Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlsye Lewis.
Hi Charlsye, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I worked as a vet tech in high school and a pet sitter throughout college, and when I graduated, I thought about my own dog, Wynton, who would be alone all day while I went to work (if I got a job in my degree field, communication). I couldn’t stand the idea of him having only his basic needs met, when he could be doing so much more and he could be having a much more fulfilling life. So my husband and I started Metro Animals part time while I was still finishing up at TCU. For the first few years, we had one location and I was the sole employee (Marcus Brunt, my husband, started a company of his own on the same day, Note Consulting). Then we started filling up with dogs from around Fort Worth, so we opened a second location next to our biggest dog park, Z Bones. Then a third (Pet Wash self serve wash and grooming) also near the dog park. Finally, we opened up a big beautiful location in Plano a few years ago on Coit and Parker.
We went from offering just daycare to now offering daycare, overnight boarding, taxi service, self-serve baths, retail that has been tried and tested, birthday parties, nature walks, and professional grooming!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening large facilities with outdoor yard components has all the bumps and hurdles you would expect. We want to give the dogs as many opportunities to play with water, structures, and enrichment games with our loving staff. This requires planning for safety and durability with very tall fences, new artificial turf, shade structures, etc.
As far as managing the dogs go, when we opened exactly 20 year ago this month, dog daycare was a brand new concept. We spent much more time explaining and showing the benefits of letting dogs express their instincts and unleashing their inner canine desires that get suppressed much of the time. We have taken local dogs through every activity you can imagine and have helped thousands of pups have better lives! All day play now includes not only group play with dogs who get along with each other, but also special enrichment activities like scent work, bubble machines, flirt poles, tug, puzzles, follow the leader, pool and hose play, agility courses. It is a magnificent thing to see dogs using their noses, brains, and instincts, leading to calm, satisfied dogs who are at peace after a day of “work” and play.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most proud of how we give back to local rescue groups every day of the year. We have several spots open for adoptable dogs through several groups such as Saving Hope, CLASP, and others. We are also a drop off location for Don’t Forget To Feed Me pet food back available to anyone who is struggling to feed their pets. We knew when we first started that rescue work would be integrated into the business to help dogs that aren’t so fortunate as most of our client pups.
Another thing we are very proud of is that we have extensive employee dog handling training, with a positive culture and full benefits. The first week of October, we are having a Metro Animals Spirit Week for our staff and dogs, where they get to dress up in different themes each day, such as tie-dye, sport jersey, Texas/Western, etc. We take our leadership staff to the big industry conferences twice a year, and we have a plan of constant learning and improvement, all in the service of giving dogs the best experience possible.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One of the best things you can do for your dog is enrichment daycare! Dogs need more than exercise to thrive- let them smell everything! Give them puzzles and snuffle mats and slow feeders and adventure walks and scent work activities! We are having a Pumpkin Party for the dogs in mid October where they will get to explore and taste fresh pumpkins that we open up, along with pumpkin flavored bubbles. It will be a blast! Come join us! Check us out at metroanimals.com. Giving dogs the best life they can have is our ultimate mission in life and our work’s purpose!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://metroanimals.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metroanimalsplano
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metroanimals
Image Credits
All of these were taken by me with the exception of the Kelly Clarkson show producers- they took the one of Kelly and I.
