Dogtopia of Cary, NC Blog

Morrissey was our winner, last year, for the second year running.  Will he win for a third year, or will it be your dog?

It’s that time of year again, for your pooch to put on their best costume and to enter our annual contest.  Check out the previous blogs to see the previous entries.

This year, we are doing things a little differently!  The contest will be run through our Facebook fan page, however you do not need to have a Facebook account or be a friend or fan of the Cary pages, in order to submit a picture or vote.

If you are not a Facebook user, choose this link – http://www.dogdaycare.com/halloween-cary.php

Or to enter through the Facebook fan page, use this link – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dogtopia-of-Cary/145470042101?sk=app_95936962634

If you do not see the contest details when you access our fan page, select the ‘Contests’ link, on the left of screen.  The submission process is very user friendly, but we have enclosed step-by-step details for uploading your picture.  Please note, you will not be able to upload pictures until the contest officially begins.

On the page, you will notice several tabs;

Details – This gives you an overview of the competition

Enter Contest – This is where you upload your favorite picture of your dog in their costume!  You may choose to login with Facebook details, which will make sharing on your own page easier, if you wish.  You must to enter the State, Country, Dog’s first and last name, your e-mail address, and your date of birth. (This information is to solely verify that you are over the age of 13 and will not be collected or used by us).  Select the check box, once you have read and understood the rules of entry, then choose continue.  Please note, if you are submitting an entry for more than one dog, you must use a different e-mail address to register.

In the ‘Dog’s name and Halloween Alias’ box, enter details such as, ‘Billy-Bob as a Police Officer’.  Try to be descriptive, but concise, as these are the details shown to the voting public.

You may enter an image title, if you wish, but this is not required.  Select ‘choose file’, then the ‘Upload’ button.  Please select carefully, as once uploaded, your entry cannot be changed.

You will then receive a message saying that your entry was successfully submitted, and you will be taken directly to the Invite Friends tab.

Invite Friends – Here, you have the option again to login to Facebook, if not already, or to enter your friends, family, co-workers and other supporters e-mail addresses, to invite them to vote for your dog.  You may skip this if you do not wish to notify people at this stage.

Voting – This is where people will vote for their favorite entry.

Key Dates:

Upload your entry from 12.00am 19^th Oct to 11.59pm 21^st October.

Public vote begins 12.00am 22^nd October and ends 5.00pm 26^th October.

Party Details

To celebrate the launch of the contest, we will have our Halloween party during pick-up time on Friday 21st October (4pm-7pm).  We will have drinks, spooky snacks and lots of fun, for humans and dogs.  If YOU come in costume, your dog will receive their day of daycare for free!

Warren McCormack will be available at the party, to take a professional picture for your entry, or just for fun!  Spaces are extremely limited and he has a number of photo packages available.  Call him now on 919-889-8509 to reserve an appointment.  http://www.warrenmccormack.com/

Shane Gentry, from Sally Said So, will also be here to answer any pressing training questions you have and to also sign you up for the next group training class, starting Wednesday 26th October, at 7.30pm. http://www.sallysaidso.com

Izzy, will be here promoting Scentsy wickless scented candles, that we have been testing in our lobby, and make great holiday gifts!  https://scentstand.scentsy.us/Home

We are anticipating that it will be a very busy day for daycare and boarding, so please make your reservation in advance to avoid disappointment!

We cannot wait to see this year’s fun, creative and spooky entries.  Good luck everyone!

  

All our entrants get a bye in the tournament straight to the final and will go nose-to-nose to decide the 2011 Dogtopia of Cary Mutt Madness MVP (Most Valuable Pup!).  On Thu, Mar 24 (Sweet 16 bracket), all dogs who come to daycare in basketball-themed costume will have their photograph taken and will be entered into the contest.  If you cannot make it on that day, e-mail your pictures to cary@dogdaycare.com by this date.  Voting will begin on this blog on Fri, Mar 25 with voting closing on Sun, Apr 3 at 7pm.  The winner with the most votes will be announced on Mon, Apr 4.  

In addition to lots of other goodies, the winner will receive a 5-day pass!

