Going to the
dogs
Local pet-sitter offers walks, baths and
overnights
BY EMILY ANDERSON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Each day, 1- year- old pug Olive gets a walk from
Doggie Playtime Owner Corye BogyDonham while the pup’s owner, Becky
Jessen, works at Community Hospital.
Jessen is one of about 20 local pet owners using
Bogy- Donham’s professional pet- sitting services, which include mid-
day walks, trips to the dog park, baths, car rides, overnights and pet-
sitting at the animal’s home. Bogy- Donham started her business in
March 2006 in Houston and brought the business with her when she moved
to Grand Junction in September.
She’s a member of the National Association of
Professional Pet Sitters and Professional United Pet Sitters and is
certified in pet CPR and first aid by Pet Tech.
“At the apartment I was in, I noticed so many
dogs, and I didn’t like the job I was in, so I researched it and found
out about professional pet- sitting,” BogyDonham said.
Jessen relied on friends and students to watch
Olive before she started using Doggie Playtime, but found it hard to get
the same person to meet with her dog consistently.
“ It’s very hard to find a reliable, professional
person to come in once a day and take her for a walk,” Jessen said. “
Having someone willing to walk your pet is great.”
Doggie Playtime rates range from $ 18 mid- day
walks to a $ 120 live- in service, where BogyDonham spends 20 hours a
day with a dog while its owner is away. Regular pet- sitting, which
includes one visit per day for cats, three visits a day for dogs and
four visits a day for puppies, costs $ 18 per visit. Overnights are $
50, dog washing costs $ 20$ 30, depending on the size of the dog, and
pet taxi services are $ 20 for a half hour. House- sitting for people
without pets costs $ 15 per visit.
Pets ranging from dogs, cats, birds and rabbits
to fish, ferrets and horses are welcome to use Doggy Playtime. Just
leave the creepy crawlers at home.
“ I don’t do snakes or spiders,” said Bogy-
Donham.
Reach Emily Anderson at
eanderson@gjfreepress.com.
