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ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES/North of Tampa
Sunday, January 2, 2005
It's a doggie sleepover
Home of Bed & Biscuit is no ordinary kennel. Its owners enjoy a
house full of four-legged guests, ensuring people can take
getaways guilt-free.
By SHERYL KAY
Published January 2, 2005
FOREST HILLS - If Santa visited the Cooperwasser home this year,
he probably found Xena running up to cuddle in his lap, Peggy
jumping and kissing him all over his face and Bonnie welcoming
him and then not leaving his side.
The little ones may have been particularly spirited this year,
as the frisky threesome were among seven visiting canines at
Home of Bed & Biscuit, owned by Fran and Rich Cooperwasser.
From the comfort of their Forest Hills home, the Cooperwassers
provide overnight boarding for dogs. Except for the master
bedroom, the canines have full run of the house, and have
24-hour access to the fenced-in yard with views of Lake Eckles,
all accessible via a doggie door in the back.
Dog owners bring their pet's food, bed and toys. And there are
no cages at the Cooperwassers', unless an owner brings one for a
dog that is accustomed to being crated.
Rich Cooperwasser, runs his rehabilitation consulting business
from home. And with Fran, working only part time as a teacher
for the Hillsborough County School District, the dogs have
plenty of company. "It's like Cheaper By The Dozen when they're
all here," Fran Cooperwasser said. "Most of it's amusing because
they are just so cute. But they definitely keep us on our toes."
The concept came to Fran Cooperwasser nine years ago when she
was faced with leaving her own dog, Thor, at a traditional
kennel. Dogs are simply more comfortable in a home setting, she
thought. "I just knew I didn't want to leave him in a cage, and
I said to myself, I bet other people feel the same way I do."
Cooperwasser tested the water by offering her service to
friends. "We immediately realized how much we enjoyed it, and
that we were able to handle it," she said.
Their mixed-breed Thor, now deceased, was an enthusiastic
participant, as is their current mixed-breed, Tess. "When we
took in the first dog, not only did we enjoy it so much, but we
also saw so much pleasure coming from our dog, enjoying the
company of another dog," she said. "Plus we don't have any
children, so it helped fulfill our nurturing needs."
But dogs come with pet hair and pet dander, both of which
exacerbated Fran Cooperwasser's allergies. To cope with the new
environment, the Cooperwassers had to make a few adjustments.
"First, we ripped out all of the carpeting, and put in all wood
floors," she said. "We also put in two Hepa air filters, and
bought a very expensive vacuum cleaner." The investment set them
back almost $6,000. But, Fran Cooperwasser said, "We knew we
wanted to do this, and we knew what we had to do to make it
work."
The couple's devotion to animals is apparent to Sherril Hurd,
who has been bringing Bonnie, her 3-year-old West Highland
terrier, to the inn almost since birth. "The first time I ever
brought her over there she was jumping up and wanting to get on
their bed, and they let her sleep there that one time," said
Hurd, a retired clerk from Wesley Chapel. "She never gets to do
that at home."
Even though Bonnie can't report back to her owner with words,
Hurd said she knows what the dog is thinking. "When I take her
over there she runs up to the door wagging her tail," Hurd said.
"She's so excited to go in there, so I know she has a good
time."
Boarding rates vary depending on the number of dogs a family
leaves, and the length of the stay, with the average visit
costing $25 per dog per night. All dogs must visit with
Cooperwasser before boarding, and may display no aggressive or
possessive behaviors toward food, toys, other dogs or people in
order to be accepted.
Jeffrey King is confident that his 12-year-old cocker spaniel,
Curly, fares well at the Cooperwassers. Having taken the canine
to a traditional kennel for many years when he traveled, King,
noted that Curly almost always returned home nervous and
agitated.
Visits with the Cooperwassers have produced much different
results.
"Sometimes he doesn't want to come back home," said King, a
business owner in Oldsmar. "It was pretty disheartening the
first time. I said, "I'm back.' And he's, like, "yea, there are
four other dogs here, and I'm having fun."
So are the Cooperwassers, who also like the idea that they are
fulfilling a need. "People freak out when they have to leave
their dogs," Fran Cooperwasser said. "Taking care of other
people's dogs may not seem like such a big deal. But to dog
lovers, it is."
Contact reporter Sheryl Kay at skreporter@hotmail.com
For more information, visit the inn's Web site at
www.homeofbedandbiscuit.com
© Copyright 2003 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved |
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