City Beat
City Beat (December 13, 2006)
By Travis R. Wright | photo by Travis R. Wright
Dec 13, 2006, 17:41

Canine to Five
It’s A Doggy Dog World

Liz Blondy is yet another Detroiter doing a great part in the effort to revitalize Detroit. How so? “I’ve lived in Detroit on and off my whole life, and I want Detroit to have the availability to the same kinds of services people who live in the suburbs do,” Blondy said while juggling the attention of two pups: a 140-pound Newfoundland and an ever-inquisitive journalist.

It was Thanksgiving 2003 when Blondy found herself among friends at the Bronx bar and through conversation pertaining to holiday travel plans, first learned about dog day care facilities. “I researched and visited dog day cares from Ohio to Canada and all over Michigan,“ Blondy said. “Then I volunteered at one in Plymouth for a while to make sure I really wanted to do this.” She found her space, at 3443 Cass Ave., in December 2004, and by February 2005, she signed the lease. “Three months and $30,000 in renovations later, we opened in May 2005, and have been going steady ever since,” Blondy said. In a typical week she sees around 250 dogs.

The services Blondy's Canine to Five facility provides for Detroiters and suburban commuters alike are unique, but quite necessary. Her care for one’s dog while they are at work or school all day leads to socialization for the dog which is, in Blondy’s opinion, “the most important thing you can do for your dog.” While your dog is walked, fed, played with and encouraged to interact with other dogs at Canine to Five, your bed, couches, carpet and cats will have nothing to worry about. It's worth the $25 a day fee.

Canine to Five also offers full boarding kennel services if you’re leaving town for the holidays or just a few days. “We don’t keep the dogs in cages when they stay with us.” Blondy said of her kennel's conditions. “They have a lot of time and attention out of their kennels.” Every dog is kept in its own space if there is no one in the building, and overnight.

The indoor dog park, offered every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Canine to Five, is the biggest in the city. (Note that after the New Year, this special time for dogs and dog lovers, and dog lovers in search of other lovers, will also occur on Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) On average, 10 to 15 dog owners bring in 15-20 dogs (at a fee of $5 per dog) who get to play and run around in a heated (50 degrees minimum), dog-friendly, 4,500-square-foot facility that opens up to another 1,200-square-foot outdoor area that will be expanding sometime next year. “Those who have a puppy would really benefit from the indoor dog park,” Blondy stated with conviction. “The earlier they start to socialize with other dogs, the better it is for everyone. We will be offering a 'puppy social' on Monday nights, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. for dogs ages 10-24 weeks, and this will be free.”

Canine to Five is also a full-service dog grooming facility; think about the possibilities! At my house, we leave Jude (our schnoodle) chilling on the couch, listening to NPR all day … boring and unproductive. If I brought him to Canine to Five in the morning, I could pick him up at the end of the day and spend some quality car time with the pup, who wouldn't so rambunctious because he would have played all day — and gotten his nails and beard trimmed!

Blondy has the right idea about a lot of things: with the help of the University Center Cultural Association (detroitmidtown.com) she has begun to change the face of the Cass Corridor. She is providing a needed service for the city and has invested in an industry that grosses about $36 million a year nationally. Everybody, and their dog, wins!  | RDW

More info: www.detroitdogdaycare.com or 313.831.DOGS (3647). Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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