INDIANAPOLIS — A new doggy daycare opens today on Indy's south side, but this location is providing more than a comfy stay for your pets during the day.
Happy Hounds, a doggy daycare, is the second major project for the Alex and Ali Foundation, an organization with a mission to empower and enhance the lives of adults with developmental disabilities by providing them with work experiences in the community.
READ MORE |Local organization prepares for new doggy daycare to help adults with disabilities learn job skills
WRTV reported on their first endeavor, The Hope Gallery, which is a unique boutique in downtown Bargersville.
Happy Hounds is a fully licensed daycare provider and team members who work and volunteer at the location will work one-on-one with the dogs.
"We have our kitchen where our team members will be making dog treats," Jennifer Paker, president of Alex and Ali Foundation, said. "Our cuddle room, which is where dogs will have one-on-one cuddle time with our team members."
Parker said the daycare sits on a 1-acre plot of land where the dogs will be able to play and roam. Team members are mowing and taking care of the property in addition to their daycare duties.
The idea of this project is simple. The dogs love these team members and don't expect them to speak perfectly, or socialize a certain way. The dogs want love and attention. The team members want to work and a chance to belong to something. They will also learn job skills that can help them in the future.
"And the community wins because we need these individuals out and about in our community," Parker said. "There are so many adults with a developmental disability that do not have the opportunity to work, to volunteer within our community and so we are showing the world that they can do things. They need the right environment. They need a safe environment. They need training and they blossom."
The doggy daycare will run from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, with the goal of expanding into boarding in the future.
Parker says they are always looking for business and people in the community partner with for these projects, so to learn more about Happy Hounds, get information on how to use their services, or to get involved, you can visit www.happyhoundsindy.com
