Beth is one of those people who you can always count on when you have a problem. She is currently a vet tech at Lifeline Animal Clinic in Atlanta (yay Lifeline!) and takes care of dogs and cats all over Atlanta in her free time. She’s always on the go and is happy to help out however she can.

I’ve never met a person who has such a connection with animals. Not only can she calm animals quickly, but she can answer just about any question you’ve got about them. Working at the vet has certainly helped her to gain experience in caring for animals. You’d be crazy to board them when Beth is available.

Beth Dugan
404-232-0646
bdugan81@gmail.com

This park seems mostly geared towards small dogs to run around in even though they do have a separate designated area for small dogs. It’s just not big enough even for Autumn to run at full speed. It’s an odd somewhat L-shaped plot of land with virtually no shade for the dogs. There is a small pavilion and a small bench for the humans.

I managed to strike up a conversation with the other family that arrived shortly after we did, they live nearby and don’t even visit the park. I think it’s fantastic that Newtown has the dog park, but unfortunately I don’t think Autumn and I will go back. It’s too small, and I don’t feel safe letting her run where I can’t see her, especially knowing that she can easily get out of the fence.

The most redeeming quality of this park is that it has a nice water spigot. They also have poop bag stations, but from what I could tell, they don’t get replenished or cleaned often enough. Overall, if you’re looking for a dog park for a quick half hour run, Newtown isn’t bad, just be sure to keep your eyes on the dog. Otherwise, make a trip to Dunwoody and check out Brook Run, it’s worth the drive.

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Puddle of Pooch is located at 1420 Mayson Street. If you’re heading from Buckhead towards the center of the city, it’s easy to hop off the Spring Buford connector and drop your precious pooch off. They’re open from 7am until 8pm most days. This is the only daycare service I’ve found that allows the dogs to go outside for extended periods of time during the day. There are so many good things about Puddle of Pooch it’s difficult to list them. So let’s start with the basics.

Crate free. I cannot express how happy this makes me (and Autumn, seeing as how her crate is far from her happy place). There are several crates in the back for dogs who need to be separated while they eat, which brings me to my next point.

You can bring your own food! Honestly, how awesome is that? I was paying $3 a day for Autumn to get a snack at her last daycare! Now, I know what she is eating is healthy and I know exactly how much food she is getting throughout the day.

The sweet owners, Erika and Bill, take the dogs outside. Outside! For extended periods of time! They’ve got a large yard in the back that is perfect for the puppies to play and get plenty of exercise.

I love this doggy daycare not only for the reasons listed above, but because they offer great care for an affordable rate. The more your pooch attends, the less you’ll have to pay. The owners are always looking for ways to help their loyal customers out. Here’s the price breakdown:

• 1 Day a Wk $18/day
• 2 Days a Wk $17/day
• 3 Days a Wk $16/day
• 4 Days a Wk $15/day
• 5 Days a Wk $14/day

Not only does Puddle of Pooch offer doggy daycare, but they also do grooming (Erika has been grooming for more than 10 years), boarding, and dog parties (on Saturday there was a doggy princess party!). You cannot go wrong with Puddle of Pooch, people. Go check them out and tell them Autumn’s mommy sent you!

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Love Italian food? Love dog-friendly patios? Then you will absolutely LOVE Pizzeria Venti in Buckhead. A small restaurant tucked away on Lenox Road, Pizzeria Venti has great pizza, meatballs, and gelato. But the best part is that they are dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and event-friendly. You’ll love sitting outside on the beautiful shaded patio with your dog enjoying a bottle of wine and some bocce balls (fabulous meatballs baked in pizza dough).

The authentic Italian food is moderately priced and mouth wateringly good. The service is fantastic. It’s one of those order at the counter places, which typically I’m not crazy about, but Pizzeria Venti is unlike any other. The staff is attentive and courteous and seems genuinely happy to serve the guests.

If you’re in the mood for Italian, I highly recommend packing up the family and the dog and stopping by Pizzeria Venti. Yeah, the food is great, but you can bring your four legged best friend with you. You simply cannot go wrong with a dog-friendly patio.

Pizzeria Venti is located in Buckhead at 2770 Lenox Road.

