Page 24 - June/June HER 2020

24 JUNE HER
HER Career
mainly is just to get them out, get them moving, keep their joints going, and they love to come. ... They like to lay on the cots on the sidelines and just watch. As we like to people watch, I guess they like to dog watch,” she said with a laugh.
Multiple factors played a part in Hopkins’ decision to start the venture, but what sealed the deal was witnessing the positive impact the program was having on its guests.
“The reason I did the doggy day care was (because) all of my customers were always coming to me (and) they were just having a hard time leaving to go on vacation,” said Hopkins. “And us ourselves, we never went anywhere because we didn’t ever want to board our dogs and have the kenneling of it. I’ve been around dogs my whole life and know a lot about their behavior. They’ve just seemed so much more comfortable (and) so much more stress free when they came to me to be groomed. ... We had a doggy day care before doggy day care was cool, and didn’t even really understand what we were doing. But the dogs were happy (and) they enjoyed coming to us, so that kind of started the whole thing off.
“There’s not a lot of people who have backyards anymore and you might come home from work feeling too tired to walk your dog, but after they’ve been to Diggity Dog’s all day they’re tired and they don’t need that extra walk. You can put your feet up and drink your glass of wine.”
With her family and loyal employees helping to build and further the business, the mother of two has always striven to incorporate a family ori- ented mentality into the work she’s done.
The unique layout of the property and camp encourages an atmosphere that allows every pet the freedom to roam and stretch their paws if they so please.
“My husband’s retired from the fire department after 23 years and now he works with me,” Hopkins said. “I’ve got lots of employees that have been with me for over 20 years. ... What makes us different is (being) cage free. The dogs get to play instead of be caged up. ... When they come for their spa day they get to play (and) even if they’re just coming for day care or for boarding. We don’t have any bars anywhere. They are really nice little bunkhouses that they go in that just keeps them safe while grooming. I don’t think that there’s anything like it here in Hot Springs.”
24 JUNE/JULY 2020 ¯ HER MAGAZINE