Fenway Bark - 2012 In Review

On behalf of the Fenway Bark team, the boys, and Jim, I want to thank you so much for a stellar second year for Fenway Bark!

Some milestones that are due, in no small amount to your support of our business include:

- The number of customers and dogs more than doubled in our second year!  Many of our new customers came from your recommendations.  Thank you!  We are humbled by your kind words.  Please remember we reward recommendations with free daycare and other perks.

- Through Great Dog Rescue of New England and Last Hope K9 Rescue, Fenway Bark has helped 58 rescue dogs find their forever homes!

- Through the generous contributions of the Fenway Bark clients, Angell Memorial Staff, and Pawsitive Dog clients we were able to collect a truckload of pet food and supply donations to send to the hurricane ravaged areas of New York touching the hearts and paws of our neighbors in the Tri-State area.  Thank you!

 

- Fenway Bark was named Best of Boston 2012 by Boston Magazine

- Fenway Bark was named one of the top 10 small businesses in the United States by American Express in the Big Break contest.  And although we didn't win the National contest, we felt like we won a million dollars with the support we received from our clients and the community!

We would also like to celebrate something equally important, our customers willingness to get a bit goofy with us because, quite frankly, there isn't enough plain goofiness in this world anymore so we create it when we can and enjoy when you laugh along with us.

- Baby New Year!

- K9 Mardi Gras!

 
- Fenway Bark was able to crown its first Prom King and Queen and Junior Prom King and Queen!

- We had our first Easter Egg Hunt where our guests sniffed out treats in eggs throughout the facility.

 - We had Yoghund Frozen Yogurt/K9 ice cream socials!

 - We have over 4000 genuine Facebook followers and were able to reach about 1 million people weekly with a mix of news, pictures, celebrations of the wonderful relationship people have with their dogs,
 goofiness and contests!

We were able to achieve important milestones through dedication to doing an exceptional job for our clients, setting the bar high, and avoiding pervasive industry practices of slamming the competition with fake Yelp reviews, etc.

Our future includes expanding our daycare services to meet the growing demand and re-evaluating the needs of our customers when it comes to retail product and the carrying cost of inventory and such.  We are looking at better solutions to meet your diverse food needs and our business profitability needs.

Our future also includes expanding our pick up and drop off services, expanding our offering of adjunct therapy services, and keeping a dialogue open with our customers to make sure that we are hearing what you need and anticipating your future needs.  To that end, we invite you to provide us with feedback on a short Survey Monkey questionnaire.

We are grateful for your support of our business, particularly during challenging economic times, and it is through your support that we were able to grow over 250% year over year.  We will only be able to continue healthy growth through listening to you and delivering on the promise of exceptional pet care for our exceptional clients and their family dog(s) and earning your recommendation every day.

Thank you again.

Warm Regards,

Jane

PS - We miss you Sofie, Jack, Tina and Muffy.  You helped our hearts grow while you were with us.

Referral Bonus and Referral Contest!

Did you know that when you refer Fenway Bark to friends, family and colleagues and they purchase services from us, we reward you if they make us aware of your referral?

That's right.  Fenway Bark provides free daycare for each referral customer that purchases our services!  Fenway Bark has already provided hundreds of free daycare days to our clients for their kind successful referrals!

Between now and January 1 Fenway Bark will be running a referral contest! 

The customer that refers the most clients to us in the next 6 weeks will receive a 4 night stay in a Luxury Box plus a bath and nail trim, a $500 value!  That is on top of the one day free for each client that buys our services!

Gift Cerfificates for Fenway Bark

Are your friends and family scratching their heads on what to get you and your pooch for the holidays?  

Have them call Fenway Bark to purchase a daycare package, boarding package and more!  We are happy to help identify the perfect gift for you and your pooch!

Just point them to Fenway Bark at 617-464-4364!

Pawferctly Pawdicured!

Caring for your dog's feet and nails are important and trimming dog nails are one of the least favorite components of dog responsibility.  

To make it easier for you to ensure your dog's feet stay healthy, Fenway Bark is offering a Perfectly Pawdicured annual nail care plan.  

60 Day and All Star Daycare Clients:
 
$199 - Year round nail trims/Dremel treatments to keep your dog's nails in great shape.  No need to make an appointment, we schedule your dog's nails to be examined and trimmed with your regular daycare schedule.



 

Update: Dog Poisonings in Southie

Early last week we posted information on Facebook and emails about alleged dog poisonings in Southie.

