A dog daycare allows visitors to visit and eat in Strasbourg
A new and unprecedented service is attracting attention – and rewards – in Strasbourg: a doggy day care center that takes care of tourists’ pets during their visits, their shopping or their meal.
PatchGuard accommodates dogs up to seven hours with prices ranging from € 9 for one hour, € 25 for three hours and € 55 for seven hours.
Laetitia Lacote, 43, got the inspiration three years ago while on vacation with her friends and her Australian Shepherd Patch.
“The holidays have been horrible,” she said. “We couldn’t go to the beach with our friends, we couldn’t go out to eat together because I didn’t want to leave him in the accommodation because I didn’t know if he would bark all evening or destroy something.
As a result, she decided to open a center where tourists can leave their dogs in safe hands while they visit places where dogs are not allowed.
Ms Lacote first carried out a trial this summer in Mulhouse where she took care of some 125 dogs, most of which were owned by tourists, and gathered feedback from owners on how to meet their needs and improve its services.
In addition to keeping companion dogs in Mulhouse on Saturdays, she now also runs a center in Petit France, Strasbourg near the Modern Art Museum, which opened on November 26.
The dogs walk around, play with each other and get a lot of attention, she said.
“I imagine everything how I would do it for myself and my dog, which would only be the best. I really care about their well-being, ”she said.
She explained that the dogs stay in cages for short periods of time to help her deal with multiple dogs at once, but if they get anxious, she takes them for a walk or lets them play outside.
The center is currently carrying out a three-month trial in Strasbourg, but Ms. Lacote hopes that it will become permanent and that she will be able to develop the activity, perhaps internationally.
“I think a lot of tourist spots need something like this – dogs are not allowed in malls, stores, restaurants, museums. I really want to help people be able to travel with their dogs and not leave them in their cars. I want to prevent dogs from being abandoned and help promote their well-being, ”she said.
Ms. Lacote has received several awards for her work, including the Prix d’Alsace Tourism Trophy, 1st place in the YAGO Entrepreneurial Talents competition (Innovative Products and Services category) and in the CEO Petfriendly Award 2022.
To be admitted to PatchGuard care, all dogs must be fully vaccinated and female dogs cannot be in heat.
Owners must have a civil liability insurance policy, be in possession of the dog’s up-to-date health record and present their dog’s chip number. They must also provide their phone number, ID and the dog’s I-CAD registration number.
Related Articles
The new French law on animal welfare is voted: what will this change for pets?
Grenoble city hall tries to allow workers to bring their dogs to work
Why was my dog’s EU pet passport not accepted on the ferry from UK to France?
Paris-Edinburgh flight delayed because of a dachshund hidden in the cabin