Creativity, ingenuity and a love for working with dogs brought Roni Davis, Owner & Operator of ‘The Soapy Dog,’ and Maryanne Pappano, creator of ‘The Artful Dog’, together as a progressive ‘pack’ of local entrepreneurs.
Housed under one roof in the River Arts District, the ‘pack’ offers professional grooming, Asheville’s first do-it-yourself dog wash, overnight boarding, dog day care, and customized dog portraits.
‘The Soapy Dog’ introduces the ‘Sleepy Dog’
In 1998, Roni Davis, travelled across country with two of her own pack. “We were camping in between visiting friends in New York, Ann Arbor and other big cities. Before bringing dogs dirty from the woods into friends’ apartments, I’d seek out places to give them a bath. I found the convenience of do-it-yourself dog wash facilities a huge help. When I moved to Asheville, bringing a similar service to our community was a no-brainer.” In 2003, Roni moved her signature raised claw-foot tubs into what is now ‘The Soapy Dog.’
So how did the Sleepy Dog come to be? “Years earlier, I worked with Laura caring for a herd of horses at a small therapeutic riding program. Recently, we ran into one another at a friend’s wedding reception downtown. She was looking for a new business opportunity and investment. We met at ‘The Soapy Dog’ the following Saturday, surveyed the property and dreamed up the ‘Sleepy Dog Boarding and Day Care.’”
An Innovative Approach to Dog Boarding & Day Care
When designing the facility and daily routine, Roni wanted to bring something new to the boarding scene in Asheville. “First of all, we both have multiple dogs in our own ‘packs’ several of whom need special care.
It was important to design a facility and a program that could accommodate families of all sizes and dogs that fall on different ends of the spectrum with regards to social play and physical ability. Creating a low-stress environment where dogs can receive lots of love and attention is our first priority.
We want owners to feel safe and secure when dropping them off. We love that our owners question ‘Who had more fun – me or my dog?’ when they pick them up at the end of a vacation.”
Bringing Signature Dog Portraits to the River Arts District
The River Arts District is booming with all kinds of art and ‘The Soapy Dog’ has always brought a colorful presence to this vibrant neighborhood. Once the ‘Sleepy Dog’ opened, Roni thought that one last splash needed to be added to the tub…a signature Dog Portrait Artist.
“Being an integral member of the River Arts District is very important to us and we want to offer a custom, special service to our clients and the community.” Maryanne Pappano is a local artist whose love for animals allows her to capture the essence of their personality in her portraits. We chose Maryanne because she shares our progressive vision. All of her art is original, unique, and affordable. She is truly dedicated to her work and to her customers.”
Maryanne is excited to be involved in Asheville’s animal community as well as creating a new niche in The River Arts District by showcasing her work in ‘The Soapy Dog’s’ Retail store.
The General Store
We pride ourselves on carrying quality product lines primarily purchased from small, independently owned companies. From leashes and collars to toys, treats and home grooming supplies, The Soapy Dog general store offers a wide variety of product lines with which to pamper your pup!
Homemade treats from Bona-fide Bakery and Crunchers dog bakery are always on hand to reward your pet after being pampered in the tubs.
The Soapy Dog
270 Depot Street, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 350-0333
www.thesoapydog.com
Do-It Yourself Baths: Mon-Sat 10-7; Sun 12-7
Day Care: Sun-Sat 7:30-6:30
Sleepy Dog Boarding: Sun-Sat 8:30-6:30