Scampers Weekly Recap - March 2, 2017
Dear --Valued Customer--
What an interesting week we've had.
It's snowy hail on one day, and balmy and warm the next. This is how we know that Springtime is just around the corner.
We're so busy at our Kirkland shop, and are so anxious to get started with our Bellevue shop - any day now! Hang tough!
We are about to see another little outbreak of what we know as Kennel Cough, or Bordetella. Our friendly veterinarian informs us it's now known as Canine Infectious Respiratory Complex, as it is complex and it's very infectious.
Remember that if your pooch is coughing or sneezing, please don't bring him to Scampers or to any other place where pooches congregate (the park!)
Visit your veterinarian to rule out the possibility of CIRC, or get the cough meds and antibiotics to treat your pup if it is. Just like the flu in humans, treatment and medications will hasten return to health and comfort, while it can escalate to pneumonia if left untreated.
CIRC is rarely dangerous, but it is extremely contagious, with coughs and sneezes spreading the germs far and wide, and those germs will linger for several hours.
Well, folks, the closer we get, the more painful the delays are. Our new air conditioner sprung a leak yesterday. The leak was very quickly resolved, but it meant our Mechanical inspection had to be put off, which means all those inspections to follow are also delayed.
We wil send out an announcement as soon as we have a date when we can open our doors to you. We truly believe we are still looking at next week, but perhaps towards the end of the week. We're chomping at the bit, and bursting with enthusiasm, but that doesn't make the inspections happen any sooner.
Stina and Jake are using the time to tweak some of the details that aren't interesting to the inspectors, but are interesting to us and to your pooches - fitting out the hooks for leashes, the baskets for boarding belongings. We are going to be so perfectly fitted out for you.
Scampers Bellevue Usage Poll:We'd love to know your intentions.
If you haven't already done so, we encourage you to participate in our Bellevue Usage Poll.
The poll has four simple multiple choice questions, with room for comments, and shouldn't take you more than 90 seconds to complete.
We've been interviewing and hiring to make sure we have enough staff to cover both Kirkland and Bellevue. We plan on moving some of our current staff to the Bellevue location and bringing some new people into each spot. We'll be able to move several of them around as the need arises.
It'll help a lot of we have an idea of how many of you may wish to use our Bellevue facility, and how often. So, toward that end, we have developed a very simple SurveyMonkey Poll. Please click on the link to connect and participate.
It's that time again folks. We've loaded up an album on our Facebook page with a selection of photos of your pooches, snapped by our wranglers within the past month or so.
Vote for your favorites, and the photo with the most "Likes" will grace our lobby for the rest of the month.
February Pooch of the Month, Izzy
Our Website - Useful Links
Our Gallery is populated by our Instagram activity.
And you'll find the link to our Weekly Recaps under News Nibbles, with any special announcements, and access to all the archived newsletters.
You can also very easily set up recurring reservations.And, as your schedule changes, you can easily change your recurring reservation - it's a simple edit.
If you have a reservation for daycare, whether it's set up as recurring or a one-off, if you find you won't need it, please do give us a call, drop us a line, or go online to cancel it.
The Convenience Factor - Credit Card on File
We have learned that processing payment transactions is significantly faster for those of our clients who have set up a credit card on file. The speed of the swiping component slows the process down just a little.
We have also learned that the credit card swiping component is not able to read the data stripe on some branded credit cards, for example REI or Nordstroms branded cards, although we are able to manually enter the card number. For our clients using those cards, setting up the credit card on file is a perfect solution. (Don't worry - the Gingr people have made sure those card numbers are thoroughly encrypted!)
Every once in a while we come across a dog-oriented joke.
Today's is dedicated to
all our young families:
all our young families:
Watch for the updates of our framed Friday Funny in our reception area.
We'll also make sure they're posted on our Facebook page so you can share them with your friends.
We'll also make sure they're posted on our Facebook page so you can share them with your friends.
We're a pretty close knit group of pooches - we form strong friendships, and we get to know each other very well. When new pooches join us, we love to introduce them around and get them started in their Scampering adventures - that's why they call us the "Welcome Waggin".
