"At 22 years old, Chris Simpson actually enjoys showing up to work a quarter before 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and sometimes on the weekends. While most men his age would shudder at such prospects, Simpson couldn't be more pleased about his situation. You might even say that he is as happy as a puppy with two tails about his job. But then, who wouldn't be? He gets to play with dogs all day.
Simpson and his girlfriend, Tiffany Morrow, are the owners and operators of Dogtown, a doggy daycare and boarding company on Manchester Street in the old Manchester Center, which opened its dog doors and regular doors in January of this year.
Morrow and Simpson are self-proclaimed dog people, which is evident as a portrait of the couple's two dogs, Betty and Cleo, hangs in the front office and Brandy, a small Dachshund and new resident at Dogtown who is still being acclimated, waddles under the desk and into Morrow's lap while she answers the phone. Of course, their love for man's best friend spurred the idea for a boarding and daycare business, but their guilt and worry when they had to use such facilities groomed Dogtown.
"[Our dogs] are like our kids. We'd go out of town and couldn't have a good time because we were so worried about our dogs being boarded or locked up in a kennel eight hours a day, or eight hours plus. We'd be so worried about the dogs that it was hard to have fun if did go on vacation," Simpson said. "Here, it's guilt free. You can go out of town and you can have a good time, because your dog is going to have a blast here. It's a vacation for your dog as well."
With an expansive backyard, an indoor gymnasium (and treated floors for quick clean ups) and kiddy pools throughout the premises, Dogtown stresses and focuses on exercise and social interaction, not isolation. Here the residents play in packs out in the open or just hang out inside during the dog days of summer, it's their choice.
Many dog owners, especially those that might over-pamper their pets, might spurn at the idea of having their dog, certainly smaller dogs, near other, strange dogs, but Simpson and Morrow contend that most dogs haven't had the chance for that sort of interaction.
"I've had people come in and say that their dog is petrified of big dogs, but then sure enough, I'll introduce it to one or two to the side and let it get comfortable. Once it finds out that these big dogs aren't going to hurt them, they're not going to bother them, they're fine," Simpson said. "A lot of people will not put their dogs in that situation because they're scared."
Each new client is also put through a screening process to see if the possible resident is going to be compatible with Dogtown's operations and owners. The owners are also interviewed to learn the subtle characteristics of each animal and to provide records for dogs' shots. Most dogs simply require two or three days to get socialized, but sometimes, the situation, namely for dogs that have been rescued, isn't going to work.
"If they're not adjusted within three days, then it's probably not going to happen," Morrow said. "It's not worth torturing them anymore."
Simpson and Morrow have only had to turn away one dog since opening, and they also put their employees through a similar screening process to see how capable they are in dealing with dogs. Right now, they currently dog-sit for 15 to 20 dogs a day, with a handful of overnighters, but they could comfortably take on up to 60 now that they have two full-time employees and a dedicated volunteer (again, they do get to play with dogs all day).
Aside from operating Dogtown, Morrow and Simpson are also active in the canine community, working the K9 Olympics for the Woodford Humane Society last year and organizing the Atomic Dog event earlier in May at the Atomic Cafè where patrons could bring their pets to a patio party to benefit the Lexington Humane Society. They also host doggy birthday parties (with doggy cakes) and Love on a Leash meetings during some evenings.
"We're really big into educating dog owners on how important it is to exercise them (the dogs) and socialize them, because it just makes for a happier dog and easier to handle dog," Morrow said.
Dogtown is located at 1026 Manchester St. Daycare hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. To schedule an interview during normal hours, call (859) 252-DOGS. For more information about Dogtown's services and special events, visit www.dogtownlexington.com.
Robbie Clark is editor of Business Lexington's sister publication W Weekly, a free community publication available in racks and outdoor street boxes throughout Lexington.