Interview with Jennifer Imel, president
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: We have lived in northwest Denver for the past 10 years and have been consistent consumers of dog day care and boarding services. Until we opened the Sniff Shack, there was not a location that was close in proximity and convenient to our home, so we would drive 15 minutes or more to drop our dogs off at day care. We believed if we could find a suitable location in this area, we would finally be able to offer a clean, safe, convenient and fun day care and boarding environment for the dogs of northwest Denver.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We’ve tried to focus on a few things that differentiate Sniff Shack from the competition. We made it a priority to hire people with extensive experience in the pet care industry and we currently have more than 75 years of combined dog experience with our existing staff, including a veterinarian technician and a champion dog trainer. We already offer off-campus runs and walks to the park, but this summer we will be opening Denver’s first dog gym, called Sniff Sports, at our facility. Sniff Sports will feature dog agility equipment, a fly-ball course, awesome ball fetching runs where dogs can either play fetch with a human or use a tennis ball launcher and a dog treadmill. We believe that well-exercised and socialized dogs are happy dogs and we aim to fulfill both those needs with our dog day care and dog exercise and gym services. Like always, we will continue to offer grooming, training and retail products for our customers’ convenience at 5300 W. 44th Ave., and allow them to provide their pups with an extremely tiring and rewarding experience 365 days a year.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: I love the dogs. From their silly, unique personalities to the affectionate cuddly snuggles, spending time with these animals makes every day a little brighter.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Our biggest challenge is the staffing. We want compassionate and experienced people and that comes at a higher price. Denver’s unemployment rate is very low, so attracting the type of talent we desire at an affordable wage is not easy, especially when competing with the marijuana industry and their relatively high cash wages and employee perks.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: In addition to our brand new, squeaky clean facility, our team cares deeply about the environment. We use biodegradable cleaning enzymes, ultra-high efficiency appliances and we even send our dog poop to a local composting facility where canine waste is converted into flower food for Denver’s parks!
Profile
Business: The Sniff Shack
Address: 5300 W. 44th Ave.
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Founded: 2015
Contact: 303-941-3835,
Employees: 12
