Ms. Bannister is part of a growing number of individuals and companies who are providing day-care services for dogs across the country. It seems like there's more of a doggy boom than a baby boom. The trend to place dogs in day care began in the mid-1990s when the San Francisco SPCA began one of the first dog day cares. Judith Kaufman, now a Connecticut-based pet day care and animal behavior consultant, helped run the SPCA program during its early years. When everyone in the family gets home at night, they are still too busy to play with the dog, and dogs can get bored and destructive.
Dogs are able to get their mental and physical needs met in day care.
Ms. Kaufman said the SPCA's day care became popular shortly after opening. By the time she left a few years ago, there was a waiting list of more than 100. Ms. Kaufman has helped set up similar day cares all over the country. Driving by Karen's K-9 Care, located along busy U.S. 30, dogs can be seen in the yard chasing tennis balls, lounging in the sun, hanging out in groups and running around in circles. To ensure the dogs are compatible, Ms. Bannister requires each dog be trained and socialized before entering the group.