Dogtopia Opens Two New Locations In Richmond, Virginia

Husband-and-Wife Teams Turn their Passion for Dogs into Successful Dog Daycare Business

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Oct 15, 2012, 12:02 ET

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogtopia, a leading national dog daycare and spa franchise, announced today the opening of two new locations in Richmond, Va. With services ranging from open play dog daycare and overnight boarding to spa services, residents will now have a place to take their beloved canines. Dogtopia West End located at 7217 West Broad Street opened in September and a second location, Dogtopia Chesterfield, located at 11004 Midlothian Turnpike will be open for business by Oct. 29th and will host a grand opening celebration on Nov. 10. The community is invited to tour the facility, learn more about Dogtopia and enjoy the festivities.

Dogtopia Chesterfield is owned by husband-and-wife team, Bob and Mary Beth Murphy. When Bob and Mary Beth first met in 1998, they quickly discovered they had many interests in common — including their love for dogs. Little did they know that one day they would actually have the opportunity to turn this common love into a business. Prior to Dogtopia, Bob worked in business development across several fields including engineering and economic development. Mary Beth works as a Senior Vice President of Communications at Genworth Financial. Today, Bob and Mary Beth are realizing their dreams by opening their first Dogtopia franchise this month.

"My wife and I are very excited to be opening our first Dogtopia on the Southside of Richmond," said Dogtopia Chesterfield franchise owner, Bob Murphy. "We hope to become an extended part of the family for the community and provide their dogs with a fun and safe place to play."

Lifelong dog lovers, the Dogtopia West End location is owned by couple Will and Heather Baum. Together they have owned three rescued dogs, one of which was saved from the side of an expressway. Prior to Dogtopia, Will worked in the manufacturing industry while Heather worked as the Assistant Director at Salisbury Presbyterian Preschool. For years, Will and his wife nurtured a desire to build a business of their own. After learning about Dogtopia through Will's brother, who was a customer at the Dulles, Va. and Tysons Corner, Va. locations, they immediately fell in love with the concept.

"After researching several business opportunities, Dogtopia was the perfect concept that combined our passion for dogs and an ideal business model," said Dogtopia West End franchise owner, Will Baum. "Since our opening last month we've already received a tremendous amount of support from the community and look forward to continue bringing our quality service to customers and their pets."

Since Dogtopia launched in 2002, it has grown to 24 locations nationwide and currently has four additional locations, in various stages of development, planning to open by the end of this year.

Dogtopia's design mirrors that of a chic, upscale spa. Laid out in a similar manner to a children's daycare facility, Dogtopia has multiple playrooms to suit every personality and size. In addition to daycare and boarding, it also offers a spa, self-service dog wash, and boutique to pamper dogs of all shapes and sizes. Dogtopia's clients enjoy an open layout with play equipment and special rubber flooring to ease joints, prevent slipping, and provide a safer play area.

"We are delighted to welcome both owners to the Dogtopia family," said Amy Nichols, chief executive officer of Dogtopia. "The growing dog day care industry is becoming a great niche for those interested in franchising, helping us expand our reach and provide pet owners with a place they actually look forward to dropping their dogs off."

The division of dogs between rooms allows Dogtopia personnel to control air quality, prevent accidents, and provide an overall stress-free atmosphere. Generally, 25-30 dogs play in each room and Dogtopia employs web camera technology in each room that allows the dogs' owners to check on their pets during playtime.

For more information about Dogtopia West End, please visit http://www.dogdaycare.com/westend, or for more information on Dogtopia Chesterfield, please visit http://www.dogdaycare.com/chesterfield.

About Dogtopia®

Dogtopia®, prides itself on being a place where pets are valued as family and dogs enjoy playtime, spa treatments, and overnight stays in a positive environment. Dog owners have the assurance of leaving their beloved pets in the hands of trained professionals while they're at work or away on vacation. Dogtopia® associates nurture each and every pet as if it were their own. Each location offers dog daycare, boarding, spa services, and most also have professional grooming. Dogtopia does not breed discriminate and welcomes social dogs of all ages, sizes, and abilities. The company was founded by Amy Nichols in 2002 and began franchising in 2005. Currently, there are 21 Dogtopia franchises and three company-owned locations in operation across the U.S., with four more in development for a total of 29 to open by year-end. Visit www.dogdaycare.com for more information.