BOISE — Camp Bow Wow has taken care of dogs and their owners in the Treasure Valley for 12 years now, and even though they're struggling, their focus remains on making sure every dog is taken care of.
Since COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order, Camp Bow Wow's business has dropped 80 percent. But, they are offering a 30 percent discount to anyone considered essential that has to work.
"We know people who work at Winco who went from working eight hours a day to 15 hours a day, and if you have a dog at home what's your dog going to do, so we're just reaching out to say hey if you need us, we're here," said Camp Bow Wow's owner, Beth Peterson.
Their primary focus is on making sure essential workers can focus on their jobs and not have to worry about what they are going to do with their pets.
"These people have to work. Whether it's because they are helping patients, or the ones stocking the shelves, so we can still go to the grocery stores and eat and feed our families," said Peterson. "A lot of times, they have dogs, and they can't leave their dogs at home, so that's where we come in."
One pet owner that appreciates Camp Bow Wow staying open is Zeppole Bakery owner, Charles Alpers. His black lab mix, Ace, continues to go to Camp Bow Wow three times a week, so they can focus on running their business.
"We work long hours, and if it weren't for Beth and Camp Bow Wow, we wouldn't be able to have Ace," said Alpers. "We are so thankful for them, and Ace absolutely loves it there. He get's so excited to go."
And when Ace is there, they know he is well taken care of, so much so that if they know it's going to be a late-night they call Camp Bow Wow to ask if he can stay overnight. Without hesitation, Beth and her staff tell him that it's no problem.
"He's not the type of dog that would stay home all day, and he is scared of new people, so we can't bring him into the bakery," said Alpers. "But Camp Bow will always go above and beyond to make sure Ace is comfortable."
However, Camp Bow Wow isn't just looking out for the dogs they care for, they also want to make sure the rest of the public can take care of their pets too.
"If you need dog food, if you need cat food or if you need any kind of medical help for your animals reach out. We have resources ourselves, so we can help with that," Peterson said. "You can call us; you can call any dog business in the Valley, and we all know where the resources are."
If there is a silver lining to staying open during a pandemic, it is the happiness these dogs bring to everyone working at Camp Bow Wow.
"Oh my gosh! It is so wonderful to come to work and actually be able to work with dogs. That's probably one of the biggest stress relievers of the employees here," said Peterson. "They can be having an awful day and be worried about things going on in the world, and you come to work and how can you look at a dog and just not be happy."
If you or anyone you know needs help with their dogs, please visit www.campbowwow.com/boise for more information.
