21 Replies to "West Seattle Dawg: Another new business in Morgan Junction"

• SmoothBob July 4, 2009 (11:29 am)

  Yea! This is just those of us that live around Gateway Elementary need–another business to provide a plethora of barking dogs from 0700-1900 seven days a week.

  Rex, please do us a favor and tell people if their dogs bark incessantly, they’ll get to stay inside all day.

• Venkat July 4, 2009 (12:43 pm)

  I’m excited about this – being a dog person – but..actually I’ll just keep my opinion to myself on this one and wish this person the best!

• Nichole July 4, 2009 (2:40 pm)

  Hmmm I wonder how Stella Ruffingtons feels about competition opening up a couple doors down. Seems like a poor choice of venue to me. But I have to say, as someone in a specialized pet niche in West Seattle, I am eager to see what these two can come up with to make such a targeted business work!

• MM July 4, 2009 (2:42 pm)

  I have 3 dogs! Too bad I have absolutely no inclination to buy any of them a vegan dog treat or throw them a party. Likely no ice cream cones either ):

• WSB July 4, 2009 (2:49 pm)

  We talked to them about that. They say their research showed the dog daycare business in West Seattle has room to grow – many places are maxed out. They also say they’ll be referring people to SR for services they don’t offer, such as grooming and overnight care – TR

• Iggy July 4, 2009 (5:01 pm)

  Hi Rex and Tova, welcome to the neighborhood. Sadly, though, I must agree with SmoothBob. The dogs at Stellas can be really, really noisy and disruptive to those of us living nearby and trying to work from home. The thought of another 20 dogs and more cars dropping them off and picking them up and barking is a bit offputting. Hope you can impress upon your clients that it is a residential neighborhood. Thanks,

• Rex July 4, 2009 (7:13 pm)

  Smooth Bob and Iggy,

  Just thought I would let you know that we will be doing something about noise control. We understand that noise control can be an issue and are doing some things to address just that issue. We have a drop off area on the side of location to make it both easy on our customers, and the neighborhood. We will work hard to work with the neighborhood on making this a successful transition. Our daycare has a scheduled daily plan that keeps the dogs busy. We will also be doing some other added things to control the noise. The location is commercially zoned, but no one likes to hear barking dogs all day long. We will be respectful of the neighborhood and want to be a positive part of this community. Thank you for voicing your concerns on this matter, and yes we will make sure it is addressed.

  We are excited for our Grand Opening this week, and hope you will see what happens before you judge to quickly. We don’t want to be a negative part of the neighborhood, but a positive new addition.

  Best,
  Rex
  Owner of West Seattle Dawg

• muttleys July 4, 2009 (10:34 pm)

  Welcome to West Seattle! We will have to stop by and say hi!

  Kelly
  Muttley Crew Cuts

• Venkat July 4, 2009 (11:13 pm)

  Thanks for your comment. That’s good to hear – I’ll check it out.

  Good luck!

• SmoothBob July 4, 2009 (11:25 pm)

  Thanks for commenting on here Rex.

  It isn’t just those of us who live near your new business, but at least one nearby business owner who has expressed frustration about the level of noise from Stella’s. If you could address the noise issues, not just for those of us who work wierd hours and work from home, but for your fellow business owners, I think it could help with your transition to the area. I certainly realized that your digs are zoned commercial, but let’s face it, two doggy day care places in one block can be a bit much for even a seasoned city-dweller if not properly managed.

  Welcome to the neighborhood! Personally, I can’t understand for the life of me why someone would choose to have a dog and then have to pay to have someone “doggy sit” it all day, but I wish you well! Sounds like there is plenty of business for you.

• grr July 5, 2009 (12:17 am)

  welcome Rex!!!! Can’t wait to see what you have to offer.

  Smooth..While, for the most part, I agree with your ‘doggy sit’ comment…sometimes a situation can change…you find yourself single, or a job change…, but still wanting to care for your pet. If you work all day…is it fair to leave Fido home alone in a crate while you’re at work? The Doggy Day Care biz is a GREAT thing (especially if you can afford it). Dogs are pack/social creatures…getting to hang with their dog buddies all day while you’re at work is the best ting ever. When you come home, they’ve excercised, haven’t eaten your house, and you get to enjoy the rest of the day/night with them. Win Win all the way around.

• alkikmac July 5, 2009 (10:09 am)

  SmoothBob- I used to own a doggy day care and over 90% of my clients used my services 2-3 days a week. Only a small number put their dog in day care 5 days a week. Most experts consider 5 days/per week daycare over-stimulating for a dog.

• shell July 5, 2009 (12:13 pm)

  As someone who lives down the street from all this I have WAY more trouble with the kids at the school whos parents park in my driveway and have more noise than anything else. I have walked by Stella’s many times and heard NOTHING. Yes, I admit sometimes I hear dogs bark but it’s 1/10 of the kid noise I hear. If people are complaining about noise then lets talk about the school. And you know what I knew what I was getting into when I bought my place. I am just irritated people are yelling about dog noise when it has way less impact than the school. If you don’t like it move, otherwise be like me and my husband and simply DEAL. At least they cleaned up the yucky yard and made it look better.

