Sometime during the pandemic, Frankie Lemer was walking through her neighborhood when her puppy Macy was attacked.
“It sent me down this path where dogs have to have a safe place to play,” Lemer says.
With the help of business partners Terry and Brandy Randolph, Lemer opened Dogs of Tucson with her husband Robert last month. It’s part indoor dog park, part canine social club at 3805 W. River Road.
“I started talking about the concept in June of last year, just asking my social media and friends out there, just saying, ‘What do you think, dog lovers out there? What do you think about this?’” Lemer says. “And I got a list of almost 1,000 names of people who thought it was a fabulous idea.”
Luke and his sister Leia walk by the beds inside one area of Dogs of Tucson.
To ensure the safety of all the dogs, the indoor dog park — dubbed The Bark Park — is open to members only. Dogs must be neutered or spayed and at least six months old with up-to-date vaccinations.
Dogs also go through a 15-minute social test so staff can make sure they’re ready to play nicely with others. Staff have a range of experience — some worked in grooming or doggie daycare. Others are veterinary students, volunteered in animal shelters, grew up with dogs or are certified vet assistants. All of them are dog lovers.
“One of the reasons we have the requirements we have and are membership-based is that safety factor,” Lemer says. “If we have a drop-in day of play, it’s not as safe. We don’t know the dog, we don’t know how it’ll react to other dogs in the facility. With member dogs, we know the dogs, we know the sounds, we know how they play.”
Once you’re a member, your pup gets access to unlimited play at the park, which is currently open six days a week, but hopefully seven soon. Membership starts at $60 monthly.
When everyone in the park is a member, the Dogs of Tucson team is able to get to know each dog to better understand their needs . Staff are also able to get to know the owners.
For example, one pup named Luke is learning to tap on a button that says “outside” when he needs to use the restroom. Luke’s mom brought the button into the park so he can practice using it.
“The idea is we’re meeting the dogs where they’re at and giving them the resources they need,” Lemer says.
Leia stands near two dog puzzles inside the TV room at Dogs of Tucson, 3805 W. River Road, on Dec. 14.
More than anything though, Lemer wants to build a community. The space is for the humans as much as it is for the dogs.
“I love the idea of a community. Tucson has a lot of great communities, if you will,” Lemer says. “We have such unique people here, brought from all over the country, and I just felt like … I wanted to bring that love of dogs to one place where it could feel like a community — a place where you belong.”
“The No. 1 thing was to keep it safe,” Lemer says. “I started researching doggy daycares and boarding facilities and they all missed that community feel.”
Inside the dog park, dogs can run around off leash rain or shine. There's WiFi and two TVs, allowing the humans to sit down and pick something to watch while the pups play. There’s also complimentary coffee, which Lemer hopes to supply locally, and a “barkery” that sells local dog treats. A couple of selfie areas are also set up around the park.
Dogs of Tucson is also beginning to host several events, many of which are free to members. There’s dog yoga, trivia, movie nights and a dog-themed book club.
Eventually, Lemer hopes to bring in talents from the community to host paint nights or unplugged music. Larger events might be a Mother’s Day tea with food trucks parked outside serving meals that you’ll be able to eat inside the park with your dog. Doggy birthday parties are also an option.
“The whole idea is, let’s get people here and get activities here and things they’d love to do with their animals in a safe, cohesive place,” Lemer says.
“It’s not just for the dogs — it’s for the whole family,” general manager Marie Kettenring says. “I think building the community is really our biggest thing — it’s one thing to say that but we want to.”
Marie Kettenring, the general manager of Dogs of Tucson, pets Leia.
Dogs of Tucson also offers boarding and doggy daycare, in addition to a slew of resources. From dog training to the best hairbrushes, if Dogs of Tucson doesn’t know the answer, they have a large network of dog people they can ask.
“When people ask a question about a dog online, sometimes people shame them and make them feel bad for asking — and they don’t answer the question,” Lemer says. She hopes Dogs of Tucson can be a “safe place where they can ask questions and not feel shamed for not knowing.”
“People need that support,” Lemer says. “Everybody wants to be an amazing dog family but some people don’t understand what that means so they need guidance and help and if we can be some of that, that’s the goal.”
While there aren’t separate play areas for big and small dogs inside the park, there are areas for dogs that might need something a little more mellow. There are also Timid Tuesdays, when dogs will get a “private sniff session” if you aren’t sure how they’ll react to the regular park.
“We’re working with Gabriel, a labradoodle, and he’s a nervous guy,” Lemer says. “The first time he came here, he just sniffed. We gave him some treats. He’s now been here four times and he’s playing with the dogs.”
Kettenring says it’s a rewarding experience to watch dogs progress during their play sessions — from paws sweating and shaking in a corner to being a “bouncy little ball of joy.”
Both Lemer and Kettenring have played the part of anxious dog mom. But they both agree — watching dogs play is a joyful feeling.
“We just want more dogs — we want to meet everybody’s dog in Tucson,” Lemer says.
“If we can change lives of a few animals and make them happier, that’s what’s going to make us feel successful,” Lemer says.