Our Welcome Waggin team has had a fun week welcoming a bunch of newbies.
We got to meet several new friends this week.
Otis the Pug joined the Littles on Monday morning. This sturdy fellow has plenty of confidence, but carries himself with reserve. He enjoyed observing the goings on, and collected plenty of loving from the wranglers.
Meanwhile, Moose the Maltese made new friends of Maggie T and Oscar B, and enjoyed sharing her day with Otis Pug - they seemed to have similar approach to the daycare experience - watch, relate, but hold off on the wild play until the first impression is well settled.
The Big Dogs group enjoyed welcoming big rompy yellow lab, Marley, to their party on Tuesday. With the break in the weather, the pooches were happy to demonstrate the outdoor play routines, and a good time was had by all.
At the same time, Kona Black Lab got into some fun and ative play with new friends Luna Blue, Rainier and Action Hank, as well as really big pooches Penelope, Jed and Percy.
Thursday brought us Ruby the Chocolate Lab. She's a cheerful pooch, ready to play with lots of new friends, and was happy to play with some of our bigger personalities - Toby and Tank kept her good and busy.
Today, we're happy to introduce Gunner, the Brittany Spaniel pup, and Morris the red doodle. Gunner is very friendly, if a little bemused by the number of new friends he's meeting, while Morris is hanging out on the fringes, comfortably checking out the party pooches.
Hey, Peeps, don't forget, if you're curious about how we spend our days and you're not quite sure what those report cards really mean, you can watch the adventures in the photos and videos our wranglers are posting on the Scampers Facebook page.
Is Theo singing, or just a little tired?
Cali's taking the lead for "little" brother Jameson. She's making sure he ends up with all the fun playmates.
Littermates Velvet and Stark
have been sharing the dry pool.
It looks like they had fun!
have been sharing the dry pool.
It looks like they had fun!
We've added Instagram to our assortment of Social Media tools. Tag or search #scampersdogs and join in the fun.
Izzy's nuzzling for a little fun,
but Loki's not quite sure...
We are devastated to learn that our dear friend, Lexie Boston, has made her way to the Rainbow Bridge. Lexie had lots of years in her, but she certainly wore them well, showing all the other pooches the best way to fly through the air to chomp on the hose stream. She loved to play, and spend time with all her Scampers friends.
Lexie lived a wonderful happy life with wonderful Mom and Dad, Therese and Jonathan, and we know how much they miss her, but we thank them for giving her such a good life.
We also learned that Ollie Beagle and his family are mourning the loss of tiny new Baby Chihuahua mix Chloe, adopted just two weeks ago. She fought so very hard, but was not able to vanquish her illness. She was adorable, sweet, feisty and fun, and is awating her friends at that fabled Rainbow Bridge. We are so very sorry, we all fell in love with her so quickly - it only takes a moment.
Our boarding facility has very been busy this year, especially over the holidays and long weekends. Remember to get your boarding requests in early to make sure there's room enough for your pooches.
Your boarding requests can be submitted via GingrApp, or you can give us a call to check and see if there's space available.
Samson is a frequent Scampers boarder. Here he is greeting the morning staff with his great big grin!
Boarding Drop Off Times
We ask that boarders be dropped off before noon, although exceptions can be made in case of an emergency.
Arriving at Scampers is very stimulating for your pooches - even after a busy day of adventuring elsewhere - and it takes several hours for the incomers to settle down. And one stimulated pooch means a whole houseful of stimulated pooches!
One of the reasons that Scampers boarding facilities works well for most of our guests is that the guests are good and tired after a day of playing, roving and sniffing. Of course, a tired dog is a good dog!
Chris Sugarbaker of Cut-N-Run, mobile groomer extraordinaire will make his next bi-weekly visit to Scampers on Tuesday, February 28th. His grooming schedule often fills up, so it's a good idea to get your reservations in early. Consider setting up a reservation for Chris' subsequent visit on March 14th.
Give em a quick stroll first, please!
Remember, arriving at daycare is extra-stimulating. We often have pooches empty out in the lobby because they just can't contain themselves any longer!
