Wednesday, May 21, 2003
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Wednesday, May 21, 2003 |
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While the owners are away, the dogs will play By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Day care offers parents a chance to keep their children occupied and out of trouble while they are at work. Doggie Day Care of Fayette, a new business in Fayetteville, keeps dogs occupied and out of trouble while their owners are at work. The idea is not a new one. Paula Krause stumbled across it at a seminar at Maritime Pet Kennel in Florida, one of the original Doggie Day Care facilities, and fell in love with the idea of opening her own business. She works at a local veterinarian's office and is studying to be a canine behaviorist. She researched the idea of a Doggie Day Care for two years and was aided and advised by the people at Maritime Pet Kennel as well as Doggie Day Care facilities on the northside of Atlanta. This is the only facility of its kind south of Atlanta. "A lot of canine behavior problems stem from a form of separation anxiety, almost like a latchkey syndrome," said Krause. "Dogs get bored while their owners are away and either get into trouble or they drive owners crazy when they come home at night." Dogs will not be bored after a day at Doggie Day Care. Doggie Day Care of Fayette opened its doors a little over two weeks ago and already boasts a number of regulars. The facility has 6,000 square feet of space indoors and another 2,000 square feet outside. There is playground equipment both indoors and outdoors, a doggy pool, a puppy room, open to puppies ages 16 weeks of age and younger, and a room for convalescent dogs and older dogs, a training room, the Doggie Spa, for baths and grooming, and a staff of experienced veterinary techinicans and trainers. Owners can drop dogs off at Doggie Day Care starting at 7 a.m. and must pick the dogs up by 7 p.m. Krause is hoping to open on Saturdays from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and also add a pick-up and drop-off service for residents of Peachtree City in the near future. Starting in June there will also be training classes for show dogs and obedience classes offered on evenings and possibly on Saturdays. Krause wants to stress that Doggie Day Care is not a boarding center or overnight kennel. There are facilities for overnight stays for regulars if an emergency arises. Doggie Day Care also has a Web site, www.thedoggiedaycare.com, and a Webcam that will allow owners to view their dogs playing during the day. Requirements for enrollment include DHPP and Rabies Vaccines within the last year, the Kennel Cough Vaccine within the previous six months, currently on Heartwork Preventative and Flea/Tick treatment and all dogs over the age of seven months must be spayed or neutered. For more information on Doggie Day Care, phone 678-817-1600 or visit www.thedoggiedaycare.com.
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