Dogtopia Hosts Dog Wash to Benefit Military Dogs in Iraq

Waco One of Seven Locations Across the U.S. to Participate

For military dogs overseas, it's no walk in the park. Sniffing out bombs, patrolling check points and working long hours in harsh desert conditions are the daily tasks of these life-saving canines. That's why Dogtopia of Waco will participate in the company's fourth annual charity dog wash on July 13, 2008 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. to raise funds to provide care packages for canines serving their country.

With more than 1,000 military dogs in active service in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dogtopia, a full-service dog daycare, spa and boarding facility will wash local dogs to raise money for toys, treats and other canine comforts. Besides the Waco location at 5301 Bosque Blvd., there are locations across America.

Amy Nichols, founder and CEO of Dogtopia, began her campaign to raise awareness for military dogs, as well as working dogs of all kinds in July 2005. To accommodate the success of the campaign, she established a permanant charitable wing of her company called K-9 Support. To date, K-9 Support has raised more than $25,000 and sent more than 5,000 lbs of supplies overseas.

"The Dogtopia annual dog wash is our biggest event of the year for K-9 Support. I'm thrilled that seven locations are coming together to wash hundreds of dogs around the country and raise awareness about the often-forgotten military dogs overseas," Nichols said. "Most dogs we're in contact with lead very pampered lives. They have everything from gourmet treats to luxurious beds, not to mentions something as simple as air conditioning - we want to give working dogs some of those same comforts. They like toys and treats too, and hosting the dog wash is a way to provide them with some relief in the form of thoughtful care packages."

© The Waco Citizen 2008