Idea for Special Needs Pet Daycare

My sweet Labrador, Lillie, passed away earlier this year. She was only a couple weeks shy of her twelfth birthday.

Lillie had developed a condition called Laryngeal Paralysis, a serious, and often fatal condition where the larynx becomes paralyzed, making breathing difficult. Because dogs regulate body temperature through breathing, dogs with this condition are unable to cool themselves, dramatically increasing their risk of heat stroke in warmer weather.

The onset of Lillie’s paralysis was sudden and the progression rapid. She went from sounding a little hoarse when breathing, to having difficulty breathing at all within the span of a month.

It was late Spring, going into Summer when her symptoms advanced to a point where I was afraid to leave her alone during the day. I had a portable air conditioner installed in a window, and I had six fans going throughout the house, trying to keep her as cool as possible. When I was home, I worried about leaving her alone, and when I was gone, I was afraid to go home, not knowing what I might find.

It is a horrible place to be. I would have given anything to have a place to take her when I had to be away. For the peace of mind, knowing someone was watching over her, I would have paid any price. I had called several Doggie Daycare’s in my area, but none of them were comfortable taking her due to her health issue.

Which brings me to my purpose for this post.

What about a daycare service specifically for special needs pets? Pets who need medications at times when their people cannot be there-I cannot begin to tell you what a challenge it was for me to juggle my work schedule around Lillie’s medication schedule. What about pets who need supervision after an injury or surgery?

My mother had an asthmatic cat who needed an inhaler twice a day. She had to schedule everything around her cat’s medications.It was difficult.

Considering the number of pets who have health issues, I was surprised that I could find nowhere to take Lillie for even a couple hours.

While I have not researched this, I have no doubt that such a business would flourish. It would be a great business for someone with veterinary clinic experience, or who is knowledgeable and comfortable with medications. I would be gratifying work, as well. Making a sick pet’s day a little more comfortable, what could be better than that?

One would need ample room in their facility to provide quiet space for pets who need rest, or need to avoid stimulation, and the urge to play (I have yet to meet a dog who was not ready to play no matter how lousy they may feel). Cooling and heating beds would also be needed if taking in pets with arthritis, or one like my Lillie, who needed to stay cool.

Networking with local Vets would be a great way to get off to a good start. They probably get asked often if they know of such places. Networking with other pet care providers would also be a good idea, especially those who do not take in special needs pets.

It is worth researching. What do you think?

Vicki