BLOOMSBURG — Otis, a Decker rat terrier, gets a workout at his doggie daycare.
“Even after taking Otis to daycare for several months, I still find myself having to lure Otis to the car to go home because he just wants to play, play, play. That is the sign of an excellent daycare,” said Lisa Leighton, of Millville.
The socialization he gets at Wagging Tail Doggie Daycare in Bloomsburg is priceless. “Otis is confident, friendly and eager to play with dogs of all sizes and ages,” she said.
“They say a tired dog is a good dog, and it’s really true. When Otis comes home from daycare after playing all day with his pals, he’s well behaved and usually completely exhausted,” she said.
Linda Wideman opened the daycare at 95 E. 10th St. at the end of February. There are a few others in the area.
On a recent day, four regulars were there: 6-month-old Otis, 6-month-old West Highland terrier Bridget, 10-month-old Jack Russell terrier Bandit and Birdie, a 6-year-old terrier mix. Sophie, a 2-year-old Bichon-poodle, was new and trying it out for two hours.
“This crew plays with each other. They chase balls and do some wrestling,” Wideman said while the dogs were busy in the 30-foot by 50-foot playroom. Twice a week, she entertains bigger dogs with balls and Frisbees.
They go outside onto the deck and into the fenced-in yard, where there is a tunnel and other pieces for them to go in and out of or stand on. In the summer, the dogs swim in a 3-foot-deep 13-foot by 17-foot pool.
Wideman lets them outside as much as possible to get some fresh air.
Some people bring their dogs for an hour, a half day or a full day. Some dogs come two days a week, said Wideman, who supervises the play time. “They do take a break and have nap times,” she said, as well as treats. Some people bring food for her to feed to their pets.
Owners bring their pets as a treat or a break in their routine, for fun, exercise and socialization or as a place to spend time during home-remodeling projects.
“While people are at work, their dog doesn’t get enough exercise or socialization. They become more comfortable around people and get out of their world. Usually once they try it, they love it. Some dogs start crying on the way here because they know they’re coming here,” Wideman said of the daycare at 784-WAGG.
Wideman said the daycare “is something I always wanted to do. I had the opportunity, and I took it.” She is a certified pet care technician and also certified in pet first aid and pet cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
With it being an unusual idea and the economy still in a slump, it has been hard to grow the business, she said.
“This is a relatively new concept here,” she said. “In the cities, daycares have waiting lists.”
“I enforce good habits such as sitting and lying down with treats,” said Wideman, who didn’t grow up with pets but has had dogs for 25 years. She has two dogs that aren’t daycare material. Elsa is a 3-year-old Bermese mountain dog, and 11-year-old Maggie is a Labrador mix from the Danville SPCA. Elsa likes to be at home, and Maggie isn’t friendly with other dogs, she said.
Her job isn’t just playing with dogs all day. She has to clean up every night. “Cleanliness is so important,” she said.
“There’s nothing better than a bunch of happy dogs,” said Wideman, who lives in the Stillwater area.
She gets some help from Silke Wittig, of Millville, owner and president of HeRo Canine Consulting. Silke conducts evening classes at the doggie daycare. “Linda has a very structured place, and she tries to match the right dogs. She wants all dogs to have a good experience here,” said Wittig, who has had her business since 2005 and previously managed a large doggie daycare in Ohio.
She and Wideman offer free workshops on such topics as canine body language, CPR and shelter dogs.
The daycare is collecting pet food, toys, accessories, collars and litter for clients of the Columbia-Montour Aging Office. “We hope this will keep seniors with their pets,” Wideman said.
News
Related Photos
-
Karen Blackledge / The Daily Ite
Discussion
Bloomsburg: Daycare goes to the dogs
- News
-
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
-
New Berlin pushes to acquire school
NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
- More News Headlines
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
