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Dogtopia, a dog daycare, spa and boarding franchise, has opened a new location in Wilmington, Del. The new facility has room for 60 dogs and is one of 12 Dogtopia establishments located across the United States.
“The mission is to have available to dog lovers a great fun and open home-like place that their dogs will come home from exhausted and content,” said Helen Jones, owner and operator of the new location. “They don’t have to feel guilty that they are at work all day, because their dogs are not only being well-loved, but are exercising and socializing with dogs and people.”
Jones said after her youngest child went off to college last year she decided to leave her job as a physical therapy technician and open her own dog daycare business.
“The hardest decision I had to make was whether to do it one my own or with a franchise,” she said.
Jones said she chose to go with Dogtopia because of the experience and expertise the company had to offer. Also, she said she liked that the company allowed her to support her community by purchasing items like signage and T-shirts from local businesses.
At Dogtopia the word “kennel” is no-no, Jones said.
Laid out with a children’s daycare in mind, the 4,700-square-foot building has three playrooms to suit different personalities and sizes. Generally, 25 to 30 dogs play in each room with a ratio of one caregiver per 10 to 15 dogs. Dog owners can check on their pets any time by using Dogtopia’s web cams.
In addition to daycare and boarding, Dogtopia offers a spa, a self-service dog wash and a boutique. Local canines can enjoy the Dogtopia special, the Happy Pup, which is daycare in the morning followed by a spa treatment with a “pawdicure” in the afternoon.
Since opening in September, Jones said she is averaging 12 to 16 dogs per day. Before being admitted, dogs must undergo an evaluation that includes a health assessment, vaccination certification and temperament test to ensure the dog is social and comfortable in large groups. Dogs receive a report card on their first day and updates throughout their time at Dogtopia to keep their owners informed of their behavior, friends, and play patterns.
Posted November 24, 2008
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