Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc. is a dog daycare facility located in New York City. Yuppie Puppy was founded in 1987 by dog walker and veterinary technician Joseph S. Sporn. Sporn claims that Yuppie Puppy was the first doggie daycare center in the United States.
History
Joseph S. Sporn founded Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc. in New York City’s Upper West Side in 1987. Sporn got the idea to start a day care for dogs when he was working as a dog walker and a technician in a large veterinary hospital. Sporn originally wanted to be a veterinarian but he says he eventually realized that working with sick animals “was depressing. â€
Sporn began offering “babysitting†services to local dog owners. At first, he operated his dog-sitting service out of his apartment; he eventually converted his building’s basement into a daycare center.
Sporn claims that Yuppie Puppy was the first dog daycare center in the United States.
The Yuppie Puppy facility has a cageless environment where dogs are permitted to roam and play. The facility contains play equipment, color televisions, outdoor and indoor play areas, air conditioning, and Murphy beds. The facility also has a “time-out†area for temporarily separating dogs that demonstrate aggressive behavior.
Sporn says that some critics expressed concern over the fact that the dogs were not caged. However, he says that since Yuppie Puppy’s opening, there have been no “serious†incidents involving any of his clients. To be admitted to Yuppie Puppy, all dogs are required to go through a screening process that consists of an “interview †and a trial period. Dogs must also be spayed or neutered and be current on all of their shots to be considered for admittance. Sporn says dogs with a history of aggressive behavior are not accepted at Yuppie Puppy.
Other Services
Since its founding, Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc. has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise that offers a variety of services including boarding, dog walking, and dog grooming.
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