New Gilbert dog spa caters to pampered pooches
When the economy went to the dogs, Stephen Biles bounded into investing and then into the dog business, too.
Now the 41-year-old Gilbert man is a day-trader from about 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and operates Gilbert Dogs 24/7 at Baseline and Gilbert roads the rest of the day.
“I spent 18 years in the corporate world and when I left two years ago, there were two things I wanted to do,” said Biles as he sat on a couch in the living room of Gilbert Dogs and dachshunds Fritz and Molly jumped up beside him.
“I wanted to trade stocks and since I am a dog lover and have owned dogs all my life, I wanted to get into working with dogs.
“Now I make a good living trading stocks and opened Gilbert Dogs in October and business is picking up.”
Biles said he saw a niche for a dog center that offered day care, boarding, training, grooming and a “taxi service.”
“So many people these days – especially people a little older – consider their dogs to be their children and want only the best for them,” he said. “People who drop off their dog here are sometimes in tears at being separated from them. They call all the time and ask how they are. They really are attached.”
Many area veterinarians and other professionals who deal with dogs are seeing large number of “empty nesters” doting on their canine pets.
Veterinarian Stephen Hall, who operates Affordable Veterinary Clinic at 4830 E. Main St. in Mesa, says he sees it daily.
“Lots of people whose kids have moved away become more and more attached to their animals,” Hall said. “We have lots of retired people around us and dogs are their best friends. We have widows and widowers and their dog is their buddy. And they spend a lot on their dog. Even folks on a limited income spend as much as they can on their pet.”
Biles says he offers dog lovers first-class care for their pooches.
Between manager Tina Hampton and a person who spends the night on a futon at the facility, “the dogs always have human companionship; there is always supervision,” Biles said.
Hampton said that during day care, she plays hide and seek, fetch, run-up-the-ramp, run-through-the-tunnel and other games with the dogs. There is also nap time.
“Dogs just love interaction and having fun,” Hampton said, as Fritz jumped up and grabbed a toy from her hand and a big basset hound named Peewee stood up and begged for a treat.”We make sure day care is fun and engaging.”
The living room is at the front of the facility. There are sleeping and grooming quarters behind it, and in the back is an outdoor area with two small, blue kiddie pools.
“Fritz loves going for a swim now and then out back, and we’re going to put an awning up so there is shade in the summer,” Biles said as Fritz sprinted from the living room, through the sleeping area, ran around the pool twice and then scooted back toward the living room.
Biles said dogs coming to the facility must have all their shots up to date and be spayed or neutered.
“Safety is our main theme,” he said. “We check all new dogs to see how they get along with the other dogs, and we supervise very closely.”
Biles said his shuttle service has been popular.
“We’ll pick up your dog, put it in a harness and seat belt while we drive, and bring the dog back here for day care or boarding or whatever,” he said. “I’ve also started working out an arrangement with some hotels where when a person comes into town with their dog we’ll get the dog at the hotel, bring it here, then return when the client leaves town.”
Gilbert Dogs 24/7 also allows owners to drop off or pick up dogs 24 hours a day.
“We have people who work at night who may need to pick up at 4 a.m. and since we have a person here all night, we can accommodate that,” Biles said.
Biles said he sometimes gives his night-care person a break and does the job himself.
“I’ll lay down on the futon, get comfortable, fall asleep, and wake up with three dogs sleeping with me,” he said. “Everybody’s happy, and that’s what we want.”
