I am working on starting a dog and cat daycare and boarding business. Where dogs, cats, and people can feel like they matter.
Fish Tails was created by a team of friends who were tired of both animals and people being treated unfairly in other work environments. Fish Tails strives to maintain an excellent standard for animal care while also remembering that the people who care for them are important, too.
Cats are often overlooked in the daycare industry, believed to be aloof and mysterious, and not really needing much interaction. However, cats are actually very social creatures and need just as much attention as dogs! We want to keep families that have both cats and dogs in mind. So you don't have to worry about finding two separate places to board your dog and cat while you go on vacation, you can have the peace of mind knowing that they are safe and well cared for with us.
We uphold a great cleaning standard and our staff work with your dogs daily to socialize them properly and work on group behavior training. Your dog acts differently in daycare than they do at home! Your pup will get lots of pets and cuddles from our staff and occasional one-on-one time as needed to meet each individual dog's needs.
How did Fish Tails get its name?
Simple! Fish!
Fish is a border collie, born on Valentine's Day of 2021. When Fish was a young puppy, whenever he got extremely excited, he would flop onto his belly and wiggle about- Like a fish! He is a sweet boy who would do anything for a frisbee or a bubble. Our owner's pride and joy, Fish is beloved by all the staff and occasionally is given the privilege of following his mom around at work. He loves to help clean and greet staff when they come to the back of the house.
Services
Daycare
Half or full day of fun and play. Dogs are given love and attention at all times by two handlers in the room to ensure safe and fun times are being had. Dogs can run around and play on our doggy playground or just hang out with their friends. Dogs are given an hour nap in the middle of the day so staff can ensure the playrooms are as clean and safe as can be. Dogs are also given lunch at this time if an owner has requested or provided food for their animal. Treats can be purchased in the lobby for their animals as well, and can sign their pup up for fun events there too! Water is always available for the pups and for the dogs who get tired throughout the day can be given breaks from the hustle and bustle of the playroom by taking a small rest in our suites (that's right, not a crate!) where they are provided a cot to rest on and a personal water bowl. Exercise is also provided to dogs that staff deem would benefit from a short session to help get pent up energy out. Be that with a ball and a hallway, a puzzle with some owner-approved treats, or just getting some extra attention and love from a staff member one-on-one. The safety of our dogs and staff are our top priority and we will always work to set our visiting dogs up for success.
Cats are given a fun, relaxing, quiet space to play, climb, or laze about to their heart's content. Water and clean litter boxes are accessible at all times and will have scheduled check-ins from staff, as well as camera monitoring at all times. Should a cat need exercise, an owner can request a playtime with their cat, where a staff member will use toys to get a cat moving! Ever seen a cat chase a laser light up a jungle wall? Great fun and perfectly tiring for a rambunctious kitty. Cats are also a free-visit area for staff who just wish to hang out for pets and cuddles during their breaks. For the cats who prefer to be alone, we also provide kitty condos where a cat will have room to rest and play in their own private space.
Boarding
Going away for a bit? Boarding an animal with us provides peace of mind that the beloved family pets are being well looked after. In addition to getting the entire day of fun and play that daycare gives, at the end of the night they are tucked into bed individually by our evening staff who provide them with water, a cot, and love. Dogs will stay in our suites, where they are safe and comfy, and cats will stay in our cat condos. These condos have enough space for each cat to stretch and play before settling in to sleep. All animals are provided an evening meal and checked on to ensure they are as comfortable as can be. Throughout the night, all animals are checked on at regular intervals by our overnight staff. This ensures comfort and safety of animals that may not be feeling well or are a bit nervous in a different environment. Extra care and attention are provided to the animals that need it- even if that's just an extra pat on the head.
Grooming
Complimentary with boarding animals, or available for purchase with daycare, dogs and cats can be given a bath specific to their fur type. We have a range of shampoos and conditioners to help with any problems like sensitive skin, allergies, smell, and brightening of colors. We also offer nail trims, teeth cleaning, brushing, and ear cleanings, priced individually or packaged together for a discount of all grooming services. We are NOT licensed groomers and do not provide hair cuts or dematting services. Animals who may have a difficult time with any of the above services may be denied a service, which charges are then removed from the account.
