Filling a dishwasher full of dog bowls and playing fetch did not come in the job description when Sara Moock and Taryn Giles became business owners. The sisters were regular customers of Petropolitan doggie daycare when out of the blue the owner called to see if they’d be interested in purchasing the business.
“It was almost too good to be true,” Giles tells Business Report in its new Entrepreneur feature.
Both sisters already enjoyed working with animals. Moock worked for six years as a technician at a veterinary hospital, and she and Giles often volunteered at the animal shelter and adoption organizations. With little hesitation, the sisters assumed ownership of the dog hotel and spa in 2012.
Their clientele has since doubled. While Giles says the increase initially presented logistical challenges, it was ultimately a good problem to have.
“We knew we were doing something right,” Giles says.
Over the past three years, the sisters have dedicated time to learning learn more about dog behavior and cognition to better manage and understand the needs of their furry friends. Moock is working toward becoming a certified dog trainer, although she says that is not necessarily a service Petropolitan will offer. Instead, the owners’ goal is to continually educate their staff on how to read canine body language and understand their feelings to keep employees and pets safe and happy.
Many of Petropolitan’s customers are regulars. They bring their pets every day, allowing the staff to create a home-like environment for them.
“Daycare is amazing because you really get to know the dogs and their personalities,” Giles says. “We really put a lot of thought into grouping dogs together by compatible play styles, which makes a huge difference.”
After doubling the staff to 18 employees and increasing the capacity, Petropolitan now handles about 60 dogs daily for daycare and boarding. Giles attributes the pet daycare market’s growth to a greater awareness of the service, increases in pet spending nationwide and a new generation of pet owners who treat their dogs like a member of the family.
“We have some people who drop their dog off here and then drop their kids off at school,” Giles says.
Read the full Entrepreneur feature on Giles and Moock. Send your comments to editors@busienssreport.com.
