendousaccidents and accident scenes. Its often the stupid little thingsthat cause them and I have become involved proactively inwinter car care and safety.
You Know We Can TowBut Did You Know?At Kootenay Towing, we tow and trailer bikes, cars, boats, light
trucks and more. But we also provide the following essentialpreventative maintenance and winter services:
Full Service Snowplowing With the addition of a secondplow to our fleet, we offer reliable door-to-street snow plowingand clearing. Call me before the first big storm.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Care We have Kaslos onlywheel alignment machine and have the skills to ensure that yourvehicle takes you smoothly where you point it. Tire and wheelcare is a first-line necessity for winter on Kootenay roads.
Detailing and Cleaning your Vehicle In the damp seasonour heated shop and detailed cleaning and drying service is aworthwhile aid to keeping the rust-causing damp out of yourvehicles. Wet floors create rust.
Winterizing Electrical Connections Your vehicles expen-
sive electronic parts and electrical contacts are susceptible tothe chemicals put on our highways in winter. We ensure theseessential points of contact are clean and protected with corro-sion resistant products.
If You Do Need a Hand We provide winter starts, troubleshooting, lockout and jumping services as well as short and longdistance towing, trailering and recovery. We are accredited bycountless Roadside Service providers like BCAA and ICBC. Callus first to ensure a timely and correct response. Drive to arrive!
Alexander,
Hamish and
baby Charles
Dave, Penny, Norman the dog, John, Julie and Mike
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HHmetownmetownServicesServicesMeet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
Raven AcupunctureAlternative Health Clinic in Kaslo
Brendan Murray-Nellis, Registered Acupuncturist
Phone: 250-551-2581 email: [email protected]
404 Front Street, Kootenaian Building, Main Floor
Raven Acupuncture is the steadily grow-
ing acupuncture practice of Brendan
Murray-Nellis R.Ac. He graduated with
honours from Pacific Rim College of In-
tegrative Medicine in Victoria BC and isregistered with the CTCMA (College of
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acu-
puncture). Being registered allows him to
accept payment directly from the Medi-
cal Services Plan for those clients who
are entitled to premium assistance and
his service fees are also covered by many
extended healthcare plans.
Brendans goal is to provide a stable and
affordable healthcare option to the com-
munity. Over the past six months Brendanhas been seeing patients regularly, spend-
ing an hour on private appointments as
well as offering a more affordable walk-
in community clinic option. The walk-in
community clinic allows for four people
to be treated at a time in reclining chairs
at great savings to the patient.Raven Acupuncture has already gone
through some major changes. The first
was the move into a beautiful space with
a view of the lake on the first floor of
404 Front Street. There are constant im-
provements being made and local art on
the walls. Many people may know Bren-
dans father Robert Nellis who is a nurse
at the Kaslo ER or his mother Sheila, a
local author and artist.
Acupuncture can treat any number ofhealth concerns from pain to night sweats,
digestive disorders to headaches and any-
thing in between. There are many scien-
tific studies proving the effectiveness of
acupuncture and its growing acceptance
by healthcare professionals. The treatment
can work on its own or in conjunction withmore conventional medicine and therapies
as part of an overall healing program.
Upwest GeomaticsFrom Natural Resources Analysisto Pirate PostersDave Collier, GIS Consulting
Phone: 250-353-7492 email: [email protected]
Just over 20 years ago Dave Colliermoved from eastern Canada with his
wife and two baby boys. He had been of-fered a job in Kaslo as a forest technician.
Those were the days when forestry wasbooming in our region.
Thats when he became Duncan Dave.For ten years he worked in the Duncan,Westfall and Lardeau drainages, over-
seeing the re-growth of harvested cut-blocks, both for Kaslo forestry firms andthe Forest Service. A daughter was born,a new home was built. But then his lifechanged. An accident in the field forcedDave to alter course; he could no longerwork in the bush. He chose to study GISor Geographic Information Systems.
Recovering his mobility and returning
to university was tough, especially with
a very young family. But upon gradua-
tion he got a job with the new Ministryof Sustainable Resource Management.
There he gained a lot of valuable experi-ence and even received a Deputy Minis-
ters award for his part in a major LandUse planning project.
Now Dave works out of his own home in
Kaslo. His company, Upwest Geomaticsprovides a range of mapping and geo-
graphical information services. He creates
custom maps from data collected by satel-
lites and/or handheld GPS units for clients
like forest companies, private landown-
ers, societies, engineers, and government.
He contributes to the analysis of human/
animal interaction for biologists, and has
volunteered his services for the Kaslo
fire department, making maps that show
every hydrant and house in the area the
department serves. Because he has a wide
format printer (a plotter) that can print
36 wide by as long as you want, you mayhave seen banners plotted by Dave hang-
ing in the arena or at the school.
Now that he and his wife are empty nest-
ers, the office is quieter during the days.But the work is interesting, the commute
exceedingly short, the work environment
is comfortable, and someone has to getoutside to throw the ball for the dog!