The BarkMore Pet Hotel and Daycare has doubled in size and is now operating out of its new facility on Shallowford Road, where it moved in May from its previous location of 10 years.
Owner Heather Frost opened The BarkMore in 2008 to provide the area with a cage-free boarding and day care facility for dogs and cats. Frost's kids have been involved with the family business since day 1, she said, and she has been able to grow The BarkMore even further since she remarried last year thanks to her husband's support. The couple has five teenagers between the two of them, and along with Frost's father, they all helped paint and build rooms in the new facility, she said.
The staff at The BarkMore Pet Hotel knows the personality of each client and takes pride in providing individualized service, says owner Heather Frost."My passion had always been animals, especially dogs," said Frost, who also works full time as a case manager for BlueCross BlueShield.
At The BarkMore, multiple dogs from the same home can be housed in a room together, providing more of a home-like feel, she said. For animals that tend to get anxious in boarding or day care settings, The BarkMore also offers VIP suites closed off from other pets that are outfitted with a TV, toys and bedding. The goal is to make sure every pet is comfortable and doesn't get scared, she said.
"We try to cater to dogs that don't know they're dogs," joked Frost, adding that her staff is excellent at providing pets with individualized care. "The staff knows each dog's personality."
Staff members even text pet parents photos of their furry friends having a great time, which clients love, she said.
The business does a fairly equal mix of boarding and day care services, though it does see an increase in boarding during the summer months, said Frost. She said she's seen an increase in out-of-town customers using the boarding services at the new facility, which is located near several large hotels.
The BarkMore can accommodate just under 40 dogs for day care, and 80-90 dogs for boarding.
The top level of the new three-story facility is a large room filled with cat condos, which is used strictly for cat boarding, said Frost.
An open house for the new location is planned for July 10 from 5-7 p.m., and regulars as well as new clients are encouraged to come by - with their dogs, if they'd like - and tour the new facility. There will also be giveaways and refreshments.
The BarkMore Pet Hotel and Daycare is at 7331 Shallowford Road and can be reached at 475-5147, or visit thebarkmore.com to learn more.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.