Driven by a passion for their own pets, Steve and Greta Hager opened Dogtopia of North Worcester after relocating from Texas.
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Driven by a passion for their own pets, Steve and Greta Hager opened Dogtopia of North Worcester after relocating from Texas. Struggling to find the attentive boarding and open-play daycare they had grown accustomed to, the couple decided to bring that level of care to their new community. In November 2023, they opened their franchise location on Pullman Street. Now the facility sees nearly 300 dogs a week, with day-to-day operations led by self-proclaimed dog lover and General Manager Arianna Setzco.
What services can pet parents find at Dogtopia?
We do open-play daycare. We have three different rooms based on dog size and temperament. Our daycare runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and we have boarding for overnight pups. Then we have add-on spa services. We have also started a push for puppy training and preschool and have training available on the weekends.
What is an open-play facility, and why is that different compared to your typical boarding or daycare?
There is a home away from home for every dog, and it’s important to understand dogs have personalities just like humans. There are just as many different types of personalities. It's about finding the right environment for each dog. Our open-play area has 30 or more dogs in a room with two or more staff at a time that are all learning to socialize and play together. We have many dogs that are very young, and puppies learn how to socialize appropriately. Additionally, dogs are getting 40,000 to 60,000 steps a day. They are getting a lot of exercise, which helps them calm down and be more attentive when you get home after a day of work.
It can help with their training, because they're not so energized, they're more focused, and they're going to lead healthier lives. We keep them healthy, even if they're not physically active. We have some dogs who like to stay on the edges of the playroom, but they're constantly mentally engaged, watching what's going on, sniffing all the different scents. These mental stimulations are just as important as physical stimulation.
How does Dogtopia contribute to the community?
All the Dogtopia locations work with the Dogtopia Foundation, which is our nonprofit organization. The nonprofit raises money to provide service dogs to local deserving veterans. We do a lot of activities in-house to raise money. The other two initiatives for the foundation are to provide employment opportunities for adults with autism and to help provide therapy dogs for children. We have a number of employees here who have self-identified as being an adult with autism, and we have assisted employment programs we work with across the city.
What makes Dogtopia’s boarding and daycare experience unique for dogs and their owners?
A lot of that has to do with my team. We all love dogs. If you read our reviews, a lot of people are always commenting on how happy everyone is, how everyone knows the dogs by name. They are just truly thrilled to be around these dogs, and that everyone can feel that, especially the dogs.
The support we get through Dogtopia on our health, safety, wellness, and training programs, and ensuring we're doing best practices is huge. Having cameras and open communication front and center has been important for our pet parents. It makes them know they can trust us and ask us questions. My own dog is here almost seven days a week. If something happens to him, I want to know about it immediately. We are here to help.
Why do you think dogs are so critical to family units?
Dogs are unconditional love. They keep us active. They keep us laughing at ourselves.
They enjoy life at every moment, and they help us do the same.
What do you love about your job?
I used to work in human services for 20 years, and I saw what dogs did for humans as service and therapy animals. To be able to help people in the general community have better relationships with their dogs is really my favorite part. Helping them understand the different play styles, how to communicate, how to take care of their pet, and taking some of that stress off, that's what I love about my job.
This interview was conducted and edited for length and clarity by WBJ Correspondent Sloane M. Perron.
