{"id":4609,"date":"2009-06-25T15:38:55","date_gmt":"2009-06-25T21:38:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4609"},"modified":"2009-06-25T15:38:55","modified_gmt":"2009-06-25T21:38:55","slug":"earth-pups-chicago-woman-fulfills-dream-of-green-doggy-daycare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/earth-pups-chicago-woman-fulfills-dream-of-green-doggy-daycare\/","title":{"rendered":"Earth Pups: Chicago Woman Fulfills Dream of Green Doggy Daycare"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Julie Thomas had been working for LaSalle Bank for ten years when she got her final assignment. She was transferred to Chicago to sell the bank-essentially, to sell herself out of a job.<\/p>\n

In that situation, most people of Thomas’ ilk would have begun the search for another corporate career. But with new-found freedom and a little extra cash, Thomas took a different route. She decided to follow her idiosyncratic dream– to start an eco-friendly doggy daycare. Earth Pups<\/a> was born.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Thomas’ dream started with the two dogs she calls her babies. Since adopting them from a rescue agency, she had nursed a budding dream of owning her own dog day care.<\/p>\n

“I never thought I’d have the courage,” she said. “But then, you get handed the choice. I could jump back on the corporate treadmill… or, I could do what I want to do.”<\/p>\n

Thomas’ husband supported her decision and desire to build her business her own way.<\/p>\n

“I knew I’d be here 24\/7,” she said. “So I wanted the standards to be something I’ be happy with. We live in a green way, so we built this green for ourselves.”<\/p>\n

Though everything from the paneling to the paper is eco-friendly, Thomas and her husband don’t make that the selling point of their business. Their clients are not a niche bunch of hippy dog owners. Instead, Thomas and her husband market Earth Pups<\/a> as a specialized small dog care facility.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think [the fact that we are a green establishment] is attracting people. It’s not the number one priority [for them],” she said.<\/p>\n

Instead, the business targets doting owners of small dogs. Thomas determined her clientele and location with the aid of a consultant who owns several dog day-cares. He offered great advice but he also happened to be against the idea of going green-business owners rarely make up the cost of being eco-friendly. But Thomas was committed.<\/p>\n

“This is important to me and this is my business,” she said.
\n<\/p>\n

\"Earth<\/a><\/p>\n

Difficult Choices<\/strong><\/p>\n

The commitment meant many difficult decisions and careful calculations throughout the two-year construction process of Earth Pups. When Thomas had to stray from her green business ideas<\/a>, she agonized. After three months of considering all options, Thomas finally resigned herself to using PVC in one area of the dog’s playpen-the biodegradable option would have to be replaced every few years as it wouldn’t stand up to the dogs hard use. When it was feasible, however, she did it-even when it meant having items custom made or special ordered. For example, the paneling was one custom made item that Thomas had adapted to her need for a protective covering from sharp little claws. However, even when she found a green company to order from, she discovered it only came in black.<\/p>\n

“So, the question was-what goes with black?” she said.<\/p>\n

Thomas also loves owning her own business because it lets her decide exactly what she wants to do in the community.<\/p>\n

“There is no red tape,” she said.<\/p>\n

Many years ago, she rescued her own dogs with the help of a local agency. Now, she welcomes dogs from neighboring canine rescue into her building for socialization workshops.<\/p>\n

Earth Pups has been open for thirteen, short weeks.\u00a0 Thomas excuses herself for the hair on her shirt and several months without sleep, but she is all smiles. “It feels good to watch a baby grow,” she says, looking at the 17 dogs playing in the yard with staff. One day, she hopes to have up to 30 dogs, but this is a good start.<\/p>\n

One of her own two dogs plays alongside the others.\u00a0 The other one-black and curly haired- is curled in a staff member’s lap.\u00a0 She smiles at them, then ducks so they don’t see her. Her standards for their care are even higher than her green standards. And she built her business to please herself.<\/p>\n

“It’s a place I’d leave my babies,” she says. “You can’t sell something you don’t care about.”<\/p>\n

Image source: sarah m scott at Flickr<\/a> under a Creative Commons license<\/a><\/p>\n

kyknoord at Flickr<\/a> under a Creative Commons license<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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