We have been asked many times how we came about wanting to start
Beechwood Trails. Well, it's pretty much a life of being in love with dogs,
together with our years of rescue efforts, that finally came together all at
the right time. We had been boarding our [many] pets for years, using a
couple of different boarding facilities in the area. We would talk about
how we would do things if we owned our own kennel. And although we
were satisfied with where our kids stayed and appreciated the people
who worked there very much, still, those places were never, I don't know, I
guess, perfect. I know, I know, nobody or no place is perfect, but some
places, well, they don't seem to even have perfection as a goal! They are
satisfied, thinking that all pet owners want is just a place for their pets to
stay while they're away, keeping them fed and safe.
So, actually, our story began in earnest, after years of wishing we could
own a pet boarding facility, when we rescued the "Alabama Kids" (as
seen on the "About Us" page). Our vet knew us well, knowing just how
much we loved dogs, and knowing how hard we worked with greyhound
rescue and with our own individual efforts with rescue situations like the
Alabama Kids. Out of the blue, she made the observation: 'You should
just have your own boarding kennel'. Something clicked, and we asked
her how much she felt the area needed a boarding kennel. She told us it
was very needed, and for us to give it some serious thought. From that
day forward we couldn't get it out of our heads.
We knew what the kennels we used were like, what we liked about them,
but more importantly, what we didn't like. It's those things we didn't like
that we did our best to focus on in the planning of Beechwood Trails.
From that day forward, no matter where we would go, or what we were
doing, we were talking about what "our" place will be like. Many an
evening, dining at Mellow Mushroom Pizza and, now gone, Chilis, we
discussed our plans, based on what we felt would be the perfect boarding
facility. Even when we would be on vacation, taking a nice stroll on the
beach, this is all we talked about.
Since perfection was our aim, we set out to find the perfect location. I
being an Atlanta native, and having lived in the Southwest Metro area my
entire life, and Tina having lived in the South Metro area most of her life,
we knew where we thought would be the good areas to be located. We
considered Fayette, Coweta, Merriweather County, Douglas and Carroll
County, with Coweta, Douglas and Carroll being at the top of our list. We
looked at and walked over many properties, taking in to consideration
area zoning laws and, after talking with folks in the real estate business in
each area, we had a "feeling" where good growth was going to happen.
We were partial to Douglas County, because of living just across the
Chattahoochee into Fulton County for many years. We have been coming
every weekend night to Douglasville for shopping and eating out. We
loved the people and we loved the area. Probably at least two times
every week we would cross the river and drive up Capps Ferry Road right
past the property we now own. When a "for sale" sign went up on this
place, long before most of the neighborhoods were even planned, we
stopped just to walk it over. Although extremely hilly, the land seemed to
fit the idea of perfection we were carrying in our heads. We signed a
contract on this property contingent on us being able to be approved by
the Board of Commissioners. After that was done, we made good on the
contract and purchased the property. And we were off!
Beechwood Trails Pet Lodge is a concept, taking pet boarding to a new
level. No, we don't have TVs, people furniture, and things a dog could
care less about. We knew that carrying pet boarding in that direction was
mainly to impress owners who, perhaps, think their pet have become
more human than the dog they began as. Well, Tina and I love dogs more
than most people can imagine, and what we had as an aim for
Beechwood Trails was a place your pet could come to and be and feel
loved, played with, approached with the idea that pets didn't want to just
be stuck in a cold, wire run, bored out of their minds until their parents
came back to rescue them. No, knowing what we wished we could have
found for our dogs, we knew that WE wanted to run Beechwood Trails by
ourselves and have a blast with your pets.
When a person applies for a job at a boarding kennel, I'm sure the first
thing they are told is: 'You aren't being hired to play with dogs. This is
hard work'. Well, since our first aim is for our guests to enjoy themselves,
playing is job 1. That's not so much to say that the work comes second;
it's saying that while we have our guests in the play areas, while we're
walking out to and in from the play areas, while we're feeding, while we're
cleaning, while we're doing anything, we're having fun. Wagging tails and
happy faces let us know we've achieved our goal.
Now after two years of operation, even in these tough times, we add new
customers virtually every day. It absolutely amazes me how many people
have found Beechwood Trails, once word-of-mouth kicked in. We
appreciate you more than you could know, and we hope, if you haven't
already come in to meet us, that you will take the time to drop by to see if
Beechwood Trails may be just the place you've always wished for! I know
we're biased, but I can't help but believe that we are exactly what you
want.
