Downtown

Your dog takes better vacations than you. This occurred to me when I was lounging in Dana’s posh beach house, Firefly Iced Tea in hand, totally relaxed from my fabulous morning in the sun and feeling badly for my poor, poor Olive who was probably missing me terribly back in Atlanta, so I decided to call Bark ATL (again) to check in on my baby.

I get Brandi, the manager, on the phone (who is A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.) and she informs me that Olive is doing great and is, at the moment, outside with her “friends” at their 4th of July Pool Party. My mind immediately jumps to a MTV Spring Break scene only instead of trashy teenagers, it’s the dogs dancing poolside, perhaps lapping up Coronas with lime. I brushed the thought out of my mind with a laugh, but two hours later, my phone buzzed with a Facebook message from Bark ATL to let me know Brandi had uploaded some snaps and as I viewed the photos, I wasn’t that far off! Witness:

Olive and Kasey just before they volleyball tourney?

I love Bark ATL. So does Olive. I board her there when I am out of town, but I also occasionally take her there for Doggy Daycare. She starts hysterically wagging the minute we pull up to the parking lot (where “Valet Barking” occurs. I have a carpool paddle with her name on it and everything. It’s very efficient…and totally hilarious.) and has a blast playing all day with her buddies. She has a boyfriend named Quincy (whose mother threw him a birthday party and called to be sure that Olive would be at daycare that day…she may need to re-evaluate also.)

Olive hearts Quincy

But who am I to judge? I just threw Olive a Bark Mitzvah in Piedmont Park for her 2nd birthday…

Here’s the Q+D(D): They separate the dogs out into 3 well-equipped playrooms: “Little Pup Lane” “Mid Hound Lounge” and “Big Dog Way” (PS you can watch your pooch on a webcam. When I first started taking O there, it’s all I did.) It’s 24-hour supervision (someone is personally giving your pup love all day and night) and 100% cage free. They offer baths and little extras like doggy ice cream (lick-a-lots) and will accommodate whatever special requests you may have. The staff is unbelievable. They’re MILITANT about being sure that all the dogs are up on their vaccinations and they’re really, personally concerned with your dog’s happiness and well being. Best of all is the couple that owns the facility, Angela and Morgan. They’re absolutely precious. 2 years ago it was Angela that personally walked me around the grounds to make me comfortable and Morgan is often in the parking lot, ready to take your pooch for their day of fun.

It’s also a beautiful thing when I am going to spend the weekend in Birmingham because since I work downtown, I can just leave her there for the day, zip by and get her on my way on to I-20 and she’s passed out for the entire 2 hour drive to DK+DK’s. She’s a LUMP when I come to get her. (L + Slick can attest to this: they were the ones to kindly pick her up after my last vacay and may have felt the need to check for her pulse…)

So, I may be a crazy dog lady, but who wouldn’t want to spoil THIS muffin?:

Long story longer: if you’re looking for a great doggy daycare/boarding facility that is more like a resort for your bestie, I recommend Bark ATL 110%.

xx, L

wwll (woof woof, lick lick), O