About the Owner
A certified behaviorist, Lauren has had over five years of experience in the animal care field, as well as personal experience with pets her whole life. In a household with five cats, two dogs, and a bird, she definitely has the experience of a busy home!
Lauren has a background in the culinary field, and a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from the Culinary Institute of Virginia. Graduating a certified baker means that Lauren ran a mock bakery for two months, which included but was not limited to: breakdowns of costs per ounce per item, employee payroll, executive direction, customer service, multitasking, understanding and executing the supply ordering process, and supervising of operations to ensure the business ran smoothly.
Lauren is ready to take that experience with both business courses in school and her passion for animals and turn them into her own business. Tired of finding jobs with daycares that either weren't as vigilant when it came to animal safety or ones that treated their staff like they were more of an afterthought, Lauren is determined to create a space that is safe for not only animals-but humans, too. Dogs and cats receive top of the line care and attention, and the people working with her are treated with compassion and understanding.
Training
Staff are provided educational videos when doing the onboarding process explaining dog and cat body language, warning signs, signs of illness, and chemical handling and use.
Hands-on experience with a senior staff member in the animal playrooms, instructing and providing examples of when and how to safely intervene between playing dogs. Fights are handled by senior staff only, explained in detail to any trainee, and taught how to safely use scuffle tools to break up fights.
Bi-monthly boot camps are scheduled for all staff to attend. Here, they are expected to answer trivia about animal body language, work with volunteer staff dogs, break up mock scuffles, and do general team-building exercises. This is also where fire and evacuation drills are performed. Boarding and staff dogs are all used during these drills to ensure staff are prepared and experienced for any emergencies that may arise.
Fire drill: all dogs are secured onto lead lines that hold up to 12 dogs. Staff are spread out among the line to ensure dogs are safe and secured in harnesses before escorting them to the nearest emergency exit. Cats are picked up and placed into cat safe mobile enclosures and wheeled to the nearest emergency exit. Animals are not taken outside to rendezvous points during drills.
Staff will all be trained on basic reception tasks. All staff must know how to navigate the PetExec interface to check animals in and out.
Scuffle tools and uses
Scuffle bucket- plastic bucket with small amount of water. Splashed onto fighting dogs to force separation and distraction.
Scuffle blanket- thrown over fighting dogs to disorient and distract.
Air horn- loud, sudden noise to startle fights of more than two dogs and force temporary pause for staff to move and break up fights.
Whistle- loud, high pitched noise to startle and confuse dogs in fight. Also used to gain control of an over-aroused room.
Panic button- alarm to summon any free staff member to the distress location and ensure that a fight is broken up as safely as possible.
Crate trays-shoved between two dogs to block sight and break eye contact.
Body block- positioning oneself between two dogs, facing the antagonizer, creating a physical warning to both dogs to calm down and de-escalate. Used to prevent fights–not stop them.
Canine Procedures and Policies
-Owners must provide records of in-date vaccines—including canine influenza, parvovirus, bordetella, and rabies—and flea and tick preventative before their dog(s) will be considered for care intake.
Evaluation
-Owners answer a series of behavioral questions about their animals, and provide contact and emergency contact information before their dog(s) are taken into the back for evaluation.
-Temperament test: Dogs will be introduced to unfamiliar people and gauged for discomfort or aggression signals. They will be evaluated on how they greet new people and how they respond to being touched in sensitive areas such as the feet, hips, face, and neck. Dogs are then tested for recall and name recognition, and given a brief exercise while on-lead to determine behavior while on-lead.
-Provided dogs pass the above evaluation, they are brought to a suite(5x5ft relaxation room) and left alone for 5-10 minutes to evaluate for separation or crate anxiety or destructive behaviors.