Beechwood Trails. Well, it's pretty much a life of being in love with dogs,
together with our years of rescue efforts, that finally came together all at
the right time. We had been boarding our [many] pets for years, using a
couple of different boarding facilities in the area. We would talk about
how we would do things if we owned our own kennel. And although we
were satisfied with where our kids stayed and appreciated the people
who worked there very much, still, those places were never, I don't know, I
guess, perfect. I know, I know, nobody or no place is perfect, but some
places, well, they don't seem to even have perfection as a goal! They are
satisfied, thinking that all pet owners want is just a place for their pets to
stay while they're away, keeping them fed and safe.
So, actually, our story began in earnest, after years of wishing we could
own a pet boarding facility, when we rescued the "Alabama Kids" (as
seen on the "About Us" page). Our vet knew us well, knowing just how
much we loved dogs, and knowing how hard we worked with greyhound
rescue and with our own individual efforts with rescue situations like the
Alabama Kids. Out of the blue, she made the observation: 'You should
just have your own boarding kennel'. Something clicked, and we asked
her how much she felt the area needed a boarding kennel. She told us it
was very needed, and for us to give it some serious thought. From that
day forward we couldn't get it out of our heads.
We knew what the kennels we used were like, what we liked about them,
but more importantly, what we didn't like. It's those things we didn't like
that we did our best to focus on in the planning of Beechwood Trails.
From that day forward, no matter where we would go, or what we were
doing, we were talking about what "our" place will be like. Many an
evening, dining at Mellow Mushroom Pizza and, now gone, Chilis, we
discussed our plans, based on what we felt would be the perfect boarding
facility. Even when we would be on vacation, taking a nice stroll on the
beach, this is all we talked about.
Since perfection was our aim, we set out to find the perfect location. I
being an Atlanta native, and having lived in the Southwest Metro area my
entire life, and Tina having lived in the South Metro area most of her life,
we knew where we thought would be the good areas to be located. We
considered Fayette, Coweta, Merriweather County, Douglas and Carroll
County, with Coweta, Douglas and Carroll being at the top of our list. We
looked at and walked over many properties, taking in to consideration
area zoning laws and, after talking with folks in the real estate business in
each area, we had a "feeling" where good growth was going to happen.
We were partial to Douglas County, because of living just across the
Chattahoochee into Fulton County for many years. We have been coming
every weekend night to Douglasville for shopping and eating out. We
loved the people and we loved the area. Probably at least two times
every week we would cross the river and drive up Capps Ferry Road right
past the property we now own. When a "for sale" sign went up on this
place, long before most of the neighborhoods were even planned, we
stopped just to walk it over. Although extremely hilly, the land seemed to
fit the idea of perfection we were carrying in our heads. We signed a
contract on this property contingent on us being able to be approved by
the Board of Commissioners. After that was done, we made good on the
contract and purchased the property. And we were off!
Beechwood Trails Pet Lodge is a concept, taking pet boarding to a new
level. No, we don't have TVs, people furniture, and things a dog could
care less about. We knew that carrying pet boarding in that direction was
mainly to impress owners who, perhaps, think their pet have become
more human than the dog they began as. Well, Tina and I love dogs more
than most people can imagine, and what we had as an aim for
Beechwood Trails was a place your pet could come to and be and feel
loved, played with, approached with the idea that pets didn't want to just
be stuck in a cold, wire run, bored out of their minds until their parents
came back to rescue them. No, knowing what we wished we could have
found for our dogs, we knew that WE wanted to run Beechwood Trails by
ourselves and have a blast with your pets.
When a person applies for a job at a boarding kennel, I'm sure the first
thing they are told is: 'You aren't being hired to play with dogs. This is
hard work'. Well, since our first aim is for our guests to enjoy themselves,
playing is job 1. That's not so much to say that the work comes second;
it's saying that while we have our guests in the play areas, while we're
walking out to and in from the play areas, while we're feeding, while we're
cleaning, while we're doing anything, we're having fun. Wagging tails and
happy faces let us know we've achieved our goal.
Now after two years of operation, even in these tough times, we add new
customers virtually every day. It absolutely amazes me how many people
have found Beechwood Trails, once word-of-mouth kicked in. We
appreciate you more than you could know, and we hope, if you haven't
already come in to meet us, that you will take the time to drop by to see if
Beechwood Trails may be just the place you've always wished for! I know
we're biased, but I can't help but believe that we are exactly what you
want.
How It Began