Business goes to the dogs

Jake, a blue heeler, sits on the sofa next to Elisabet McHugh. An open book and a pair of eyeglasses rest on a coffee table nearby.

It's a scene that could be pulled from the home of any dog owner - except Jake is not McHugh's dog. He's among dozens of dogs who board at her residence each year, roaming through her living room, toting around stuffed animals and playing in an outside yard whenever he wishes.

McHugh's business is among those that cater to the needs of pet owners. Some, like hers, have been in business for decades.

Others are new, like a self-service dog wash that was recently added at Mr. Suds, a car wash at 1225 Bridge St. in Clarkston.

McHugh originally provided foster care for homeless dogs on the Palouse in the days before Latah County had an animal shelter. She doesn't remember exactly how that volunteer work evolved into a business. But she says the demand has been so strong that when she tried to stop doing it after a move to a smaller house, requests were so persistent she continued.

"The dogs that come here are people's children," says McHugh, who is also a literary agent and finds publishers for authors.

About 10 dogs, not counting her own, might be boarding at any given time. She has a variety of strategies she uses to keep order.

Each dog wears a different colored bandana to help her tell them apart. One time she got eight black Labrador retrievers that looked identical.

She requires a previsit so she can assess the temperament of the animals and make sure they can negotiate the dog doors that allow them outside. She separates small and large dogs and only accepts dogs that have been spayed or neutered. She also doesn't allow the dogs to have their own toys or beds during their stays to prevent territorial issues. "They all behave here. I don't have dog fights."

She charges $18 a day. Checks with two Lewiston-Clarkston Valley kennels found rates between $11 and $14.50 per day depending, in part, on the size of the dog.

Like McHugh, Bruce and Robin Meacham are trying to provide a service that makes owning a dog easier. The new dog wash at Mr. Suds has a ramp leading to a waist-high sink so owners don't have to lift their pet or bend down to scrub them. The tub is surrounded by rubber mats and rubber aprons are available so customers don't get their clothes wet or dirty.

A 10-minute wash for $5 includes disinfectant for the tub, shampoo, conditioner, rinse water, flea and tick medicine and even a skunk treatment delivered through a device similar to a handheld sprayer that beauticians use. A dial allows users to select the products they want.

The water is cooler than what people shower in, but Meacham said he checked with the company and found it's the right temperature for dogs. The station also has a blow drier that delivers cool air that doesn't damage dog's skin, which is included in the $5.

It took Bruce Meacham eight minutes to bathe his medium-sized boxer without rushing. If 10 minutes isn't enough, customers can purchase small increments of time for a quarter so they don't have to buy another 10 minutes.

"It keeps the mess out of your home ... they don't go roll on your carpet," he says.

Meacham got the idea from larger urban areas, such as Portland, Ore., and Salt Lake City, where dog washes are common. "We thought it would be a good little profit center and serve the public."

Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.