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March 7, 2003/Adar2 3 5763, Vol. 55, No. 28
Dog daycare is 'ruff life'
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
"Shaggy sons" and "doggy daughters" have an alternative to chewing the blinds, harassing the pool man and digging up the backyard while their human parents are at work - doggy daycare.
It's A Ruff Life, a fully supervised and cage-free dog daycare, opened in Phoenix in October 2000 by "Top Dog" Eileen Proctor, a former corporate marketing professional and a life-long lover of dogs.
"Dog daycare is exactly like what you would expect for two-legged children, but we have twice as much fun because we have four legs," says Proctor.
The 7,500-square-foot facility, located on the northwest corner of Shea Boulevard and 32nd Street in Phoenix, is a former daycare center for human children. The site offers a fully fenced yard and several large rooms to allow daycare dogs to be separated by temperament and activity level, explains Proctor.
Also like human daycare, the day is broken into playtime, snack time, naptime and even movie time.
"We have a room called the Couch Potato Room where the doggies get to take naps and see about 50 different doggy videos," says Proctor. "Nothing scary like Old Yeller, nothing raunchy like Doggie Does Dallas - they are all G-rated."
In addition to the standard biscuits, balls and belly rubs, the daycare offers agility climbing equipment, tunnels to run through and baby pools and misting systems during the summer months, explains Proctor.
"We satiate all of the dogs' love and activity needs during the day so that when Mom and Dad come home at night, they can cuddle on the couch with a happy and tired dog," says Proctor.
Proctor, the proud "mother" of Arielle, a golden retriever, and Dizney, a border collie mix, began the business after becoming burned out in the corporate marketing world.
"I started seeing magazine articles, TV spots and newspaper articles about this thing called Doggy Daycare," remembers Proctor. "It was like God was giving me all these messages."
Proctor traveled to California, the birthplace of the dog daycare concept, and visited about 25 dog daycares in less than a week.
"I made a list of the good, the bad and the ugly," she says. "I took out what I didn't like, added what I did like and added my own special flavor. The more I researched it, the more I realized this would be a wonderful service to have in Phoenix."
Shortly thereafter, Proctor opened Phoenix's first dog daycare facility which now has a staff of 12, including eight playtime counselors, three groomers and a general manager. The business also offers a grooming facility, "It's a Fluff Life at Ruff Life," which is also cage-free. Dogs do not have to attend the daycare to use the grooming service.
Proctor also strives to provide a safe environment for her four-legged friends.
"They all need to be up to date on their shots and be spayed or neutered if they are over 6 months old," says Proctor.
Dogs are pre-screened for temperament and their ability to relate to other dogs and people.
"We jokingly say that they are nice kids that play well with others and don't run with scissors," says Proctor.
It's A Ruff Life usually accommodates about 40 dogs a day, although they are separated into groups of 13 or less, each with its own counselor. "Parents" can also take advantage of discounted rates for bringing "siblings," or pay the normal $27.50 for an 11-hour day. Half-day rates are also available. There is no requirement for frequency of visits.
"Our business truly meets the needs of a changing society," says Proctor. "The best thing that we can say is that we really believe that at the end of the day, the doggies go home and tell their parents what a great time they've had and give us a 'paws up.' Its all about the dogs here at It's A Ruff Life."
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