Our Story & Values

Rustic Paws Resort was founded in Aledo, TX, in February 2024 by Sherryl Mason, a retired nurse and lifelong dog lover with a professional background in canine showmanship and grooming. One of Sherryl’s great loves was always traveling with her dogs, especially to national parks, but there was a catch. Most national parks don’t allow dogs on trails or in the back country, out of a concern for protecting wildlife. Faced with the prospect of boarding her dogs when she traveled, Sherryl said, “I had the same concerns most people have with boarding their dogs. Would they be cared for as well as I care for them? Would they be mistreated or neglected because of their breed? Would they have a good or bad experience?” When the prospect of retirement lit up the horizon, Sherryl says an idea blossomed. “I thought to myself, ‘Why don’t I just open a boarding kennel?’ I have 50 years of experience handling all kinds of dogs, traveling with dogs that didn’t want to eat, were scared, or overexuberant. I thought that made me very qualified to care for my neighbors’ dogs.” And with that, she started making plans to build her own kennel, and broke ground on the 2,760 square foot facility in April 2024. The building was finished that August and Rustic Paws Resort officially opened for business. With each pet who walks through the door, Sherryl says her goal is simple, “Our mission is to provide a safe, comfortable, and happy place for your dogs while you’re away, so you can enjoy your time away from home.”