Allison Shafer, a resident and community activist, has proudly called Boulder City her home for most of her life. In 2003, she moved to Reno for college, where she met her husband Adam. Before too long, their family expanded to include two beautiful girls, Rosemarie Patricia and Audrey Grace, along with a number of canine and feline companions throughout the years. In the summer of 2019, Allison and her family decided to permanently relocate home to Boulder City to lay roots of their own.  

Allison has always sought opportunities to be involved in the community, especially when it meant giving back to the community in which she was raised. Over the years, Allison has volunteered in various capacities, including as a Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 555 and a cantor for St. Andrews Catholic Community choir, among a number of other committees. Needless to say, her passion for Boulder City is palpable and grows every day. In time, Allison realized the community was sorely missing a place where people could bring their dogs to play and exercise while their human companions ventured off to tend to life’s other responsibilities. In recognizing this void, her dream was born.

In March 2020, Allison started the Dam Dog Walkers, intended to provide an option for dogs in the community to get their daily exercise. The demand for her services quickly grew and coupled with her more than a decade as a professional in the Veterinary field, she knew that she could bring something unique to the many dogs and cats who call Boulder City home: a daycare and boarding option that puts the animal’s care above all else. Since then, and despite a global pandemic, Allison, or the Dam Dog Walker as she has become known around town, has accepted many families’ pets into her loving arms, providing a positive “open play” environment, complimented with basic training, and socialization that has greatly impacted the many pets and families who have become a part of her “pack.” In fact, the Dam Dog Walker has garnered so much demand that Allison was forced to temporarily stop accepting more clients. It was then that she knew she was at a crossroads. She had to either consider permanently closing the book on new clients or expand... The choice was clear. She chose EXPAND!!

Recently, Allison located a commercial property within Boulder City that will be perfect for animal daycare and boarding. Featuring a large indoor warehouse and an equally sized outdoor fenced yard, the Dam Dog Walker is ready to expand into the Dam Dog House! With plans to open in Summer of 2021, some of Allison’s goals for the Dam Dog House is to build a different kind of daycare:

·         Guarantee of 100% cage-free stay for overnight guests and daycare

·         Dedicated play areas comprised of a hybrid of climate controlled indoor and shaded outdoor spaces

·         Separate areas for different dog temperaments

·         Enclosed safe-spaces for boarding and relaxing

·         Obedience training grounds with certified Fear Free® behaviorists

·         Outdoor turf and splash pad

·         “Pup-vision” camera network where you can watch during daycare hours

·         Grooming services (on-site, mobile, or local transport all under consideration)

·         No breed restrictions, all guests that pass a temperament test are welcome!

·         Dedicated “Cattery” for feline boarding

Like any small business, there is a lot that needs to be done to get the facilities and operations up and running, namely capital. Allison and her family have worked tirelessly to save enough money to begin making her dream a reality. While we believe there is enough funding saved to get the business off the ground responsibly, the availability of such a perfect space has accelerated her timeline and now she’s asking for your help! When the Dam Dog House opens officially, we want it to feel like your pet’s home away from home from the first day they step paw through the door. Anything helps and your generous donation will go directly into renovations/improvements to the property, funding play equipment and materials, proposed services for the animals, and support the building of a practical pay/benefits package for our staff dedicated to playing, snuggling and loving your furry loved ones.

Please comment below for any non-monetary donations. All contributions are welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to read and share our story! We hope you will join us on our journey to provide “your animals’ home, when you’re not home!”