BREWER – A Web camera is not exactly the kind of technology one expects to find in a kennel where the dogs woof, the cats meow, and where most things are hands- or paws-on.

“We wanted to make the kennel unique,” said Lloyd Williams, manager and dog trainer at Bear Brook Kennel, 19 Bennett Road. “We wanted to be on the cutting edge of kennel operations and management.”

Williams, who has worked at the kennel for 17 years, operates the kennel in partnership with veterinarian Dr. Robert Feher of nearby Brewer Veterinary Clinic.

Having Web cameras in kennels, Williams said, is a fairly new idea, available only for the last two or three years with the advent of cell phone towers and digital broadcasting. “It’s a new trend nationally,” he said.

Small cameras mounted on the walls at the kennel are trained 24 hours a day on the new cat boarding area and in dog boarding areas. Pet owners who have boarded their pets while away on vacation or traveling on business can access the kennel’s Web site, and with a click of the mouse see their pets in their “rooms.” The cameras were installed at the kennel in December of last year.

“There is no extra charge for that service,” Williams said.

Getting Web camera technology to the Brewer area took a while, Williams said, but became available from Adelphia last year.

“We had to run a fiber-optic cable from the clinic out to the telephone lines on Pierce Road,” Williams said.

“The cameras show still pictures,” said Amanda Ireland, “that change every few seconds, so if your pet moves, you’ll see that.” Ireland has worked at the kennel for 12 years and serves in several capacities, including assistant manager, kennel supervisor, receptionist and cat groomer.

Those checking up digitally on their pets also may see employees cleaning the kennel or feeding the dogs and cats, Williams said.

Having the capability to check on a pet via computer, Ireland said, is reassuring to pet owners.

“Everyone is interested and enthused about it,” Williams said.

It’s not the first time the kennel has pushed the envelope of innovation, Williams said. “We were the first in Maine to have doggie day care.” The kennel began offering that service in 1995. It also introduced “presidential suites” for dogs and cats, which offer extra space, allowing those who are boarding several pets to keep those pets in the same “room.” The feline presidential suite is equipped with a live goldfish. The goldfish is amply protected from the cats and is for viewing and entertainment purposes only.

Although the entire kennel is not yet equipped with Web cameras, Williams said, the goal is to install cameras in all areas, including the training and doggie day care areas.

“Over the long run,” Williams said, “we try to find better ways to care for pets. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe the dogs will come to us equipped with nose-activated picture phones.”

To learn more about the kennel, visit www.bearbrookkennel.com, or call 989-7979. To experience the pet cameras for the dogs, go to www.bearbrookkennel.com/camera1.jpg, or www.bearbrookkennel.com/camera2.jpg. For the cat cameras, go to www.bearbrookkennel.com/camera3.jpg and www.bearbrookkennel.com/camera4.jpg.