Do You Lucky Dog or Pooch?
After moving into the neighborhood, I strolled by Lucky Dog for information on their services, and recieved a brochure and I was able to make an appointment to bring my puppy by for a personality evaluation and tour the building. This is standard, as aggressive dogs are not tolerated.
Upon arrival at my appointment to see if Wilbur, my 9 month old pointer mix was “day-care worthy”, I instantly saw a bond formed between him and Bonnie, the owner. She gave him a big hug, then took him back to meet all of his new friends. The tour consisted of a large area where the dog can run from each other all day, sniff some tail and have a great time, but there was also a decent sized outdoor area where Wilbur fell in love with one of many children’s plastic pools. The facility is open 7 days a week, from 7 to 7 and services include day care $25 (full or partial days) and overnight $35. Bonnie also explained that between the hours of noon and 2, the doors of Lucky Dog are closed for “nap and snack time”. You are welcome to bring your dog’s own food, purchase a can of food provided for $3, or choose to let your pup just have a snack of dog bones provided by the staff.
In contrast of such a great afternoon involving getting to know Bonnie and Lucky Dog’s staff, I also considered taking Wilbur to Pooch, after all, it would save me a couple of steps. However, when I arrived with the same speach (“I just moved into the area, checking out day care…blah, blah”) I was looked directly in the eye by the blondest, tannest woman I’d ever seen and was asked if I had an appointment. Again, I explained that I was just walking by, but then she told me that if I didn’t have an appointment then I could just look them up online.
Sure, I can look almost anyone up online, but all I wanted to know was how much it was going to cost me, so I tried to explain again that I was only after some information. After all, isn’t that what she’s there for? But, in mid-sentence I was cut off and told to look them up online. I was so angry, but looked them up anyway.
What it basically boils down to is that for $30 more a day your dog can stay with a woman who doesn’t look like she’s ever scooped the poop in her life in fear of ruining her french manicure and there is no out-door space for dogs to run around in. I know this for a fact, because we share the same alley way as Pooch. They only have a 4’x10′ fenced in concrete area where they place up to 10 dogs at a time out there. I also know this for a fact, as I hear them barking all weekend long.
Sure, Pooch has more services, such as expensive grooming, but the fact of the matter is that I’d rather my dog run all day long, enjoy some fresh air and come home exhausted and happy.
Since then I’ve been taking Wilbur to Lucky Dog at least once a week. He loves it, and comes home too tired to do anything, but is really happy. Bonnie and her staff are so great, they know him by name and even gave Wilbur a birthday present just last week. They also require your dog to be up to date on shots and spayed or neutered.
So, if you have to leave your beloved dog for the day (or night) take my advice and leave the snobby attitudes of Pooch to the bitches and take your dog where dog care is actually about the care, not about what kind of car the owner drives. You and he/she will really feel like the Lucky Dog.
