By Frances McGuire:
A beloved local business, Dog Days of Buffalo, recently celebrated the three year anniversary of its reopening after a fire during the 2006 October storm shut the business down for three years. In the years since opening their doors once again to our furry friends, Dog Days has finished remodeling and is now focused on expanding business to better fit the needs of pets and their owners.
Each day, Dog Days serves as a home away from home to the as many as 50 dogs attending doggie daycare. Victoria Misuraca, customer service manager at Dog Days, says that the daycare program is ideal for owners who work long hours and don’t want their dogs sitting at home unattended. Those who work early can have their dogs picked up from home on the “Doggie School Bus,” which transports dogs to Dog Days. The dogs spend the day under constant supervision, playing in a large outdoor area, complete with playgrounds and every type of toy a dog could dream of.
Inside, the facility is divided into two rooms: One for large dogs, which is essentially a huge open space that gives bigger dogs the space they need to run around, and one for smaller dogs, featuring futons and beds for petite breeds to cuddle up on. Both rooms have separate stalls in which the dogs are served lunch and given space to nap. In short, it’s Doggie Heaven.
It doesn’t stop with Daycare. Dog Days offers training and obedience classes for dogs of all ages and temperaments, “there’s no such thing as an old dog can’t learn new tricks,” says Misuraca. One class, called “About Town,” meets at a different locale (think Spot Coffee, Bidwell Parkway, etc.) each week. For dogs who like some additional pampering, full grooming services are also offered, and for you cat lovers, cats can be groomed, too!
Two weeks ago, Dog Days launched their in-home pet-sitting program. This new service is an alternative to pet boarding while owners are out of town. A sitter will stay with your pet overnight, allowing the dog to stay in its preferred environment while you are away. Dog Days began offering the service, which conveniently ensures the safety of your home during your trip, after calls started pouring in requesting an in-home option. More information about daycare, grooming, sitting, and training services can be found on the Dog Days of Buffalo website.
Misuraca remembers when Dog Days and Wegmans were among the only thriving businesses on Amherst Street. Much of the staff from those days remains intact, as the dedicated dog lovers stood by Dog Days through 6 years of closing, ownership change, and reopening. Now Dog Days of Buffalo is an anchor of the revitalized Black Rock area, where exciting new local businesses are joining the deserving Dog Days management in creating a buzzing (or should that be barking) new commercial area in one of Buffalo’s oldest historic districts.
Dog Days of Buffalo
632 Amherst Street
Buffalo, NY 14207
716-886-DOGS (3647)