This is the moment we have all been waiting for and it is going to be one very very tough competition!  We have a real mixture of literal costumes, cleverly stages scenes and graphically enhanced submissions, but all of our 12 entries are awesome and we definitely think that Cary will be again bringing home the national title  

Vote by leaving a comment with the name of your favorite entrant.  You may only vote once and the winner with the most votes will win a five-day daycare pass and will go through to the national Dogtopia contest.  Voting for this round ends at 12pm Sunday 24th October.

Abbie as a Boxer!

Aloha! Maggie

Bennett has gone bananas!

Cowardly Lion Putter

Cowgirl Lucy

Draper the Shark

Fire Chief Rocket

James Pom Morrissey

Mail Carrier Otis

Minnie Mouse Mocha

Sea Monster Devours Junior

Spooky Tri Kissing a Witch

This is our favorite time of year and we cannot wait to see what creative costumes your dogs will be wearing this year.  For those of you that have never entered before this is how it works.  Simply submit a picture of your dog – to cary@dogdaycare.com –  in their costume and we post all of the entries to this blog.  People vote by leaving a comment with the name of their favorite.  The votes get counted up and the winner will win lots of goodies PLUS a 5-day daycare pass ($140 value).  The same winner will then go forward to the national Dogtopia competition, against the winners from each of the other Dogtopia locations.  Voting resumes again and the overall winner will win a 20-day daycare pass (a whopping $520 value) at their home store. 

Last year’s grand champion, Morrissey dressed as Pom-Pilot, was from our store.  Help us to retain the title!

The timetable is as follows - 

• Photos must be submitted to cary@dogdaycare.com by 7pm Friday, October 15^th.
• Voting for local winner will begin Monday, October 18^th
• Voting will close 12pm Sunday, October 24^th
• Voting for national winner will begin Tuesday, October 26^th
• Winner announced Friday, October 29^th

 Next time you are in-store, pick up a pack of home-made pizza treats – it includes all of the contest details and the recipe!

 To help us celebrate the contest we will be holding an in-store event on Oct 15^th between 4-7pm, where we will have light refreshments, and if you are looking to increase your brood, foster families for Wake County Animal Center will be bringing some wonderful dogs here to steal your hearts, as they look for forever homes.  As a reminder, it’s the last chance to enter photos – every dog (or owner) that comes dressed in costume, on this day, will get the whole day of play for the half-day price ($17)!  Pass holders, don’t feel you are missing out; we’ll just stamp your pass for a half-day visit!  If you haven’t had the chance to take the picture of your dog in costume, we will do it for you and don’t worry, we’ll keep the outfit safe while your dog is in the play room.  As an homage to Howl-O-Ween, any dog that can howl, bark, bay, hoot or holler will also get the whole day of play for $17!  No inside voices allowed on this day!

Can your dog howl as well as Sam and Billy-Bob?

Just like the real World Cup Final, our costume competition was also a close result with the last little bit of time making all the difference.  Congratulations to both Spain and to Bennett: Her sequined referee outfit won the day and she walks away with the grand prize which includes a 5-visit daycare pass!  Commiserations to Bear who was a great challenger. 

We cannot wait to see these two awesome competitors battle again at Halloween!

This year, Dogtopia will be hosting it’s 6th Annual Dog Wash event but it will be a first for us here at Cary.

 Our chosen charity, this year, is the Morrisville Police Department K-9 Support Unit.  They have a new puppy in training and the funds we raise will go towards the upkeep and specialist equipment needed for such a valuable community resource.