-Dog-to-dog evaluation: The introduction dog is brought to an empty room outside of the open play room. Once adjusted to the noise and scents and the dog is calm, a low energy dog of the same sex is released from the play room. Dogs are watched closely for any concerning behaviors and scored based on how well they do. Both dogs are kept in the room while a medium energy dog of the same sex is allowed in. The above evaluation is repeated and scores are given based on reaction and greeting behavior with the new dog as well as how the new dog handles interacting with more than one strange dog. Upon passing the second interaction, a high energy dog of the opposite sex is allowed into the room, and all dogs are evaluated for behaviors and scored based on their interactions. Should the dog pass this portion of the evaluation, the evaluator dogs are sent back into the play room first before the new dog is led in on-lead with a supervisor.
-Dogs are watched closely by staff to monitor how the new dog integrates into play, and any concerning behaviors are corrected by staff to ensure the new dog is not cornered or too crowded during initial interactions. The new dog is then led around the room a few times on-lead until arousal levels and interest in the new dog lowers, and then the new dog is allowed to roam the room freely. The dogs are monitored by handlers and supervisors for as long as necessary to properly evaluate behavior, play style, dominance, and dog to dog communication before the dog is considered a temporary pass.
-New dogs are monitored closely during their first two weeks of daycare, as most dogs do not behave naturally until more comfortable with their surroundings and situation. At the end of the two-week watch period, the new dog is considered by a supervisor or manager and, if needed, re-tested, before being given a pass or fail status. Failing dogs will be brought to their owners by a supervisor or manager who will explain to the parent why their dog failed, what needs to be improved before the dog will be eligible for reconsidering, and have a longer watch period should they be brought back for re-evaluation.
-All temperament and evaluations are recorded for staff records, including the pass/fail status and a description summary of what was discussed with the owner.
Dismissal
-Dogs and owners are given a three-strike warning with any concerning behaviors.
-Injuries that draw blood from staff members are an immediate dismissal, even if the dog is not the one that initiated the scuffle. Dog injuries are not always grounds for immediate dismissal and may be recorded as strikes.
-Scuffles are handled on a case-by-case basis. Dogs that initiate the scuffle are given a strike and owners are shown camera footage of the incident.
-Initiating dogs may be dismissed without receiving all three strikes if a manager deems it necessary. Managers will be the only staff to handle this circumstance.
-If the scuffle is a no-fault situation, both dogs’ owners will be warned that any further incidents will result in a strike.
-owners whose dogs vomit up fecal matter will be given a verbal warning to take their animal to the vet. Should the owner refuse, their enrollment may be paused until proof of vet visit is provided.
Unaltered Canines
-Unaltered dogs above one year of age will not be considered for open play. Unaltered dogs are eligible for boarding and daycare only in the calm and elderly dog room to ensure the least stressful situation for all dogs in our care.
Feline Daycare and Boarding
-Owners must provide proof of vaccines—rabies, FVRCP, feline leukemia, and bordetella— and flea and tick preventative.
-Cats must be able to be handled safely by humans within reason. Cats that show hostile behaviors when approached, touched, or handled will not be accepted.
-Solitary cats and social cats will be housed separately and all cats will be contained during the night. Solitary cats will be given their own enclosures, water, and litter boxes for the duration of their stay. Cats are all given attention throughout the day by staff during breaks and during check-ins.
-Cats may be denied grooming services for any reason at any time.
-Cats that draw blood from other cats or staff may be subject for immediate dismissal should a manager deem it necessary.
-Water may be used in emergencies to break up any fights that occur. Cats will be dried off as much as possible, but may be returned to the owner damp or wet.
Fish Tails legal progress
-Registered LLC
-Licensing and permits: address required, but all paperwork in hand.
-Policies and procedures: currently in contact and working with a lawyer to ensure correct and efficient process
-Insurances: received quote from insurance company. Address required to file.
-Construction: in contact with the company. Need size of building for quote.
-Marketing: team member providing free marketing services as she prepares to graduate with a marketing degree.
-Staffing: five team members including owner currently working to create the business. A breakdown of expected salary cost will be provided.
-Taxes: in contact with an accountant. Need more location information for a quote.
-Building and equipment: full breakdown of equipment, appliance, and inventory will be provided.
SCORE mentor is also assisting to ensure everything is in order and correct.