  We wish you luck and hope you can keep the noise at bay!

• Jeremiah July 5, 2009 (2:08 pm)

  Gripe gripe gripe. Don’t like living in the city, move to the country. Problem solved.

• SmoothBob July 5, 2009 (4:06 pm)

  A few points:

  – From where I sit, I don’t hear as much noise from the school, but at least the kids only go to school about half the year and don’t show up until 8:30-9:00. Stellas lets their dogs out by 7 AM, sometimes a little earlier every single day of the year. Sometimes it is quiet there, it just depends on the day and time.

  -If I lived in the country, I would expect to encounter these types of businesses; that is where they belong. I didn’t even noticed what kind of business Stella’s was until I moved here. I never thought a business with dozens of animals present daily would ever be legal in the city limits of a large city. Everytime I’ve taken a dog to a kennel, it has been out in the country. I’ve encountered a lot of surprises here in this town.

  -I can see the need for these businesses, but I just don’t understand why people have large, active dogs in the city unless they have a large fenced yard. I love dogs as much as the rest of ya’ll. Mine lives at my parent’s house on five acres because that is only fair. The dog eats high-quality dog food, gets excellent vet care and top-quality treats from the pet store. If you think that your dog is going to be happier with a “fresh-baked carmel-pineapple-mint-chocolate-fresh-bakes scone” and peach homemade “dogcream,” then I’ve got a talking and dancing dog to sell you!

  But I feel better knowing that all of ya’ll who buy such products feel good about yourselves as a pet owner (or what is the new WSB term I’ve see: “human companion” or something?) and that you are stimulating the economy and helping to keep folks such as Rex in business.

• shell July 5, 2009 (6:18 pm)

  SmoothBob,

  I don’t know who you are, and quite frankly don’t want to. Please move to the country with your dog. You don’t sound like a city person to me at all. I actually take my dog to a doggie daycare in Seattle, and don’t think I am a bad person for doing so.

  City people need these business. I love the fact I can take my dog to Cafe Ladro and sit in front in a chair. West Seattle is incredible and I love that is becoming so pet friendly. I don’t mind having a small yard, my kid and dog still have a place to run, and I am footsteps from business. You aren’t a city person – so go back to the country where you belong!

  I moved to West Seattle because of all the great attractions. If I wanted country treatment I would move to the sticks. My family is all city and I love it. And I happen to know two people that own business in West Seattle and “stimulate their pockets” or should I say the community. These are hard working folks who not only make a living, but many give to the community as well.

  Please – I live in this area and I wish you weren’t my neighbor. I prefer the neighbors I have that are friendly and accepting that I sat with on the 4th of July that enjoy our community.
  Please take your negative attitude to the country.

• Pam Schwartz July 15, 2009 (4:21 pm)

  Im not quite sure if this neighborhood needs another business that has a doggie day care, especially next door to an existing doggie day care business. I find it in very poor taste. In my opinion, the landlord should have thought this through and leased the space to a business that was not in direct competion with its neighbor; also a tenant of the same landlord.
  Best of luck.

• jearoo July 20, 2009 (11:22 am)

  I’m really shocked you would actually open up next door to a locally loved Doggy Daycare – Stella Ruffingtons, and I’m sure you were aware before you did it. I am a customer there, and will only recommend Stella’s to my friends. And unfortunately for you I will never spend a dime at your location for the simple fact you would open next door.

• shell July 30, 2009 (4:18 pm)

  I love this place – I just got my doggie and ice cream today, and telling everyone to come here. That ice cream was so incredible. My dog ate it in two bites. The guy that owns it was so nice – unlike the rude guy next door. I won’t spend a dime there, I wouldn’t leave anything there, let alone my beloved dog!

• Brandie Ahlgren July 31, 2009 (4:34 pm)

  Dear “shell,”

  I’ve had the pleasure of working with Stella Ruffington’s for as long as they have been in business and even take my dog Ziggy there to be groomed. I find the owner Shane and his staff to be extremely friendly — folks who run a business built on integrity and a genuine love for dogs. So far in your posts, you’ve done nothing but insult people, telling them to “take your negative attitude to the country” and that you “won’t spend a dime” at a business many of us in the neighborhood respect and love.

  You not only make yourself look bad, but also the business you are trying to defend, West Seattle Dawg. As a fellow West Seattle small business owner and resident, I wish them nothing but success — however, they’re not getting any help from you. You might stick to saying nice things about their ice cream and avoid bashing the competition and insulting your neighbors.

  Regards,
  Brandie Ahlgren, founder
  CityDog Magazine

• WSB July 31, 2009 (4:45 pm)

  This thread is almost a month old and should have automatically closed by now. In the meantime, I need to reiterate what I pointed out higher in the thread. When we first talked to Rex and Tove, who since have become WSB sponsors, I asked that very question – what about the business next door? They said exactly what I said above – there are many areas of the business that don’t overlap, and at least at the time, according to them, SR’s day care was full – TR

Sorry, comment time is over.