Pet-oriented businesses hear recession's bark, feel little bite

Lisa Jaramillo and her daughter, Addie, opened Pet Playhouse in 2000 and moved the business last November into a $1.2 million facility at 2403 E. Fourth St.

With 8,300 square feet under roof and another 1,500 square feet of outdoor space, the businesswomen thought they would have plenty of space to board and baby-sit dogs.

But business has far exceeded their expectations. Despite a hard-hitting recession that has consumers tightening their pursestrings, the Jaramillo's business has soared.

Other pet-care facilities in the Truckee Meadows have seen a spike in business as well.

"We have seen no slowdown in people taking vacations and wanting to spend money on luxury accommodations for their dogs," Lisa Jaramillo says. "People continue taking their doggies to daycare, and we have had very few clients discontinue.

"We filled to capacity quickly, and now we need a new building," she adds. "We definitely should have thought bigger. It appears that in Reno there are not a whole lot of quality places to take doggies. As soon as we opened, we were inundated with clients."

To increase revenues, Pet Playhouse added a modest retail storefront that sells high-end food products and heavy-duty toys.

"Most of our clients have dogs that are destroyers," Jaramillo says.

Abby Tinseth, manager of A Doggies Dream at 2697 Mill St. recently hired a second dog groomer to handle a growth in business. A Doggies Dream generates most of its revenue through boarding and day care. Tinseth says on busy weekends about 100 dogs a day are housed at the 14,000-square-foot facility, which employs 12.

"There has been an increase in people getting puppies and working, and they can't leave the dog at home," Tinseth says.

The facility also operates a small retail center, but the retail operation has slowed down slightly.

"People are less likely to buy toys for their dogs," Tinseth says. "Boarding, day care and grooming are kind of necessities."

Cody Koch, co-owner with James Timmons of Fantasia Pet Resort at 6340 N. Virginia St., says business is up over last year. The two bought the facility three years ago and have kept staffing numbers stable since they bought it. Fifteen people, including two groomers, are employed at the 16,000-square-foot facility.

Koch says although Fantasia Pet Resort has garnered a host of new clients for boarding services, the average length of stay throughout the summer dropped from nine days to five. He attributes the decline to customers taking shorter vacations.

Another trend Koch sees is an increase in vacation planning; rather than jetting off on spur-of-the-moment trips, customers are booking boarding stays well in advance.

Some individuals with home-based day-care and boarding businesses says their business also has held steady throughout the year.

Debra Davis, who entered the pet-sitting field a year ago, was surprised at how much business she's received. Debra Davis Pet Care sits an average of four to five dogs a week and two or three cats.

"People still want the best for their pets and are trying to do it even in a tough economy," Davis says.

Some dog trainers also are busier than ever. Barry Odea, owner of On Command dog training, sees about 120 to 130 dogs each month between private and group training sessions. He works from his or from customer's homes, and also does classes Wednesday evenings at A Doggies Dream. The majority of Odea's business comes through referral.

"Since the recession I have been busier; I have no idea why," he says. "I am doing just fine with it - but you have to be good at what you do. A dog is an animal people love, so you have to be good with the dog and with the people.

"Every dog is different, and you have to be good with the dog and with the owner. Most trainers are either too hard-handed or too soft-handed; no one seems to have the adjustment in the middle."