Allison Shafer with Maggie, her German Shepherd
If you know Allison Shafer, you know she’s a whirlwind of fun and energy! Owner of Dam Dog Walkers here in Boulder City, she heard from friends and pet owners who told her that Boulder City could use a dog day care and overnight boarding. She was several steps ahead of those requests, already seeking locations and permits required to operate the facility called Dam Dog House.
For a little background on Allison, she’s a born and raised Boulder City resident, married to Adam with two beautiful daughters. She and her family have been fostering dogs on and off for over twelve years. She’s been a Fear Free licensed trainer for 15 years and worked at a Fear Free veterinary clinic. Finding a location that would be compatible with the city’s zoning, being considerate of neighboring business, while also providing a fun and safe environment was a huge first step for Allison. When the proposed location at 1656 Boulder City Parkway became available, she made sure to check all the boxes. The process took about 2-1/2 years to find a good location, in part due to the pandemic and needing to shift gears a bit from her primary business.
She and Adam began working out the financial aspect of the business and got to work designing the ultimate doggie daycare space that could be modified in a number of ways to keep the space fun and interesting for her four-legged clients. Safety was also a primary concern, as well as making sure the area could be easily cleaned and sanitized daily for the dogs. She enlisted the help of local contractors and tradespeople, tapping Ruben and Dixie of Ruben’s Woodcrafts to help create some of the features for the smaller dog area of the daycare.
In addition to specific plans for her daycare business, Allison spent some time talking to successful business owners in town to make sure she had the behind-the-scenes skills necessary for expanding and operating her business. She really is a detailed planner and great at executing on those plans!
Allison plans to start with interviewing dogs and their owners in mid- to late July, with an eye to an August opening. There will be room for 25-30 dogs in the daycare. There will also be 5 dedicated runs for private boarding. There will also be a large area for open boarding. You can follow her progress at the Dam Dog House Facebook page HERE. You can also reach out to Allison via email HERE. We are so excited for this needed service here in Boulder City and wish Allison continued success with her business.