Cleaning procedures
Daily
All surfaces will be swept/cleaned of physical debris, and then cleaned with Enzyme eliminator, allowed to dry, and then disinfected with Tripple-Two cleaning solution.
As Needed
Animals will be removed from the area before cleaning commences. All surfaces will be cleaned of debris, and then cleaned with Kage and Kennel deep cleaning chemical solution, allowed to dry, and then disinfected with Tripple-Two cleaning solution. Area is fully dried before animals are allowed to return to the area.
Scheduled cleaning
Early morning staff members are there to handle intake of animals with early drop-off, and then handle all cleaning tasks that are not done on a daily basis. Things like cleaning the walls and ceilings, dusting vents and equipment, and cleaning windows.
Emergencies
Fire: all dogs are secured onto lead lines that hold up to 12 dogs. Staff are spread out among the line to ensure dogs are safe and secured in harnesses before escorting them to the nearest emergency exit. Cats are picked up and placed into cat safe mobile enclosures and wheeled to the nearest emergency exit. Animals are not taken outside to rendezvous points during drills.
Power Outage: Remain calm. Handlers are to remain in play rooms and wait for instructions from supervisor or managers. Managers are to remove one dog at a time from playrooms and secure in suites until no dogs remain. All staff then wait until manager instructions. If power resumes, daycare can continue. If power fails to return, managers will use emergency contact lists to call owners and ask for immediate pick up. Manager may stay in the facility overnight if deemed necessary. Cats will be removed from open play and placed into secure condos to ensure safety.
Hurricane/severe storm weather: Owners must be contacted for immediate pick up if possible. Staff then assemble crates in the innermost rooms with no windows and secure dogs in them. Cats are to be placed into condos with emergency evac transporters on standby.
Isolation protocol: In the event a contagious illness is suspected, (ex: Kennel Cough) the affected animal is to be removed from play and placed in an isolated area away from other animals, and the owner must be called. All animals in the playroom the ill dog had been in must all be crated immediately. Playroom, all doors, surfaces and items must all be sanitized with kennel disinfectant and triple-two and left to completely air dry before dogs can be returned to play. Staff members who handled ill dog must thoroughly wash hands and forearms and change clothes before returning to work. Employee may be sent home if needed.
Chemical exposure: Should an employee come into contact with chemicals where immediate irritation occurs, the chemical shower must be used and emergency services must be contacted. Specific symptoms of chemical reaction may be found in the facility’s Safety Data Sheets (SDS) along with recommended courses of action and treatment. Chemical or physical foreign substances that come into contact with the eyes may be relieved with an eyewash station. Medical attention may be required depending on the nature of the irritant.
Human injury: Wound is to be immediately cleaned with water or saline solution. Depending on severity of the wound, emergency services may be contacted. First aid kits are available at all times for use. Dog and cat bites REQUIRE ER visits, as these can cause severe infections. Injuries must be recorded in an incident form and submitted to management.
Animal injury: Animals should be inspected visually for injury after all fights and all animals involved in scuffles are to be removed from play. Towel test: Gently wipe the animal’s entire body with a white cloth or towel to help identify if the animal is bleeding—especially helpful with long haired animals. If there is bleeding on the head or ears, a happy hoodie may be placed on the animal to help stop bleeding and provide pressure. A first aid kit is available for minor injuries that can be handled in-house. Owner must be called if blood is found or if the animal needs to be transported to an emergency animal hospital by staff. If owners are unreachable, the animal will be taken to the nearest animal hospital. Owners will be responsible for any incurred financial charges.
Marketing
-Hand-made treats are being made to be sold at farmers markets, conventions, and Renaissance faires.
-Social media platforms are up and running
-Business cards are being printed
-website is in progress
-Word of mouth
-Community boards
-raffle prizes
Financial
Salaries: $543,100 /yr
Equipment: $69,000
Rent & Utilities: $
Renovation: $
Taxes & fees:
PetExec: $1,860
Behavior training: $1,560
Taxes:
Total expected expenses:
$2m with a 10 year term at 10% interest rate
$2,200,000 / 120 months/10 years = $18333.33/ month
$18,333.33 / 30 days/month = $611.11/day
$611.11 / $25/minimum service = 24.5 clients/day needed to break even
15 dogs x $30/full day=450 Income from daycare
$45/ night x 8 dogs=360 income from boarding
360+450=810
810-611.11 = $198.89 profit
[The above equation is an example meant to show that the process of determining the revenue needs is understood. All numbers needed to determine actual performance requirements are not currently available.]
