Sunday, December 20, 2009

Announcing partnership with NEADS

Fenway Bark is very touched by the outreach of many of its future clients and the support we have received from so many as we work through permitting issues in South Boston.

We don't want to have the permitting situation distract us from communicating to you who we are, what we are about, and what we believe in.

Today we are pleased to share with you that we have a partnership with NEADS, an important organization that places dogs with deaf and disabled Americans.  NEADS has many important programs, one of which is to place specially trained dogs with combat veterans needing assistance.  To learn more, please see the  CBS news regarding NEADS.  You can also visit the NEADS website.

If, as a dog lover, you are looking for a meaningful charity to support this holiday season, we highly suggest you look further into NEADS as a charity worth supporting.

Happy Holidays from Jane, Jim, Corky, Mojo, Tasso, and Dutch!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

WOW! Your response has been overwhelming!

We knew when we designed Fenway Bark that there was a demand for the services but it has been heartwarming and eyeopening to see the shear level of demand and interest in our business!  It is certainly every entrepreneur's dream.  Thank you, also, for joining our website at www.fenwaybarkonline.com

Unfortunately, we have to pass on taking reservations right now until we know what will happen at the location.  Please read the posting below this for steps you can take to encourage the politicians who may influence the outcome of the zoning Board of Appeals meeting that will be taking place this winter.  We appreciate any help you can offer. 

To the candidates we have interviewed for some of the positions, we will keep you posted as we learn more.  We value each and every one of you and wish we could move forward right now.  Please keep checking in on this blog for more details. To the one Southie we had to let go because of this zoning debacle, you are awesome and I hope to have you come back to work for us after this is over.

To those customers from whom we have already taken a reservation before this hurdle occurred, we will be reaching out to you individually this week to speak to you.   We will do our best to find an alternative solution for you within our network until we can open.

Happy Holidays Friends!

Jane

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Business Opening Update

Dear Fenway Bark Friends,

As you might have seen in the Globe, Fenway Bark's building permit, issued in October, was issued in err within an Interim Proposed Overlay District (IPOD) in Boston.  Because of this, we were required to reapply for a new permit and the process may take a few months, if we are successful.  We had hoped to bring needed services and jobs to the Boston area as soon as February but the permit reapplication process, the zoning board of appeals meetings, etc. will keep us from opening until, at the earliest, Spring.  If you would like to have a resource like Fenway Bark, please call or write your Liaison to the Mayor, State Representative, Senator, or Council representative to let them know you are in support of Fenway Bark .  We don't have a zoning board appeal date yet but we will let you know.  YOUR SUPPORT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 

Please contact your city officials to share your support for Fenway Bark!  Here are a few important points you can share:

- Boston is the only major city without quality overnight boarding facilities for dogs
- Boston does not have pet physical therapy and rehabilitation facilities
- The City of Boston has at least 10,000 dogs and very few dog facilities for care
- The City of Boston granted Fenway Bark a building permit and then took it away after the probationary period had already passed.
- Fenway Bark will offer 40 jobs with benefits in a community that has 20% unemployment.
- Boston is rated the 6th worst place in the United States to have a dog (Men's Journal).  Massachusetts also has a flight problem where people are moving out of the State. 

Please help by writing.  You're participation in the process will help us realize the great American Dream.

Neighborhood Coordinator for the Mayor:  Casey Hines Flynn
Phone:  617-635-2680
Email Link:  Casey.Hines@CityofBoston.gov
 
Senator Jack Hart
State House
Room 109-C
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-1150
E-Mail Address: John.Hart@state.ma.us

State Representative Brian P. Wallace
State House

Room 472

State House

Boston, MA 02133

Telephone: 617-722-2013

Fax: 617-722-2239

Email: Rep.BrianWallace@hou.state.ma.us

Bill Linehan, Councillor, District 2 - City of Boston 
Telephone:  617-635-3203 
Address: 1 City Hall Square, Suite 550, Boston, MA 02201-2043
Bill.Linehan@cityofboston.gov

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Fenway Bark Can Use Your Help!

Are you a fan of Fenway Bark because you are looking forward to better dog care options in Boston?  Will you enjoy having a place to go with your best friend where dogs are not only allowed but encouraged in the retail area?  Are you looking forward to social events that you can bring your dog to?  If so, tell Intuit that Fenway Bark is business that you love at:
http://bit.ly/4tvChV
Your vote may help this entrepreneurial business receive a grant from Intuit that we can use to put back into the business and make it even more special for you and your four legged buddies!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

New Website Launched on December 1, 2009!