It appears that the dog poisonings may have, in fact, been due to natural causes and that poison that was allegedly found in Farragut Park may be due to placed rat traps near the harbor.  The police are analyzing one sample of alleged poison and the results have not been reported yet.

And although it appears that this time the alleged poisonings may not be the case, it is important for your dog to learn to "drop it" and "leave it" in the event your dog picks up something that may be dangerous.

In the course of Fenway Bark being open for two years clients have reported their dogs eating everything from socks to baby toys to marijuana.  

Teaching your dog to drop it or leave it may save your dog's life and avoid needless surgery.

PS - Please be careful at Thanksgiving that your dog doesn't eat dangerous turkey bones, chocolate, grapes, garlic, onions, and more.  For a short presentation on foods that are dangerous for your pooch, click here.

 

Small Business Saturday - November 24

Small Business Saturday® is November 24th!

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is another day, one dedicated to the businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

It’s Small Business Saturday, and this year, it’s happening on November 24th.

Shop Small this November 24th, and let’s make this the biggest day of the year for small business.

To learn more, visit ShopSmall.com.

IMPORTANT - To get a $25 credit from American Express on your credit card for shopping a registered business, including Fenway Bark, go to the link and register your card.  The opportunity is available to a limited amount of people and businesses.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What will you and your pooch be doing for Thanksgiving?  If your dog will be our guest, be sure to check out our new Thanksgiving room service menu including:

- Warm Turkey Slices
- Warm Ham Slices
- Merrick Thanksgiving Dinner
- Turkey Hearts
- Zuke's Turkey n Tater treats
- Gingerbread Football cookies
and more . . .

Happy Thanksgiving from the entire Fenway Bark team!

Howl-o-ween Party on October 30!

Is your dog a party animal?  

Get ready for our annual Howl-o-ween party at Fenway Bark on October 30 from 6 to 8 pm!  Dogs in costumes, samples from our buy local suppliers, and party snacks await you!  Did we mention the pumpkin patch on our big lawn?

Bring your pup in costume and arrange for Dawgma Gallery to take photos to share with friends and family!

We look forward to having you join the fun!

5 Weeks until Thanksgiving!

It is 5 weeks until Thanksgiving and if you need boarding reservations for your pup, we suggest you make them soon.  A couple of our boarding options are almost sold out already.

Call our concierge at 617-464-4364 to make your reservation or email the concierge with the details of your reservation if you have a credit card on file.

Winter is around the corner. . .

Winter is around the corner so you are probably cleaning up leaves, putting in storm windows, checking out the new boots at Nordstroms, and putting a fresh antifreeze in your car.  All those are great steps to keeping YOU safe and comfortable as winter approaches but what about your buddy?

Yes, you need to winterize your pets, too! 

Fenway Bark is offering its clients a winter care package to keep their paws healthy during a cold New England winter.  Dog are subject to snow and ice getting packed in their paws, cracking of their delicate paw pads, and street/sidewalk salt being caught in their paws where they are likely to lick it out if not wiped off after a winter stroll.

For $150 for the winter, Fenway Bark will maintain your pet's paws weekly, keeping the nails trimmed, fur trimmed between the pads, cleaned of any harsh elements and moisturized to keep the pads healthy.

If you would like to sign up for the service, please ask the concierge to sign your dog up for a Pawdicure package!  Or email the concierge to sign up your dog and request we charge the service to your card on file.

Training Classes Start Next Week! The Time to Enroll is Now Before They Close!

Fenway Bark has a rich Fall curriculum to train your dog on some of the tough problem areas many families deal with - walking on leash, recall, and basic manners.  If your dog needs some, well, polish, on his/her training, enroll in one of our 3 - 4 week courses and join the fun!

Join one of our complimentary orientation courses on training methodology before attending one of the clinics to make the most of your experience!

Howl-o-ween party!

Fenway Bark's annual Howl-o-ween party is on October 30 from 6 to 8 pm!  Customers and future customers are welcome to come and enjoy the fun!

We encourage customers to bring their dogs in costume!  Some of our participants last year came as a themed team!  It was so much fun!

Spooky? Silly? Doesn't matter what kind of costume your pooch is sporting, capture the fun at the Howl-o-ween Photo Booth on Tuesday, October 30th during our Howl-o-ween Spook-tacular! Just $40 for a 10-minute trip in the photo booth includes one image emailed to you. Add $10 to pre-order a 5x7" print. Hurry, space is limited in the booth, sign up to save your spot today!! Sign up on the door to Dawgma Gallery photo studio at Fenway Bark. 

