BY GLORIA STRAVELLI
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Karen Leipzig of Dogs on the Farm, a doggie day care facility, sits with Casey, owned by Keansburg’s Lois Lema. People can drop off and pick up their dogs on the way to and from work. The service is also available to those who want to put their dog in day care while they shop.
Just like a lot of other commuters, Rufus is caught up in the daily grind. He gets up in the morning and relieves himself, gulps down a quick breakfast, jumps into the car and dashes down to the train station where he meets up with fellow commuters on the Tails a Wagon bus.
By now you’ve surmised that Rufus is a canine commuter, one whose commute is not to a cubicle in an office but to the Dogs on the Farm canine day care facility where he romps with others of his species until his owner comes home from his or her long day at the office.
The bright red Tails a Wagon school bus, which picks up passengers at drop-off points from Highlands to Red Bank, is a new service offered by Dogs on the Farm, a day care and boarding facility for companion animals on a 5-acre horse farm in Atlantic Highlands.
Launched last November, the success of Dogs on the Farm has exceeded the expectations of owner Karen Leipzig.
CHRIS KELLY staff The Tails a Wagon little, red school bus is staffed by a driver and an aide.
"It’s been very successful," she said last week. "We have over 1,000 clients now in our day care and boarding facility.
"We kind of thought we were unique, and knew it was an exciting venture and something that was needed just like long ago, nursery school was needed for children."
A retired schoolteacher, Leipzig said her research revealed a real need for doggie pickup, particularly since the day care facility on Kings Highway East is not located on a major roadway.
"One of the things people want is transport," she explained. "A lot of commuters are in a rush and don’t want to have to bring the dog here. I started thinking about it. We’re not on Route 35; they have to go a few minutes out of their way."
CHRIS KELLY staff The school bus is outfitted to hold 10 dogs that wear harness-type seatbelts while riding.
Her intuition was confirmed by a phone call to a client whose dog had been a day care regular.
"We had thought about transport, but we weren’t pursuing it because we felt we’re not too far off the beaten path," Leipzig explained. "Then one of our original clients, whose dog had been coming all the time, suddenly stopped bringing her dog. I called and asked was there a problem. She said it was difficult in the morning rush to get her dog here. There seemed to be a real need."
Because she had been a schoolteacher, Leipzig knew where to find a vehicle for doggie transport.
"I know they retire a lot of buses, so I went to a school bus company and found a retired, small bus in perfectly good working order, and bought it," she said.
The school bus, which Leipzig had painted red, is outfitted to hold 10 dogs that wear harness-type seatbelts while riding.
The commuter service doesn’t use crates for the dogs because, Leipzig said, her research revealed that the cages break apart on impact.
"We don’t feel it’s safe, so we use seat belt harnesses that are fleece-lined so they don’t rub the dogs’ skin," she explained. "We really care, that’s what we’re all about."
The van is staffed by a driver and an aide who accompanies the canine passengers in case a problem arises.
The Tails a Wagon little, red school bus picks up dogs by appointment, Monday through Friday at 6 a.m. at the Atlantic Highlands ferry ticket office, at 6:50 a.m. at the taxi area at the Middletown Train Station; at 7:15 a.m. at the AT&T facility in Middletown, and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon at the Red Bank Train Station. The fare is $4 per day, one way, and a 10-day commuter pass is available.
Pickup, also by appointment, is free at High Pointe in Highlands, and Shadow Lake and Prospect Hill Apartments in Middletown.
A special holiday offer for shoppers provides pickup for dogs at the Red Bank Train Station, where they are whisked off for a few Sybaritic hours of doggie play or therapeutic hydrosurge bath or soothing bubble bath, a full groom and home-baked treats while lounging on a cushioned bed. The cost varies according to breed.
Registration forms for transportation and day care are available at www.dogsonthefarm.com
According to Leipzig, in addition to easing the daily commute, there’s an added advantage to owners sending their dogs off to day care instead of leaving them home alone all day — no frantic scramble to get home and let the dog out.
"When the dogs come home from day care, they’re relaxed and happy. They’ve had company and plenty of exercise all day," she noted. "Owners have peace of mind and don’t have to feel guilty."
From all reports, Leipzig said, Dogs on the Farm has a lot of happy customers.
"We know the dogs are very happy because their owners tell me that as they’re coming around the block, the dogs get all excited. They can’t wait to get here. Clients thank us for opening this and we feel pleased about what we’ve done."
The doggie day care, located in a converted equine facility, features a large play area with plenty of room to run and doggie hotel rooms and suites for boarding with amenities including fleece-lined beds. The canine clientele ranges from toy dogs to powerful working breeds.
"We have dogs from really tiny, like Willie — a little, 4-pound Maltese — to a 200-pound Neapolitan mastiff," Leipzig said.
Day care is available seven days per week and there are a number of plans available ranging from full day, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., which costs $25 per day, to $15 for a half-day plan. Commuter packages are available for five-day to 20-day passes.
Leipzig said she’s observed another benefit since launching the little, red doggie school bus, one that goes beyond the dogs and their owners.
"The neat thing is, when we drive to pick up clients, we get such a positive reaction," she said. "Everybody laughs when they see the ‘dog bus,’ especially since the nice gentleman who is our bus aide has been dressing up like Santa. People seem to enjoy seeing it. It lifts everybody’s spirit."