We are delighted to share with you our new, enhanced website at www.fenwaybarkonline.com!  We are very excited about sharing more details about our services with you!  Let us know what you think of the new site!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Technical Glitches

We are having two major technical difficulties this week.  First, our Facebook page continues to be disabled because of their slow response to the problem.  Additionally, our domain is being switched from one service to another and unexpectedly, the website has been and will be down for a day or two more while that switch occurs.  However, once it is up and running, we will be providing you with valuable details about Fenway Bark and will be taking reservations for the late Winter.

We look forward to having you as a customer.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Construction Update on Fenway Bark!

We can now share that Fenway Bark Stay.Play.Heal. will be located at 630 E. Second Street, South Boston, MA  02127.  The phone number is 617-464-4364. 
Due to some construction delays we will be opening our doors slightly later than we had hoped.  Right now we are targeting the first weekend in February but it may be sooner or a few weeks later.  Keep checking this blog, Facebook (once it is up and running again) and Twitter to get Grand Opening updates.
As soon as we are confident of our opening date we will book reservations for February.  We will be opening up our reservation button on our website (fenwaybarkonline.com) for hotel, daycare, and grooming reservations starting in March because we are confident that no dates in March are at risk of being compromised by extended construction delays.  We are optimistic that Fenway Bark will be available to clients for the New England School Winter Break.    
We are building something quite special for our guests and their parents.  Look for our new enhanced website to be launched soon and on line reservations to follow in December.
We are also hopeful that the Facebook problems will be resolved soon.  We are getting a front row seat to what frustrating customer service looks like and will remember this experience to ensure it doesn't happen at Fenway Bark.
Next year we will carve a Thanksgiving turkey to have available a little treat to our guests who stay with us over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Facebook Hiccup

We are sorry to report that our Facebook page is going through a significant hiccup.  It was disabled without warning and we are still trying to find out the timeline and process for restoration.  Until it is restored, please follow Fenway Bark on Twitter and this blog.  Have a great day!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Holiday Gift Cards at the Boutique at Fenway Bark

With the holidays approaching you may be thinking about which of the canine kids in your life have been naughty (i.e., ate shoes) and which ones have been nice (e.g., kept smiling when neighborhood children flopped on him/her).  If this describes you, put Fenway Bark gift cards on your holiday shopping list for all the furry friends in your life.  When the boutique opens (likely early December), we will have gift cards on hand for all the lucky dogs on your list. 

Fenway Bark gift cards can be used for any of the services offered by Fenway Bark including, but not limited to, hotel services, day care, and the boutique.  The boutique will carry holistic food and treats, toys, apparel, and creature comforts (and let's not forget Bowser Beer)!

Look for the ability to buy Fenway Bark gift cards on our new website launching in November!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Introducing Our New Logo!

We are pleased to introduce our new logo for Fenway Bark Play.Stay.Heal!  The logo is the culmination of a lot of dog lovers' feedback (thank you advisory team!) and supporters for this new venture. 

Our mascot's name is Beansie and will be visible in our advertising, apparel (human and dog!), and facility.  Beansie makes us laugh and we hope he does the same for you!

Let us know what you think of our logo and your ideas for what you what like to see Beansie doing in our advertising and apparel! 

We love to hear your feedback.  We are building this business for you, the caring pet parent, because our furry kids are counting on us to make the best decisions about their care when we are away.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Howl-een Pictures wanted!


You know you want to dress up your dog for Halloween.  You look at costumes in the store or perhaps you have a custom costume in mind but you just don't know who would appreciate seeing your American Eskimo dressed as an ice cream pie or your Schnauzer dressed as Groucho Marx.  Further, your significant other believes that dressing up your buddy compromises his/her dignity.  Frankly, you need a my-dog-in-costume outlet and you have found it here!

At Fenway Bark blog we welcome you to express yourself and upload pictures of your furry family in full Halloween regalia.  We like a little goofiness in our day and we bet you do, too.  We look forward to seeing the creativity of our Fenway Bark clients and their parents as Halloween pictures are uploaded to the site!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Welcome to Fenway Bark Stay.Play.Heal.

On the behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome you to Fenway Bark Stay.Play.Heal. blog.

This blog site has been created to share developments toward our opening in late 2009, provide valuable information regarding animal care and wellness, invite the community to share information about their pet centric fundraising efforts and events, and to have some fun communicating together within the pet loving community.

We are enjoying every interaction with future Fenway Bark clients and their parents. Fenway Bark has the goal of becoming the premier destination for pet clients and their parents when it comes to overnight hotel accommodations, daycare, grooming, training, and retail services. We will only reach that goal if we listen to what you want, what you need, and respond. To that end, we invite you to join the conversation to help us realize our vision.

Welcome to Fenway Bark Stay.Play.Heal. We are glad you have joined us.