We are proud to have active community service as a cornerstone of our company. We strive to be an asset in every city we join and truly believe that it is part of our duty as business owners to give back to the wonderful communities which support us.

All Dogtopia® franchise owners are encouraged to seek out opportunities to give back. The following articles feature Dogtopia owners who have gone above and beyond in service to their community.

Charlotte Unchained

When Nicole Pennell chose to open her own Dogtopia in Charlotte, NC, she looked forward to participating in the charitable aspects of owning a business just as much as the daily puppy kisses!

As her Grand Opening approached she was thrilled to involve a charity close to her heart - The Coalition to Unchain Dogs.

As their website simply states: The Coalition to Unchain Dogs is a non-profit, volunteer effort dedicated to improving the welfare of dogs living outdoors on chains.

They work diligently to make the chaining of dogs a thing of the past by building free fences for people who chain their dogs in a yard, educating the community on the detrimental effects of chaining and lobbying for legislation against the tethering of dogs. Since their founding in 2007, the organization has provided a fence and freedom to over 500 dogs.

When asked why this charity was so important to her, Nicole shared that she was drawn to the charity because she hated the thought of a dog living their life on a chain.

"One of the reasons I became a Dogtopia franchisee is to promote open play for dogs to run free and have fun. A chained dog is the antithesis of that idea, so I want to do anything I can to stop tethering in North Carolina and Charlotte especially," Nicole stated.

Proceeds for CTUD were collected during Nicole's Grand Opening via a raffle with prizes donated from other businesses attending the party. She pledged to match all funds raised and ultimately enough was collected to build an entire fence for one chained dog in need!

Dogtopia of Charlotte's involvement won't stop there. Nicole and her team will volunteer with CTUD when it's time for their donated fence to go up. She will also remain an active sponsor of the organization by supporting upcoming fundraising events.

Dogtopia of Charlotte's involvement won't stop there. Nicole and her team will volunteer with CTUD when it's time for their donated fence to go up. She will also remain an active sponsor of the organization by supporting upcoming fundraising events.

Dogtopia Cares Index >>

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2011 Dog Wash	Lucky Dogs	Record Numbers	2010 Paws for Pink	Fashion for Paws	Charlotte Unchained