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I started working for Definition 6 in September. Before interviewing, I had researched the company and learned that they allowed their employees to bring their dogs! When I interviewed I didn’t see many of them running around so I didn’t think anything of it. On my first day, I showed up excited about a fresh start with a large scale advertising company. But I can’t lie, I was hoping to see a dog or two running around the office. To my surprise, there were a lot more than two dogs running around!

When I say most people that work at Definition 6 are dog lovers, I really mean, MOST people that work at Definition 6 are dog lovers. There are at least 10 dogs that are always present at the office; its their second home. Their moms and dads wouldn’t dare come to work without them. They are everywhere, too! Every day I see Chico (who guards the front desk), Porkchop and T-Bone (the resident little monsters), Scooby and Gizmo (long time veteran Boxers), Suki (who watches over the creative department), and Gracie- the sweet old grump. I can’t imagine coming to work and not seeing these precious faces.

I am not a dog owner but have become a dog lover since Jacklyn rescued Autumn. Jacklyn and her family have taught me a lot about dogs and what they can add to a person’s life. Even though Autumn has only been a part of my life for less than six months, I can’t imagine living without her. I try to bring Autumn into work with me at least once a week, but it’s hard to convince her to skip daycare at Puddle of Pooch for a day of work! However, once she gets here, she takes off to play with Scooby and Gizmo (they even taught her how to box!) or goes straight to Suki in creative. Autumn made friends at Definition 6 quickly and enjoys herself when she comes here. She often runs around visiting her friends in other departments.

Definition 6 is a great place to work. It just so happens to act as a doggy daycare for those of us with pooches who don’t want to be left alone all day! Having the dogs around makes it a great environment to work in. Not only does this environment help socialize your dog and diffuse stress, but it encourages everyone to work as a team, especially when it comes to taking care of each other’s dogs. All of the dogs here are non-aggressive. They share toys and treats and enjoy short walks in the side yard (the humans do too, we could all use a short break every now and then!). Everyone loves having the dogs around, even the non-dog owners.

I wish more work places allowed dogs. It really makes a difference in the attitude and environment of the workplace. If you’ve got a job and you have a special four legged someone in your life, why not ask your boss about it? And if you’re looking for a job that welcomes your dog as much as you, well, you’re in luck, because Definition 6 is hiring!

It wasn’t difficult for me to decide to try Cheshire Animal Clinic because it had received several great reviews online and the fact that it’s a little over a mile from my house didn’t hurt either. I called them up to check pricing for a checkup visit and the people at the front desk were incredibly polite and helpful. I got an appointment the next day!

Overall, the experience with them has been great. They have a large seating area with dog-friendly couches and lots of informational pamphlets, etc to look at. The only problem is that you won’t have time to look at anything! As soon as you are checked in and ready to go, you get called back into a large private room! Service is incredible, too. The techs are super caring (sometimes, overly so- Autumn got five treats last time she was in there) and take the time to make the dogs feel comfortable. I’ve never been to a vet that had such a tender hearted staff.

Not only is the staff courteous, Dr. Allen is fantastic with Autumn. Every time we’ve seen him (which has been a few times lately because of Autumn’s allergies) he has spent extra time petting and loving on her. He is genuinely interested in her well being and I am truly touched each time I go there. He is sweet, soft spoken, and genuine. I made it clear in the beginning that finances were an issue for me and he has gone out of his way to ensure that Autumn receives proper care and attention. When I was checking prices on heart worm medicines and compared his costs to that of PetMeds, he explained to me the reason for the price difference (only about $2-3) and suggested alternatives. Dr. Allen didn’t hesitate when he had to explain the differences between Heart Guard and Interceptor to me. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but where my dog is concerned, I want the facts. All of them. Right away. And I believe that Dr. Allen respects me for it.

Not only does this clinic have easily manageable hours for us working folk, but they provide daycare and boarding services, too! Seriously, you cannot go wrong with this veterinarian. Check them out for yourselves online at CheshireAnimal.com.

I fell in love with Cheshire Animal Clinic. And I bet you will too. I referred a friend and would you believe that I received a handwritten thank you note in the mail that same week? Unbelievable. When you go check them out, tell them Jacklyn and Autumn sent you!

