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Every dog has his day at Petco
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Springfield's Runt (left) and Suade played together Dec. 12 during Pooch Playtime's large breed session. The indoor dog park will be open each Sunday through the end of January.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Friends of Paws Town members Linda Fabian (left) Barb Ricker, Tomi Beach, Jason Loree with wife, Abbey and Gene King teamed up with Petco General Manager Nicole Calhoun (front kneeling) for Pooch Playtime. Canine friends Abbey (left), Abby, Izzy and Rumor tagged along for the social gathering.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Friends of Paws Town member Abbey Fabian took a photo with Santa Claus Dec. 12 after attending Pooch Playtime at Petco in Boardman.
Pet owners battled the winter weather Dec. 12 to take their dogs to the opening day of Pooch Playtime.
The Friends of Paws Town and Boardman’s Petco have teamed up to provide an indoor haven for socialization of dogs regardless of breed and size.
Located in the back of Petco, the large private room provides a secure place for dogs to run freely with other dogs. Free bandannas were given out to each pooch and Santa Claus made a special appearance to greet the pets.
This is Petco’s first time having a weekly indoor play area for dogs. According to Nicole Calhoun, Petco general manager, the store reopened this year focusing primarily on canines and felines, so there is a lot of vacant space since the store used to focus on more pets. To put this space to good use, the store hosts adoption weekends each month and now features weekly dog playtime.
“This is a good way for the dogs to get their exercise and socialize at the same time,” Calhoun said. “Especially since the weather is so bad.”
Small breeds, less than 25 pounds, can play from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and large breeds, 25 pounds and more, get their time from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The indoor playtime is offered every Sunday with a tentative end date of Jan. 30. Calhoun said depending on how the community reacts to the Pooch Playtime, it may become a permanent weekly activity.
There is no charge for the playtime, but donations are accepted in support of the future Paws Town of Boardman.
Friends of Paws Town member Abbey Loree said the indoor play area is good for the community and the dogs because it gets people out the house to meet fellow dog owners. She believes dogs need to socialize, even if they aren’t used to encountering other canines.
“Even if your dogs have some behavioral problems, but you want to introduce them to other dogs, this is a good place to do it,” Loree explained. “Our personal dogs are very mild-tempered and its’s OK for your nervous dog to approach them.”