When Diane Nigam’s beautiful Ragdoll kitten, Chance, began venturing beyond the family’s backyard in Westfield, she knew exactly who to call: Mike “The Dog Guy” Kelly of Invisible Fence of Union County.
Mike had been helping Diane with her pets for years. Initially, she turned to Invisible Fence for her two dogs, Chloe, a sweet Goldendoodle, and Clifford, a lovable giant Sheepadoodle. While both were reasonably well trained, they had a habit of wandering into the finished attic and basement whenever given full run of the house, occasionally leaving behind unpleasant surprises.
Mike recommended Invisible Fence’s Indoor Shields® technology, which creates pet-free zones within the home. Small, movable devices placed near doorways help teach pets to avoid designated areas through gentle, positive reinforcement. The result was life-changing.
“He is such a great animal behaviorist,” Diane says of Mike. “He’s always thinking about the safety of the pet and the peace of mind of the owner. My dogs are so much more relaxed now that they can follow us around the house.”
So pleased with the results, Diane later installed Invisible Fence systems at both her Long Beach Island home and her Westfield property—this time for Chance. “Who knew cats could be trained this way?” she laughs. With lightweight collars and customized training, even adventurous felines can safely enjoy the outdoors.
Across Scotch Plains and Westfield, many homeowners are discovering similar benefits.
In the Stirling Chase neighborhood, where open lawns are preferred over traditional fencing, Sophie the Golden Labrador enjoys the freedom to roam both front and back yards while remaining safely within her boundaries. Owners Mike and Joy Belfer wanted Sophie to have more outdoor freedom without the risk of wandering into the street. Today, neighbors frequently spot Sophie relaxing on the lawn, toy at her feet, happily keeping watch over the neighborhood—and occasionally over her granddaughters, Sloane and Noa.
Then there’s Charlie, a neighborhood celebrity in her own right. Charlie loves patrolling the yard, greeting delivery drivers, watching passing dogs, and keeping an eye on local wildlife. She often spends hours lounging in a sunny patch of grass before returning home. Mike recently introduced Charlie’s family to Invisible Fence’s electronic pet door, allowing her easy access in and out without requiring constant supervision.
And finally, there’s Wilma, a ten-pound escape artist with a talent for outsmarting traditional barriers. While her family’s fenced yard in Scotch Plains kept her secure, their beach house in Long Beach Island presented new challenges. Mike traveled to the shore to install a customized Invisible Fence system and provide training. Now Wilma can safely enjoy beach-house life while respecting the boundaries designed to protect her.
“I’ve traveled to Manhattan, numerous Jersey Shore towns, and even Vermont to help my clients,” says Mike. “Wherever pets need to be safe, I’m happy to go.”
For pet owners, that commitment offers something invaluable: the freedom to let pets explore while providing the peace of mind that they're always protected.