Back in full force: Pandemic bit into Playful Paws at first, but tails are wagging now
Melanie Pieper, owner of Playful Paws Daycare and Boarding in Arnold, said the COVID-19 pandemic at first hurt business, but customers have returned in full force.
The business, 2160 Tenbrook Road, offers boarding for a variety of pets and daycare strictly for dogs.
“We did lose some of our business at the start because some of our customers started working from home and decided they did not need our daycare,” Pieper said.
“But we actually had a lot of owners working from home return with their pets. They had to do meetings from home and had problems with their dogs barking. (Their patronage) allowed us to stay open.
“We also got some new customers because they had to stay home and didn’t realize how beneficial it would be to use Playful Paws. We have actually increased our business. Once people were able to go out and do things, we increased our business.”
She said she and her staff have stepped up cleaning of the facilities to face the pandemic.
“We put an emphasis on sanitizing more often,” Pieper said. “We’re more often cleaning the walls where pets are put. We do the 6-foot social distancing. We put signs up saying this.
“We also have offered curbside service for people who don’t want to come inside. We’ll come to your car to get your pet.”
Pieper said she expects that Playful Paws will continue to serve a need, pandemic or no.
“People are still working from home and finding the need for pet daycare and boarding,” she said.
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