Doggy Daycare opens in Shelby

A new daycare for furry family members has opened in Shelby.

Michelle, The Critter Sitter opened a doggy daycare at 1625-1 E. Blvd., this month after years of pet sitting and boarding in her home.

Business owner Michelle Pichardo said since they opened on June 6, they have stayed busy.

“It’s been going better than expected,” Pichardo said. “We add new dogs in every week.”

She said the daycare can take in 10 dogs per employee and currently they are open Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. She said they will be expanding hours as she hires more employees and the cost is $25 a day.

She said just like a human daycare, people will follow a schedule and can sign up for either one day a week or four days.

Pichardo said they post daily photos and videos of the pups on Facebook so families can enjoy regular updates.

She said doggy daycare is ideal for people who are gone at work all day or who want opportunities for socialization and stimulation for their furry family members.

Dogs must be fully vaccinated against rabies, distemper, parvo and Bordetella, and dogs over two must be spayed or neutered.

Pichardo said they are licensed and insured and accept pups eight weeks and up.

“I enjoy offering a safe place for dogs to come and play,” she said. “We’ve been doing this a long time so we have a ton of experience.”

She said she is skilled in reading canine body language and handles all the introductions for new dogs.

Many dogs come in and are initially nervous and shy, but a few weeks in, they’re dragging their owners through the door to get to daycare.

She said she introduces each new dog slowly and makes sure they all get along and have the right temperament.

She said she’s been caring for pets for 12 years and has never had a fight.

Pichardo said none of the dogs stay in crates unless one needs a timeout or a brief break. The pups have a 1,000-square-foot indoor space to play in and an 800-square-foot outdoor space with a small pool.

Pichardo originally went to vet tech school and worked as a vet tech but once she had her daughter, she wanted to be home with her more so she started pet sitting on the side.

“And it grew and grew,” she said.

Born in Shelby, she moved to Florida as a child and returned to the area four years ago.

Pichardo had opened a business in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she lived, and still manages her business there.

The Pichardos moved to Cleveland County right before the pandemic, and she said she didn’t know if there was a market for pet sitters but quickly discovered there was.

“It blew up last summer,” she said.

In addition to the doggy daycare, Pichardo said she still does in-home visits and there is a trainer, Robin Ledford, who holds classes on the weekends.

Pichardo has big plans for the future and hopes to eventually open locations in Kings Mountain, Forest City and Belmont.

She said the dogs have fun and play hard with their friends at daycare and usually, within moments of being picked up, they’re asleep in the backseat.

“A lot of them pass out in the car,” she said.

Pichardo said it’s rewarding to see dogs blossom and overcome their fears.

She said she recently had a little dog attend daycare who had been rescued from a hoarding situation, and he was extremely nervous. He spent the first day hiding in the corner but now he comes in, tail wagging, excited to be there.

“He’s come a long way in just a few weeks,” she said.

For more information call 980-484-3180 and follow Michelle, The Critter Sitter on Facebook.

Reporter Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Doggy Daycare opens in Shelby