If you're bringing you pooch into Scampers after a long car ride, please give them a quick toodle around the bushes or pillars before bringing them inside.
Any poops can be delivered to the green garbage cans - if you need a poop bag, just pop in and ask for one!
We know how much you love your furbabies - that's why you bring them to Scampers, after all. But please remember that very few dogs require more than two meals per day, and for many, one is enough.
We happily provide meal service for very young puppies who really do need a mid-day meal to support their growing bodies, and for dogs whose veterinarians prescribe a mid-day meal, e.g., dogs on certain medications or who have metabolic, gastric, or intestinal conditions; however, if your pooch is over 6 months old, please do not bring snacks and meals for them.
Frankly, we're having a tough time staffing for the demand lately, and because so many on our lunch list don't really need a meal, they're reluctant to eat, and our staffers are hand feeding them, coaxing them, singing to them... They really don't need it, honest!
Every once in a while we receive a photo from one of our customers showing us what their beloveds are doing after their day at Scampers.
We've seen many of our Scampers families expand recently, and we're looking for pics of our campers tending to their new humans. We hope we'll see lots more baby and pooch pictures! Click here to send your pics in via email.
Karsen was introduced to new baby sister, Hayden.
He's doing a great job of being a girl's best friend.
He's doing a great job of being a girl's best friend.
Maggie O as Big Sister - she takes her job very seriously.
Here's Aussie Ozzie O
looking after his new baby, Tali.
What a beautiful pair!
looking after his new baby, Tali.
What a beautiful pair!
Sophie the Bernedoodle must have been
just too tired to pull her tongue all the way back in
after collecting her kisses.
Hank's mom tells us he always has
more energy when he gets home.
Apparently, not this time!
more energy when he gets home.
Apparently, not this time!
George loves his chickens.
They make great pillows.
They make great pillows.
Apparently, young English Setter Leica is getting lots of exercise when she comes to Scampers. Here's what she looks like at home.
Bliss is a place to rest my head,
a hand to stroke my neck.
a hand to stroke my neck.
This category of owner-contributed pics features dogs enjoying their extracurricular fun.
This is where we'll post the pics we've received of your pooches enjoying summer vacations, beach roaming, ball games, and any other such general exploring.
Leica was an important member of the wedding party for Sara and Robby.
Morgan, our Mid-day cleaner, is very proud of her dog, Tracy, who is now a certified Reading With Rover dog. Tracy enjoys calmly listening as the children read their books.
Little Miss Chomchom is all dressed up and ready for her tromp around Whistler.
We have also received some great shots documenting "The Real Reason" you bring your furkids to Scampers.
Ripley S' mom doesn't usually maintain
an open-door policy for her home office.
And this would be the reason.
an open-door policy for her home office.
And this would be the reason.
Pretty Abby G is a very helpful pooch indeed. This lovely picture shows her effort at helping to unpack mysterious things at the office.
A gentle reminder that Scampers daycare hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and our weekend and holiday daycare hours are by appointment only, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canine Nosework Classes at Scampers
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and an inborn desire to hunt. The sport of K9 Nose Work is designed to develop the natural scenting abilities of your dog by using their passion for hunting and their love of toys, food and exercise.
It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy and you get to find out just how good your dog's nose is.
Vicki Francks, owner of Cascade Canines continues offering K9 Nose Work Classes using Scampers facility. If you'd like some information on the next round of classes, give Vicki a call at 206-849-7643. More information is also available as Scampers front desk.
It's a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy and you get to find out just how good your dog's nose is.
Vicki Francks, owner of Cascade Canines continues offering K9 Nose Work Classes using Scampers facility. If you'd like some information on the next round of classes, give Vicki a call at 206-849-7643. More information is also available as Scampers front desk.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Very best regards,
Linda Olsen and Stina Hughes
Scampers Daycamp for Dogs
Scampers Daycamp for Dogs
Play all day - go home happy.
12532 124th Street NE Kirkland, WA 98034
T 425-821-9100 | F 425-821-4685
T 425-821-9100 | F 425-821-4685
