Comments on: Lavish Dog Spas Across America

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:52:38 +0000

There is a place in Indianapolis right across from the airport (great name and location). They offer both day and overnight care. My sister will drop off her 2 chocolate labs when they go on vacation and can’t take them with. Its alot better than just taking them to the vet to boarded because this way they get interaction all day.

One of her labs is like a JRT – and is OCD about his Kong. When you pick him up after a stay he smells really bad but often he will fall asleep in the car on the way home and its only a 15 minute drive.

By: Will

Will — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:07:11 +0000

I’ve worked part-time at a Doggy Day-Care facility in NJ for several months. I think it’s great, for those who can afford it, and who work long hours. At least their dogs get a chance to play with other dogs during the day, rather than sit home alone, holding their bladders and waiting for Master to come home. But it is, in a sense, like the people I know who go to foreign countries to adopt children, then leave them in day care all day while both parents go to make six-figure salaries in demanding jobs. My question is, if you wanted the dog/kid that much, you really ought to think about their needs first. Otherwise, maybe you shouldn’t have adopted them to begin with. Dogs, like kids, need social interaction in order to thrive.

By: Doc

Doc — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:19:39 +0000

Amy,

I agree. Our priorities in this country (and the rest of the industrialized world) are completely skewed.

More money is spent researching new types of mascara than on AIDS and cancer research combined – a LOT more money. Factor into that anti-aging cremes and treatments and you have a sum larger than the GNP of half of Africa.

But I’ve been saying this for 40 years and nobody listens…

I do not currently have a dog, but when I did a special day for her involved two walks and a chance at the leftovers. She seemed perfectly happy with that.

And pet psychologists? Don’t get me started on that…

By: kate

kate — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:15:23 +0000

Interesting post, but this all strikes me as sort of unconscionable. It’s fitting with the sickening excesses American culture deems necessary, but it really just makes me sad.

I realize that each person can do what they want with their own money, but maybe they should use that money to get outside the U.S. (and I don’t mean to western Europe) and get a sense of how out-of-whack their priorities are.

By: noway

noway — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:22:02 +0000

I worked at one of these places part time since I love dogs and thought it would be a fun job….wrong. I would never send my dog to a daycare. The filth, the over aggresive dogs, and not to mention the favoritism with some dogs and the complete lack of attention others received was enough to drive me crazy. 20 bucks a day no way. A good business to own though.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:15:31 +0000

Waaaaaay uncalled for, Trent. So not cool.

By: sinatradad

sinatradad — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:17:52 +0000

Aha, Amy does not deny that Sinatra cobbles shoes at Dogtopia. Your sister was right!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:15:35 +0000

Thank you, Trent. I didn’t skip U.S. History class in high school. Apparently the tongue-in-cheek nature of my blurb about the Yankee Dog Retreat wasn’t clear enough.

By: Trent

Trent — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:06:32 +0000

It’s called Yankee (the retreat in Boston) because it’s a catch-all term for those in New England, or, if you like, those in the Northeast. Do some research.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:11:27 +0000

Maybe it’s just luck, but my JRT isn’t a terror and is never destructive – no matter how long I’m out. Not to say the spas aren’t great, but I’ve found it’s better to find a pet sitter to come to the house than put the dog in any spa or day care. She just is more at ease and gets to stay in her/my bed.