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The full name is Dogtopia Daycare & Spa. Sisters Kim and Amy Nichols are betting at least $35,000 it will succeed at pampering pooches and relieving guilt in dog owners.
What more could a canine ask for?
Pets will get petted and hang out with their buddies all day. They also will get nap time when they grow weary of frolicking ‹ and if they get cranky, they may get a massage.
The price? About $27 a day for one-day drop-ins; $21 a day for owners who leave their pets at Dogtopia up to five days a week.
"It's not inexpensive," says Kim Nichols, adding: "It's really for those people who realize that socialization and exercise for dogs is very important."
From a price standpoint, the cost to keep Rover at Dogtopia is comparable to keeping pre-school youngsters in day care. In fact, day care is available all over town for less than $100 a week.
"At the end of the day, you're picking up a child," says Kim Nichols. "A very tired, four-legged child."
Kim and Amy are leasing the former Kidzville space in Lake Air Center, Bosque Boulevard and Wooded Acres Drive.
They are remodeling it into Dogtopia and hope to have it open for packs of pups early next year. They also have access to outdoor space so their clients won't get cabin fever.
"A facility this size, gosh, could handle 80 to 100 dogs or more. We would love to get to that stage," Kim Nichols said.
Dogs will be separated by size and temperament, and, yes, they will be given personality tests before they "enroll" at Dogtopia.
They will get baths, play time, human attention and naps when they need them, said Amy Nichols, adding: "Web cameras will allow owners to log in during the day to check on Fluffy playing with her friends."
Overnight and weekend stays will be offered, but the Nichols sisters emphasize that Dogtopia is not simply a boarding kennel.
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