 The event will take place at our store from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, July 17th where, for a suggested donation of $10, per dog, our staff will shampoo, rinse and towel-dry your dirty dog and leave them sparkling clean!  We are hoping that it will so busy that while you wait in line, you can be entertained by a number of local vendors and doggy competitions.   We will also be using the event to launch lots of new and exciting things! -

• Meet the trainers – on 20th July we will be launching group obedience training classes, led by Darwin K9.  At the dog wash, they will be having ‘ask the trainer’ sessions where you may get to hear the answers to common problems or even things that make you go hmm!  If you would like to submit your questions in advance, please let us know and we will be happy to pass them on – if your question is selected you will receive a very special offer!  The event will be a great opportunity to meet Andy and Alexia and determine how they may be able to help you and your dog get the best out of each other!   As well as providing demonstrations of tricks and other fun doggie stuff, they will also be running our competitions – best and worst trick, best and worst obedience, best and worst haircut and look-a-like (either like you or a celebrity!).  Check back closer to the event for the exact competition times.
• Meet the Groomer – after the event, we will at last be offering grooming.  Many of you will have already met Jen, or at least seen her on the webcams, as she is one of our playroom attendants.  When she is not working, you may have also seen her at the dog park with her Boxer Bella.  This is an awesome opportunity for your dog to finally feel happy about going to get spruced up!  Our existing daycare and boarding dogs have already established a wonderful relationship with Jen so will be totally relaxed in her presence as well as already being comfortable in these surroundings.  Why not save time and gas by combining a half day of daycare with an afternoon at the spa?  Come and meet Jen to discuss your grooming preferences and take advantage of early booking as she is sure to get very busy, very quickly!
• Retail – It has long been on our list to revitalize our retail area, and phase 1 is to launch some exciting new treats and cookies.  We will be selling favorites such as Buddy Biscuits, Sojos and Real Meat treats.  Our friends Chippie Chew will also be here selling other great healthy and natural snacks for your furry best friend.  On the day, we will also have for sale, the same shampoo that we will personally be using for the event.  This is an awesome product by Cloud Star called Buddy Wash.  It is made from completely natural ingredients, is not tested on animals and smells great too!  It is also totally safe for those with sensitive skin including humans.  Take some home with you to try out for the whole family!
• Pet Adoptions – For some time, we have worked closely with a number of rescue groups to foster dogs waiting to find their forever home.  We are currently caring for two sweet boys, Tako and Austin, who were rescued by the ‘Boston Terrier Rescue Group NC’ (BTRNC).  At the event, this tremendous group will be here, as will ‘Two Paws Up’ with some wonderful dogs looking for loving families.  Did you know, Dogtopia gives back, to you awesome and generous adoptive families by providing a free day of daycare to all rescued dogs?
• Doggie Massage and Energy Healing by Susan King – The ultimate in pampering and total holistic care for your dog, after all, who wouldn’t like to get a relaxing massage after an action-packed and energetic session at Dogtopia?  Not only for fun, Susan’s amazing techniques may also be able to help your furry kids deal with emotional struggles like stress and separation anxiety, recovery from illness and injury and, just like a Chiropractor or Dentist, prevention to optimize overall health.  At the event, Susan will be providing ‘tasters’ but if you wish to take advantage of our specially negotiated rate, for Dogtopia clients, please call us and we can pass on your details or call Susan direct on 919-244-1264.

 Last year, the company raised over $15,000 for a variety of causes and this year EVERY Dogtopia location will be taking part so please come out and help us beat last year’s total!  Keep checking back as we will be updating this blog with even more details in the next few days!

***UPDATE***

Firstly, sorry for the confusion, the event will run from 10am until 5pm, as per our regular hours although, regular daycare will not be available. To clarify, for a suggested donation of $10, we will shampoo, towel-dry and spritz your dog.  Unfortunately, dryers and other spa services will not be available.  There are no size or breed restrictions and the suggested donation is just that!  If you feel it’s worth more – please feel free to donate more!

For the bathing, we will be using Cloud Star’s Green Tea & Bergamot Buddy Wash shampoo.  This is a non-alcohol, coconut-based shampoo which is safe for puppies, those with sensitive skin and is also safe to use in conjunction with flea and tick treatments.  Please see the link for more info http://www.cloudstar.com/8B85D0640D2843F5A8CD806F241058A0.asp?sc_id=F49D2806498F4EAE899166E1A69D3650&pcs_key=444C8CBDE9C0483AA8D7FFA24E96A866  On the day, we will be selling this shampoo, along with other new retail items including, Buddy Biscuits and all-natural free-range Brazilian bully sticks.  To make way for even more new things, we will also be slashing the price of ALL doggy clothing items by 75%!  To quench your thirst, we will have water, sodas and pastries available, for $1 each, in the lobby.

