Dogged Palmy pair raising the woof on career dreams
Looking through the window of PawPals Playcare is like looking at a book of dog breeds. The sizes, colours, hair lengths and energy levels vary hugely. Probably unlike their owners, the dogs don't seem to mind being back into their daycare routines.
Roger Symes and Josh Everson opened the business in October in central Palmerston North. They had spent about four months renovating the former spray painting premises.
Symes and Everson were working as personal trainers and massage therapists, industries hit hard by Covid-19. During last year's lockdown, they reflected on whether they were doing what they wanted to do and decided to open a doggy daycare.
They say it is lab approved — lab
being the first initials of their dogs. Symes has labradoodles Lilly and Bella while border collie Ace is Everson's dog. Everson says they have built a daycare where their own dogs can have fun.
Activities include a sandpit where the pooches can dig for toys and bones, a bubble machine that spits out beef and chicken-flavoured bubbles, rope pull, and a tunnel. There are indoor and outdoor play areas
plus breakout pens for rest time.
A vet nurse is always on duty, and a maximum of 12 dogs to a handler. Everson likens the staff to lifeguards or referees with a safety focus.
Before a dog can attend daycare it undergoes a behaviour assessment. Downstairs is the integrated dog land and work has started on creating little dog land upstairs. It will be for toy and boutique dogs up to 12kg.
The benefits of doggy daycare
include developing good behaviour, and the ability to socialise with other dogs, Everson says.
Everson and Symes have had an “insane” number of inquiries about grooming services. They have space upstairs for a grooming parlour and plan to do the Tauranga-based NZ Dog Grooming School course.
Everson has lived in Palmerston North since he was 4, while Symes is Palmy born and raised.