Pet spa caters to pampered pooches

[Times photo: Jim Damaske] Linda Gavel's dog Citta gets a treat last week from her daughter, Summer, at their shop Happy Tails.

By JULIE CHURCH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 1, 2001

OLDSMAR -- Like many 6-month-olds, Pepper goes to day care.

She has play time in the morning, nap time in the afternoon, and if she's good she'll be allowed to watch a video. If she misbehaves, she will go to "time out."

Pepper is a tricolored Shih-Tzu. She attends day care at Happy Tails pet spa and doggie hotel, part of a new business at 3705 Tampa Road that caters to pampered pets.

Happy Tails and Natural Pet, a health food store for dogs and cats, share a storefront.

Mary Ann Evans and Linda Gavel, both 49, met at another Natural Pet store Gavel owns in Dunedin. Evans was a pet sitter who liked to feed her clients natural pet food and treats. When she heard Gavel was opening a store in Oldsmar, she saw an opportunity to cut down the mileage on her car while filling a niche for pet owners who want more than a kennel for their dogs.

Happy Tails offers both a day care service for dog owners who don't want to leave their pet alone and a doggie hotel for overnight boarding.

The hotel features individual "suites" -- large spaces divided by white PVC-fencing about 4 feet tall -- with beds. Each bed has its own brightly colored linens with themes like "Blues Clues," from the children's TV show featuring a big blue dog.

Dogs are allowed to roam freely through the doggie hotel during the day and to socialize with other guests. If a dog is acting too aggressive or misbehaving, it will be separated from the other dogs in a "time out" area.

A variety of balls and chew toys are available for playing. A large green agility tube, which resembles a playground toy, provides opportunities for doggie hide-and-seek.

A selection of animal videos is shown throughout the day on a television in the common area.

"The dogs love the videos," Evans said." Jungle Book is a favorite."

Evans said one frequent guest, a rottweiler named Bennett, put his nose against the television set each time a new animal appeared in the movie.

Nap time lasts from noon to 2 p.m. and includes soothing music.

Evans also offers massage and bathing services. She does not groom pets, but plans to add a part-time groomer.

Evans has spent every night since the facility opened Sept. 1 on a futon in the facility to provide 24-hour care for the pets.

"Generally we all end up sleeping together," she said.

Rates for the hotel are $35 per night with discounts for extended stays and for more than one dog from the same family.

Day care is $23 per day or $3.50 per hour, and includes field trips to local parks, nature walks and beaches. Other services range from pet photography to pet birthday parties.

On the other side of the store front, Gavel runs Natural Pet, a store she describes as a "GNC Store for dogs and cats." All of the pet food is advertised as 100 percent natural and containing no byproducts.

"It is made from the same things we eat," she said. "Before man made dog food, dogs ate what people ate and they were a lot more healthy."

In addition to a wide range of organic foods, a Tampa baker provides the store with natural pet treats.

Peanut butter cups are made from natural peanut butter and coated with carob or yogurt, said Gavel. A variety of doggie bagels are available and dog treats come in flavors like apple cinnamon and pumpkin.

Gavel sells several essential oils, herbal supplements and natural grooming products as alternatives to those containing chemicals. She also sells organic wheat grass kits for pet owners with pets that like to eat grass.

"In Florida we spray so many chemicals on our grass," she said. "My pets eat this grass like little lawn mowers.

Gavel is a dog trainer who studied pet nutrition while attending the U.S. Canine Training Academy in Connecticut. She started her first Natural Pet store at 1208 County Road 1 in Dunedin two years ago and said business has been steadily growing because she offers personalized service and consultation to her customers.

"If a pet is having a problem, we go through a whole day of the pet's activities to identify things that could be causing the problem," she said. "Most people are thrilled when they see the results."

- Julie Church can be reached at (727) 445-4229 or church@sptimes.com.

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