Here is the schedule of events and competitions.  Timings are approximate and subject to change but we will try to adhere to the start times as closely as possible.  Sign-up for competitions on the day:-

10am-11am Obedience Competition – prizes will be awarded for best and worst!
11am-12pm Ask-a-trainer session (hosted by Darwin K9)
12pm-1pm Clever Dog Trick Competition – prizes will be awarded for best and worst!
1pm-2pm Working Dog Demonstration
2pm-3pm Look-a-like Competition (like owner or celebrity!) – prize will be awarded
4pm-4.30pm In-exactly-five-words-explain-why-your-dog-should-win Competition – prize for the most original
4.30 Grand Raffle – Tickets ($1) on sale at reception

We are very excited about everything that is planned and hope that you will tell all of your friends – canine and human – to come and have a great day out to support a wonderful cause.

The votes have been counted and verified and we have our winners from the first round!

For the team captain contest, Bear received 62% of the vote and in the referees contest, Bennett received 76%.  Congratulations to you both, you are now through to the final.  Congratulations also to USA and England, both one step closer to lifting the World Cup Trophy.  Commiserations to Lulu and Lacie, you were worthy opponents and held your own against very strong competitiors. 

The voting will be reset to zero and this time you need to vote for your overall winner between Bear and Bennett.  

Make your choice count by entering the names of your favorite dogs, from each group, in the ‘leave a reply’ box at the end of the this blog.  Voting will close to coincide with the World Cup Final on Sunday July 11th.  Don’t forget, the eventual winner will receive a goodie basket which includes a 5-day pass worth $140!

VOTE TEAM BENNETT

VOTE TEAM BEAR

The live draw was held Friday night (6/11) to determine which teams would face each other in the first round of the voting competition.  The results were;

Lulu vs Bear (Battle of the team captains)

and

Bennett vs Lacie (Battle of the referees)

Each voter gets to chose their favorite dog from each group – one from group A and one from group B.  The voting will end on Friday 25th June and the winner with the most votes, from each category, will then go head-to-head for a final round of voting to determine the overall champion. 

The second round of voting will begin on Monday 28th June and the voting count will be reset to zero.  The overall winner has the chance to win an Dogtopia goodie basket, including a 5-day daycare pass – worth over $180!  They can only win if you take the time to vote!

Make your choice count by entering the names of your favorite dogs, from each group, in the ‘leave a reply’ box at the end of the this blog.

GROUP A – BATTLE OF THE TEAM CAPTAINS

Lulu may be small but she has a personality big enough to lead her team to victory.  Don’t let those Miniature Dachshund legs fool you, her lightning speed is her greatest asset!

 VERSUS

 As a Lab Mix, Bear’s confidence is his best leadership quality, in fact, he is so sure that both his team and the USA will win the World Cup, he started the celebrations early!

GROUP B – BATTLE OF THE REFEREES

 Lacie has quickly learned the rules of the game and her vibrant Lab Mix energy means that this young referee can easily keep up with the big dogs and keep the game flowing.

VERSUS

Bennett is a true Southern Belle and always brings her Corgi glamor to every game – what other referee would look so fabulous with sequins on their uniform?

 Voting is now open.  Good luck everyone!

Join us for our “Fiesta de Fidos” Cinco de Mayo Party this Wednesday, May 5th!!

Come meet Kirsty and Diane, the new owners of Dogtopia of Cary from 7pm-9pm and enjoy appetizers, drinks, music and games!

Bring a friend who has never been to Dogtopia and we’ll gladly give you $15 doggy dollars for services. If that friend decides to come to daycare you’ll receive another $15 doggy dollars! We will also waive the fee for anyone who signs up for an evaluation that evening and all retail items will be 30%. With all of that, why not bring a friend along??

To add to the fun, any dogs attending daycare that day in “festive” Cinco de Mayo attire will receive a full day of daycare for the half day price.