Images will also be available online following the event for print orders: $15 for a 5x7" and $30 for an 8x10"

 

Children must be accompanied by adults.  All dogs must be on leash and registered with requisite health information on file with Fenway Bark or Pawsitive Dog to participate.

 

Bring your appetite and your humor to enjoy Howl-o-ween with other fun loving dog parents.  

 

 

Holiday Boarding - Plan Early

Thanksgiving is only a little less than 7 weeks away and well planned puppy parents are already getting their Thanksgiving and Christmas boarding reservations at Fenway Bark in place for the holidays.  If you haven't made your reservations, we encourage you to do so while all room size options are available to you.

Giving Back

Giving back to the community is very important to the Fenway Bark team.  To that end, we are fostering adoptable dogs on most days and providing them with the socialization and affection they need before going to their forever homes.

To date, Fenway Bark has placed dozens of rescue dogs, almost 50 in one year, if you consider the dogs adopted last weekend at the Last Hope K9 adoption event.

It is our pleasure to give back and hope that you will join us in helping to save dogs, one at a time. 

If you can't foster or adopt, please consider donating good condition leashes, collars, and other supplies to the rescues who give so much to helping the dogs find new homes.

See below for some of the adoptable dogs at Fenway Bark this week.

Upcoming Events

 DOGTOBERFEST!!


10/6/12 - 12 pm - K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
10/13/12 -  K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
10/20/12 -  K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
10/30/12 - 6 - 8 pm - Howl-o-ween at Fenway Bark!!  A howling good time!!
10/27/12 - K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
11/3/12 - 11/17/12 - Leash Walking, Recall Training Clinics begin

In November Dawgma Gallery will be offering weekend photo sessions for holiday pictures.  More information to come on signing up your dog for holiday photos!

Check out our Dogtoberfest specials when visiting us this month! 

Howl-o-ween at Fenway Bark!

MARK THE DATE!

Howl-o-ween is fast approaching and Fenway Bark is celebrating by inviting all of our customers to our Howl-o-ween party on October 30 from 6 - 8 pm! 

Costumes encouraged for both dogs and their families, a like!  Dawgma Gallery will be at the event to photograph you and your pooch!

Local suppliers of treats and gear will be here to meet you, too!

Please RSVP by October 28 the number of dogs and family members attending at info@fenwaybarkonline.com so we can put a cold one on ice for you! 

Training Classes at Fenway Bark

Fall is a great time for pumpkin pie, spiced cider, cool walks through rustling leaves, and dog training before winter snow arrives! 

Fenway Bark is proud to offer a variety of clinics and 4 week training programs to shore up your dog's training needs.  Whether it is walking better on leash, recall, tricks, or basic manners, we have it all!

Have a new puppy under 24 weeks?  We have a puppy kindergarten you can jump in at any time and complete the 6 week course!

Check out our training programs on Eventbrite!  Purchase your spot right on the Eventbrite website!

And, as always, +Dog is at Fenway Bark to meet your advanced training needs!

Upcoming Events

9/22/12 - 12 pm - K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
9/23/12 - 2 - 6 pm - Last Hope Canine Rescue Adoption Event
9/30/12 - 12 pm - K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
10/6/12 - Leash Walking, Recall and Howl-o-ween Training Clinics begin
10/6/12 - 12 pm - K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
10/13/12 -  K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)
10/20/12 -  K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)

10/30/12 - 6 - 8 pm - Howl-o-ween at Fenway Bark!!  A howling good time!!
10/27/12 - K9 Klatch (health and behavior requirements apply)

Thank You!

Although Fenway Bark didn't win the American Express Big Break contest, we want to thank everyone who took the time to vote and ask others to vote.  Our hearts were so warmed by the support from our customers!

New Training Classes at Fenway Bark!

Life is complicated, right?  Between quarterly meetings, client entertainment, visiting leaf peepers and the challenges of day to day living, it is pretty stinkin' hard to commit to a 8 week training program for the pupster in your life.  Over the past year we have listened to countless numbers of you say that you want to enroll your dog in training but can't commit to a program that spans over months, many times crossing through holidays. 

We heard you and responded by pulling together what we feel are outstanding 3 week programs that allow you to work on particular behaviors and training needs in focused core clinics.

Our October clinics including building leash walking skills, reliable recall, and for fun, some Howl-0-ween tricks!

To see the three clinics starting on October 6, please click here!

If there are clinics you would like to see us offer in the future, please let us know at info@fenwaybarkonline.com.