Prices of services
Full Day daycare: $32(dog), $20(cat)
1/2 hour of 1 on 1 play time: +$15
Enrollment -
Week (6 days)- $175(dog), $90(cat)
12 days(half month)- $300 (dog), $153(cat)
Month- $650(dog), $240(cat)
3 weekends/month [Friday & Saturday]- $200(dog), $110(cat)
Dogs must pass the two week evaluation period, and attend an additional 2 weeks of daycare at half enrollment price before being eligible for the monthly enrollment.
Boarding
One dog: $65/ night for 5 nights. $58.50 for any additional nights.
+$10/night for additional dogs
Enrollment boarding: $55/night for 5 nights. $49.50 for any additional nights.
+$15/night additional dog
Cat non-enrolled: $45/night for 5 nights. $40.50 for any additional nights.
+$20 for additional cat
Enrolled: $40/night for 5 nights. $36 for any additional nights.
+$15 for additional cat
Grooming
Bath: $20/dog $25/cat
Teeth: $5/dog $5/cat
Nails: $10/dog $10/cat
Brush-out: $15/dog $15/cat per 15 min
Paw & nose balm: $5/dog $5/cat
Ear cleaning: $5/dog $5 cat
Full spa: $40/dog $35/cat
Competitive pricings:
Daycare 1: $34/day, no enrollment offered. Dogs only.
Daycare 2: $45/day, $180/week with enrollment. Dogs only.
Staff
Opener: 4am-10am. Does early animal intake and handles facility deep-cleaning
Receptionist: 7am-2pm, 1:30pm-7pm. Handles all animal intake and release, monitors cameras, answers phones and emails, navigates interface, cleans during downtime, and records incident reports and behavior updates from handlers.
Handler: Supervises animals while in playrooms, ensures a safe environment. Cleans as needed, trains new staff, handles emergencies in regards to animals, and communicates clearly with receptionists about any behaviors, abnormalities, and scuffles.
Supervisor: transports pets to and from owners and playrooms, completes all groomings, preps and distributes animal food and medications, and brings any requested supplies or help to playrooms and handlers.
Manager & owner: scheduling, cleaning, paperwork, handles emergencies and any disgruntled customers, assists supervisor as needed, and oversees overall operations.
Overnight: provides evening meals, handles closing duties, washes laundry, does routine checks on animals throughout the night, and cleans any accidents an animal may have had. Records incidents of illness.
Disability and excess accommodation
Fish Tails works with a lot of single parents and persons with various chronic and mental illnesses. Fish Tails places changing tables in all restrooms in the facility, and includes a small play area in the staff break room for children of staff members to spend time, have fun, and be in ease of access for all staff to check on throughout the day. Children will be allowed supervised time with volunteer dogs during break times, and this will be held in the break room away from other dogs. The overnight bedroom also houses a crib for any parent staff who need it, and a tub in the overnight ensuite. The bedroom also serves as a quiet, calm place that those with sensory sensitivities can go freely to help self-regulate. Fish Tails wants to be progressive in the current world, happy to hire members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and does its best to make any needed accommodations for anyone that needs them.
Fish Tails is run by a small team currently, and will be looking to hire from outside. Currently our team consists of five people. Lauren, the owner, and a manager. A marketing coordinator soon to have a degree in the marketing field, and two staff members here to provide feedback and assist anywhere it's needed. All of our current team is amazing and we're looking to expand it to welcome more to the business.
A goal for Fish Tails is to partner one day with animal shelters and take some animals out of the shelters to be given extra love and attention at our facility. We would house and care for the animals as well as advertise them for adoption for the shelter and help find homes for animals who need them.
Our mission is to provide love and excellent, educated care to all of the dogs, cats, and humans in our care.
When you come visit Fish Tails, you leave with a great tale to tell.