Cheshire Animal Clinic
2647 Buford Highway
Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: 404-320-6555
Fax: 404-638-6812

My boyfriend and I decided to we really wanted to check out Brook Run since it’s super close to his house and it was absolutely the best part of our weekend. The park itself is super easy to find, the dog park is hidden way in the back, beyond the skate park. We felt like we kept driving and driving and driving, and when we finally decided we must have passed it, there it was! Settled off to the right in the woods, very easy to miss. Best advice I can give you, just keep driving until you see a whole bunch of dogs. If you feel like you’ve been driving for miles and miles, you’re probably almost there. You can find driving directions on the site.

Once we got there and parked (limited parking available on a sunny day it seems) we let Autumn off the leash and she went nuts! Half of the fun for us was trying to find her in the park, which is gigantic. The entire park is about three heavily wooded acres (might want to bring bug spray in the warmer months) with seating for humans scattered throughout. I noticed two entrances when we walked around the perimeter of the park, which is roughly a half mile walk. It’s actually a very pleasant walk with paved paths throughout, it makes it easy to safely walk through the woods. However, if you step off the path, be prepared to trip over logs, sticks, and stumps.

The only major drawback to the park is that it doesn’t have a water spigot. If you go to the park, you must bring your own water. Bring enough for a couple dogs to share and leave it there, you know, pay it forward as they say! There is a water spigot for cleaning off paws, but please be sure to use the water sparingly.

Honestly, I cannot say enough good things about this park. The other dog parents were very smart and kept a close eye on their dogs. I didn’t spot one person on a cell phone or with their nose in a book.

You can find out more information about this fabulous park on their website Just a Walk in the Park.

Treehouse is nestled inside the Peachtree Hills neighborhood. If you’re driving quickly, you’ll probably miss it. It’s an old house converted into an open air patio and bar inside. It’s been serving Atlantans with a smile since 1986! Imagine my delight when I noticed that the relaxed patio is also pooch friendly! They’ve even got a water bowl on the patio for the dogs!

It may be a little cold to enjoy a lazy brunch, lunch, or dinner outside, but the patio is packed full of space heaters to make sure you and your dog will be comfy and enjoy yourselves.

If you’re looking for a pooch friendly place to hang out, Treehouse is worth the time. Sometimes the wait for a table may be longer than you’d like, but believe me, it’s worth it (and so is the tequila lime hummus).

Check out Treehouse at 7 Kings Circle Atlanta, GA 30305.

Update

As of March 26, Treehouse no longer supplies water bowls for the dogs. You’ll have to bring your own!

Do you feel bad leaving your dog at home all day alone? Does your dog need more exercise and interaction? If you need to let your dog burn off some energy and it’s too cold or rainy to hang out at the park, I cannot recommend Doggie Day Camp enough. Autumn is a happier dog on doggie day care days and I’m a happier mommy knowing that she is well taken care of. When you visit for the first time, bring your veterinary paperwork to prove your dog is up to date on shots (note: your dog will need bordetella every six months rather than one year to be in any kind of day care service in Atlanta).

While you’re filling out the day camp paperwork, one of the caregivers will evaluate your pet’s health and personality. Each dog must go through a personality check before being let in with the other dogs. Lots of other day care services I have researched don’t even mention the personality tests. This is so important, especially if you’ve got a puppy and there are other dogs that may be a bit impatient with a rambunctious baby. It doesn’t take very long at all, and it’s completely worth it.

Once the dogs are together, they are free to run around and play (they even have little jungle gyms for them to climb on and slide down). There is someone in with the dogs at all times to pet, love, and watch over them. If a fight breaks out, they are armed with spray bottles loaded with water. And if you’re worried about your dog going to the bathroom- they’ve got special textured floors for the dogs to go potty on. It’s totally safe and it gets cleaned up almost immediately.

The other important stuff you need to know: It’s not cheap. Doggie Day Camp at the Buckhead PetSmart is going to run you $20 for 6+ hours and $13 for less than 6 hours. And if you want your pup to have a snack (Kong peanut butter paste and a treat) at noon, you’ll have to cough up an extra $3. It’s going to cost you to have your pet well taken care of. But I don’t think you’ll find another place quite as safe and loving as PetSmart. If you are a PetPerks member, they will run discounts every month or so- right now until February 1, the Buckhead location is giving a $5 discount. I’ve also heard that during select months, if your dog is in daycare for 10 sessions, you get one free. Read more about the Frequent User Program.

The hours differ at every store, so please be sure to call yours to find out specifically. Buckhead is open from 7-7 during the week, but maintains slightly different hours during the weekend.

