My Biz: Enriching the lives of pets

MARION — On a quiet, chilly Tuesday morning, a visitor receives an enthusiastic welcome from two clients at Dog Star Enrichment Pet Care.

“You’re going to be OK,” Chavis told Cooper, an adult silver Lab, and Lola Tilly, a miniature Australian shepherd who, despite her name, is 10 months old. “You play. I’ll take you to the treadmill later.”

After years of experience walking dogs — including the streets of New York City — Chavis was looking to expand her services when she opened Dog Star in November. Her goal for the business, which is state-licensed for dog and cat day care and boarding, is higher.

“It’s not just walking,” Chavis said. “We want to try to stimulate their mind and their body, so the social aspect they get, to come with their friends. We do a little bit of reinforcement training. We work with them if their owners are having a little bit of an issue with, ‘He won’t sit, he won’t play,’ things like that. We don’t do the training itself, but we do the strengthening.

Like their owners, many dogs benefit from a little exercise. Cooper, the genial silver Lab, has lost six pounds since starting day care, Chavis said.

“That’s because of the treadmill,” he said. “Ten minutes in the morning, 10 in the afternoon, and 10 minutes before going home. There are varying degrees of enthusiasm for this. We put some dogs in here, and they just wouldn’t budge. Cooper, we can’t avoid him.”

Moving around

Chavis, 42, worked as a corrections officer in her native North Carolina before her husband Ranjit Nair’s work brought their young family to New York City.

“I wanted to do something a little bit part-time just to keep me busy,” he said. “I started walking dogs for people in our building. It’s easier there — there are lots of dogs in one building, so you don’t have to go far.”

Nair’s next job brought another move, in May 2020.

“We were living in New York at the time, and we were in the middle of the COVID lockdown with two kids in an 800-square-foot apartment,” Chavis said. “It was not fun. My husband was working at Transamerica at the time, and they transferred him.

“We bought our house (in Marion) sight unseen. We didn’t know anyone here when we moved here. It took us about a year to settle, and then I started,” walking dogs for their owners.

Which eventually led to Dog Star.

“We had the idea for a while and over the summer we just decided to pull the trigger,” Chavis said.

Services

Dog Star accommodations include a range of dog activities and behaviors.

There is a large common play area, a separate boarding room with 14 pens monitored by video cameras and two security systems, and an outdoor play area.

The cats are boarded in a separate room from the dogs, although most of Chavis’ customers book home visits for their cats when the owners are out of town.

Accommodation and services can be tailored for dogs’ needs.

“It’s pretty easy for most dogs, once they get used to the smell of a dog. If a dog is friendly with other dogs, they’re just ready to play,” he said.

“If a dog doesn’t have much socialization with other dogs, it takes a little longer. Sometimes dogs just don’t like other dogs, but you quickly understand that. Those dogs that don’t get along with other dogs, we don’t take them to day care, we do individual (in-home) care.”

Day care services are available Tuesday through Thursday. Chavis and his two part-time employees — Nair also helps — provide care and walks around the home.

“Day care five days a week is not really practical,” Chavis said. “Dogs like it, but it’s not really affordable, so we offer weekday lunch visits for dogs. A lot of cats don’t want to come with boarding, so we come to the house when their owners are on vacation.”

What next?

Dog Star’s strategy produced results.

“I get pictures almost every day after day care,” Chavis said. “(Owners say) ‘He was so tired after day care that he just rested all night and slept through the night.’ ”

Chavis, which also stocks pet food, treats and toys, makes Dog Star available for local rescue groups to arrange meetings between dogs and prospective adopters. He plans to add a few more employees as the summer vacation season approaches.

“We have access to a walking trail not too far from here,” he said. “We want to do group walking in the spring and summer, which is a great outing, and we’re hoping to get a little pool in the back.”

Know of a business that should be considered for the “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing [email protected].