DogBoy’s Launches New Coalition To Encourage Spaying and Neutering

When DogBoy’s was founded in 1995, our goal was to become Central Texas’ first all spayed and neutered kennel. We accomplished that in 2000. We’re proud to say many kennels have since followed our lead, resulting in greater awareness of the benefits of neutering and fewer unwanted puppies.

We wanted to do more. DogBoy’s mission is to improve the lives of all dogs and their owners, and anything we can do to encourage spaying and neutering gets us closer to achieving that goal. Inspired by the dedication of groups like Animal Trustees of Austin and Spay Austin, we dreamed up a unique idea—one that would benefit other dog-loving businesses, their customers, and ultimately, the community as a whole. S.N.I.P. was born.

S.N.I.P. stands for Spay Neuter Incentive Program, and it works like this: businesses offer some kind of incentive to their customers who have spayed or neutered pets. It’s up to each business to decide what kind of incentive to offer and how to determine if a customer’s dog is spayed or neutered. There is no charge for businesses to join S.N.I.P.—we ask only that they link back to the website and let their customers know of their membership in the coalition. DogBoy’s will list S.N.I.P. member businesses on the new website (www.dogboys.com/snip) along with the incentive the business is providing. DogBoy’s will also provide window stickers to S.N.I.P. members, so customers will recognize participating businesses.

So far, 16 businesses have signed up as charter members, and two nonprofits have become honorary members. All organizations joining by August 15 will be considered charter members. Please encourage your favorite vet or other pet-loving business or nonprofit group to become a member of S.N.I.P.!

Also, please mark your calendar: Saturday, August 21, from 2-6 p.m. we are having a party at DogBoy’s, and you and your dog(s) are invited. We’ll honor S.N.I.P.’s founding members, enjoy live music and great food, raise money for our honorary charter members (nonprofits such as Animal Trustees of Austin), and have fun!

New DogBoy’s tags only $5!

We are offering our new DogBoy’s dog tags at a special price—just $5—to encourage all of our customers to add our tag to their dogs’ collars. The benefit to you and your dog (besides the sharp-lookin’ tag!) is to provide an additional alternative in the event that your dog is lost. As a customer of DogBoy’s, we have all of your contact information and will be quick to track you down if we get a call about your dog. If necessary, we will even pick up your dog and board him until you can be located. Our tags can be made right here in the office, while you wait.




Best of Austin voting begins June 4

All of us at DogBoy’s were thrilled and humbled to be included in last year’s Austin Chronicle Best of Austin issue. Readers voted DogBoy’s “Best Pet Care,” noting the room to roam, all-inclusive costs, and this very newsletter!

Your first opportunity to vote in this annual round-up of Austin’s favorite things is the June 4 issue—we hope you will consider voting for DogBoy’s again this year! The Chronicle makes it easy—you can fill in a ballot online (www.auschron.com), or tear a ballot out of the issue and mail it in. Thank you to all of our customers who helped us win this coveted honor in 2003.

Bailey Saves the Day
by Jessica Morse

On December 14th, 2003 at 3:30 in the morning, Darren and I awoke to Bailee, our chocolate Lab, barking profusely at us so we would wake up. Of course we were delirious due to the fact it was 3:30 in the morning (not to mention 11 days before Christmas)! As soon as we came to, Bailee was standing on our bed barking non-stop. We smelled smoke immediately and got up to see what was happening. We found that the garage was on fire and the house was quickly filling up with smoke. Darren called 911 and I got out of the house with the dogs immediately.

We weren't sure how bad it was or how far it had spread. Within 10 minutes (what felt like four hours) the fire trucks arrived and extinguished the fire. As we were talking to the firemen about how the fire started they asked us how we woke up. We told them that our dog had barked at us so we would wake up and he said, "Thank God she did because you only had about five minutes before the whole house went up into flames". The carbon monoxide was so high in our bedroom that we would never have woken up. We are forever grateful for Bailee saving our lives. She is a very special girl.

Online Reservation System in the Works!

You heard it here first! DogBoy's Dog Ranch is working on the development of an online reservation system--the first of its kind in the kennel industry! If all goes as planned, you will soon be able to log in through our website, make a reservation, and receive confirmation--all online.

In the process of preparing for this technological breakthrough, we need some help from you. If this newsletter came to you via the same email address you would use to login to our online reservation system, no action is needed on your part. However, if you would like to login using a different email address, please email us (reservations@dogboys.com) with the email address you would like us to keep on file, so that we can update our system with the correct information. Only customers with existing, working email addresses will have access to the system we are working on, so your response, if necessary, is vital to the success of the project. We will keep you posted on this exciting and oh-so time-saving service!