A dog day care center begun by an entrepreneurial pet owner in 2001 has sprung into a nationwide franchise that gives busy dog lovers a respite from kennels and the guilt of leaving a pet alone during the day.
Recognizing a need for convenient pet care in her area, Amy Nichols quit her job and opened Happy Tails Dog Spa, a personal care facility, in an industrial park in Tyson's Corner, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C, USA Today reports.
Nichols indicated to reporters that convenient pet care was the main goal of her project and the main element of her success. "I knew 50,000 people come to Tyson's Corner every day. I didn't want to be where the homes were. I wanted to be where the jobs were."
A departure from typical kennel care, Dogtopia features four playrooms, a dog lounge and webcams to allow owners to watch their pets on the company's website. Customers pay up to $35 a day or more if the dog gets a bath or stays overnight.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends personal care facilities for dogs that experience separation anxiety.
