A DOG daycare centre in South Freo’s looming closure has left owners scrambling to find care for their pets, saying there’s a desperate shortage of alternatives.
Diggiddy Dog Daycare on Hampton Road in South Fremantle will cease operating in mid-June leaving several of Freo’s dogs without supervision and care during the day.
Vicki Bailey is mum to one year old Fenrir, a kelpie border-collie cross, and says the daycare service is “just incredible” and will be sorely missed.
• Vicki Bailey says there’s a shortage of daycare for dogs such as her kelpie-collie cross Fenrir
“For me it’s about making sure that Fenrir is safe,” Ms Bailey said.
“I’m able to go to work, and he’s cared for and loved, and the daycare obviously provides that.
“The staff are incredible, and any business should be so happy to have them because they really are highly trained.
“Sometimes I walk in there and they look like they’ve been through the wringer, but they’re still smiling and they’re still loving the dogs.”
According to Ms Bailey, the closure will impact many families who purchased dogs during the Covid-19 pandemic who have had to return to work and find alternative arrangements to ensure their dogs are cared for.
• Fenrir’s in doggy heaven when he’s in daycare with his pals.
“I’ve looked into other daycares, and they’re generally all full,” she said.
“There will be some people who will really struggle around working, especially having to go back to the office after Covid.
“I suppose there’s a risk that some of these dogs will end up in kennels or rescue organisations, because people are not able to cope with it.”
As for Fenrir, he’ll have to cope with the sad reality of not being able to attend Digiddgy Doggy which Ms Bailey says he “actually prefers” to being at home.
“Honestly, he skates on the polished concrete floor to get through the door, he just can’t wait to get here,” she said.
“For it to close, it’s quite devastating for me, and for Fenrir as well, because he’s such a high energy dog and he looks forward to going every week.
“When he doesn’t go if there’s a public holiday, he knows and he starts to get a bit on the frustrated side,” she said with a laugh.
The Herald contacted Petstock, Diggidy’s parent company, but they declined to comment as to why the daycare will be closing.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER