Dogtopia Brings Upscale Dog Daycare, Spa and Boarding Facility to Danvers

Posted on May 15, 2008 by Bill Dube

Established National Dog Daycare Opens Newest Location

Danvers, MA - Dogtopia, a full-service dog daycare, spa and boarding facility known for providing dogs with a fun and positive experience, will celebrate the Grand Opening of its newest location at 139 Endicott Street, offering Danvers area dog owners peace of mind, knowing their dog is in a safe and happy place while they’re at work or away from home.  The new Danvers location marks the company’s entrance into the state of Massachusetts.

The grand opening celebration will be held Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and will feature several area “doggie” businesses including Great Dog Rescue New England. Petdogtraining.com will also be on hand to share in the festivities. 

Local entrepreneur Tom Dragosits decided he was ready for a major career change after 25 years in medical engineering.  Dragosits, who always had a passion for dogs, came across the Dogtopia concept online and knew its upscale feel would be a perfect fit for the North Shore area. 

The new Dogtopia features bright yellow, green, and blue walls and is designed with the feel of an upbeat, upscale spa atmosphere.  The typical location cares for between 50 to 80 dogs per day with a ratio of one caregiver per 10-15 dogs. The location is 5,000 square feet and includes a gymnasium, romper room and lounge to suit the different sizes and play styles of their diverse clientele.

 “We feel fortunate to be a part of the Danvers community,” said Dragosits.  “We’re excited to offer area dog owners an alternative to leaving their dogs at home alone or in a kennel environment.”

Most Dogtopia locations charge about $30 per day for dog daycare service.  Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Owners can bring their own food or Dogtopia will provide it during the breakfast, lunch, or dinner feedings. All dogs undergo evaluations that include a health assessment, vaccination verification, and a temperament test to insure that the dog is social and comfortable in large groups. 

To create even more peace of mind for its customers, Dogtopia employs web cam technology that allows the dogs’ owners to check on their pets at any time.  The Dogtopia Web Cam logs more than 50,000 hits each month.

“The pet care industry is growing at an astronomical rate with over 60 percent of U.S. households owning pets,” said Amy Nichols, President and CEO of Dogtopia, “Additionally, of those surveyed, more than 80 percent of pet owners worry about their pets at work, making dog daycare one of the most popular pet care services in the industry.”

The Dogtopia concept was founded by Nichols, who opened the first location in Tysons Corner, VA in June 2002. Under Nichols’ leadership, vision and drive, Dogtopia has experienced overwhelming success and growth that led to the initial franchise offering of the concept in April 2005. Recently, Dogtopia partnered with the Findley Group, led by the former president and franchise-builder of Curves International, Gary Findley, to take the concept to the next level.

About Dogtopia™

Dogtopia™, founded in 2002, began offering franchises in 2005. Dogtopia prides itself on being a place where pets are valued as family and­ where dogs enjoy endless playtime and spa treatments in a positive environment. Dog owners have the assurance of leaving their beloved pets in the hands of trained professionals. Dogtopia™ staff willingly nurtures each pet with attention and love. Each location offers a variety of fun activities, sociable training and comfortable boarding for dogs of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities and temperaments.

About The Findley Group

Founded in 2004, the Findley Group is a franchise consulting and development company led by the former president and franchise-builder of Curves International, Gary Findley.  Under Findley’s direction as president, Curves International experienced growth in franchises from 50 locations in 1996 to more than 8,000 in 2006.  Currently, the Findley Group is working with eight innovative and exciting companies who have unique offerings for today’s marketplace.  The Findley Group specializes in bringing new business concepts to the market and developing them into complete franchise offerings.