If you call ahead and make reservations, check in and check out will be a lot smoother and faster for you. Try calling ahead and let them know, that way the caregivers can have ample time to get the temporary collar ready and paperwork set up.

Required vaccinations: DPP, Bordetdella, Rabies Read more about Doggie Day Camp requirements.

We had been there for less than 15 minutes when Murray came barreling through the doggy door limping. I checked his foot and discovered that he had snapped one of his toenails in half. It was hanging there and he was in a lot of pain. I convinced my mother to let me take him to the emergency vet (Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton- where he is a repeat visitor) to get his nail clipped off and bandaged. Thankfully, they were not busy! The vet was sweet, considerate, and super helpful with Murray that night. And we are so grateful. The worst part about that night was what we experienced in the waiting room while we were there.

Before we were able to finish up Murray’s paperwork, a brother and sister came in with their cat. The poor baby had been having seizures all day and hadn’t been eating all week long. They were concerned about what tests needed to be performed on their 12 year old cat because money was a big issue for them. We overheard the vet telling them that the prognosis was bad- most likely some kind of neurological thing, probably a brain tumor. We could hear the girl crying and cat meowing from the other side of the office. It was incredibly sad. My family has had a canine member ever since before my brother and I were born and we all know how difficult it is to put an animal down. My mother and I were upset and scared for the cat but mostly felt terribly sorry for the owners. When we went to pay our bill, my amazing tender hearted mother covered part of their visit too. Anonymously.

It was a bittersweet end to a crappy afternoon.

Saturday. Saturday my father and I decided to cut Autumn’s nails. We got one done successfully and then we cut the second one too short. Within seconds blood was pouring from my baby’s nail. All over the carpet. All over my pants. All over my hands. It was so scary, I’ve never seen a dog bleed so heavily. My mother, being the smarty pants that she is, had the styptic powder ready to go within seconds. It was difficult to get Autumn’s foot in the small jar, but we were able to stop the bleeding with pressure and the powder after several minutes. Relieved, I sat on the couch with her for about an hour. The next few things happened so quickly, my memory of them is a bit fuzzy. The doorbell rang. Autumn jumped from the couch and took off to the front door with Jinx and Murray. Neighbors came in. Something something something, we walked into the kitchen and I saw blood everywhere. Autumn had knocked the scab off of her nail and was bleeding again. Luckily for us, the neighbor is a CCU nurse at Emory hospital and was able to help us stop the bleeding and wrap Autumn’s foot with a bandage. I think I owe my parents some styptic powder.

Saturday was super emotional. I spent most of the afternoon and evening curled up with Autumn so she would stay off of her foot. I was so emotionally exhausted I started falling asleep around 6pm. I heard my phone buzz with an email, so I checked it and found out Autumn is on USAToday.com in her new sweater! I was so happy, I must have showed every single person I’ve ever met in the history of the universe! If you guys aren’t keeping up with The Paw Print Post, you really should!

Before I knew it, it was Sunday. I had met a friend for lunch and came back to pick up Autumn from my parents’ house. I bent down to hug her and almost instantly, she jumped up to kiss me. We knocked heads and I thought I was about to fall over in pain. I’ve never in my life met a creature with a skull as hard as Autumn’s. I’m convinced she must be part Terminator. I got everything packed up and was putting the leash on her when she jumped again and busted my lip open. Not only do I have a goose egg on my forehead, but I’ve got a busted up lip to match.

What a weekend.

Cutting your dog’s toenails? Make sure you have some Gold Medal Stop Bleeding Styptic Powder for Dogs handy!

While I’m thinking about it, here’s a list of Emergency Vets in Atlanta:

Atlanta

Briarcliff Animal Clinic
1850 Johnson Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA(404) 874-6394

Sandy Springs

Georgia Veterinary Specialists
455 Abernathy Road Northeast, Sandy Springs, GA (404) 459-0903

Animal Emergency Center of Sandy Springs
228 Sandy Springs Place Northeast, Sandy Springs, GA (404) 252-7881

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VCA Pets Are People Too Veterinary Hospital
4280 North Peachtree Road, Chamblee, GA (770) 452-1001

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Alpharetta

Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton

900 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA (770) 594-2266

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Decatur

Atlanta Emergency Vet
217 N. McDonough Street Decatur, GA 30030, (404) 371-9774