Pooches pampered at Dewey Beach doggy daycare
Dewey Beach's dogs have a new place to stay, play and even squeeze in a therapeutic massage or therapy session.
Taj Ma Howl opened July 4 to serve pets and their owners visiting or living in Delaware's beach towns. Owner Jim Caperelli said his business grew from a home pet-sitting and dog-walking business he started six years ago after quitting a 20-year career as a broker.
"I was tired of the corporate life, and I always loved animals," Caperelli said. "I grew up in Strasburg, Pa., milking cows, spending time on horse farms, and we always had dogs growing up."
He launched his first doggy daycare in Pittsburgh before opening locations in Millersville, Pa., and on Philadelphia's Main Line. The dog-friendly town of Dewey Beach seemed the next logical step.
"I've been visiting the Delaware beaches since I was a kid," he said. "I knew Rehoboth had a doggy daycare, and Dewey didn't, so I thought the community could use it."
Business has been booming since opening day. Along with half- and full-day care, services include home pet-sitting, taxi service to and from appointments, yard clean-up, and dog walking for home or hotel-based pets. Dogs staying at Taj Ma Howl are matched by temperament and size to reduce barking, and stay in suites of two to three dogs. Cats are boarded in a separate area.
"We walk dogs on the beach before 8:30 a.m., and again after 5:30 p.m," Caperelli said. "There's a little park on Dagsworthy Avenue on the bay where we walk them, too, and they can get in the water if they want."
When dogs return to Taj Ma Howl, they receive an after-beach bath with complimentary blueberry tooth scrub and mango facial. Available spa treatments include therapeutic massage.
"It's for dogs that have bad hips, bad backs or other problems," Caperelli said.
Grooming is done by appointment, and includes ear-cleaning and nail-trimming, along with the complimentary tooth scrub and facial.
Taj Ma Howl also provides vacation packages for dogs.
"We've had people send their dogs who've never seen the ocean to dog-friendly condos in Dewey for vacation," he said. "We take care of the dogs and let them play at the beach."
A licensed pet psychologist, Caperelli said many people rescue abused or neglected dogs with behavior issues like food aggression or inappropriate elimination, so he offers therapy services.
"It's not the dog's fault," he said. "You don't know how the dog was treated before. It's not dog training; it's getting to the source of your dog's problems to work with the dog, find out why he's behaving that way and figure out a solution."
Whether dogs are staying at Taj Ma Howl, or being cared for in the home, Caperelli and his staff send videos and photos of pets to their owners.
"It lets them know their dog is in good hands so they can enjoy their vacation," he said.
The business has a small retail area, with T-shirts, baseball caps, coffee cups, drinks and Tailbangers dog treats.
Caperelli said pet daycare was the nation's fastest-growing industry in 2017. His business can now be franchised, and the Dewey location is the model for future franchises.
Vaccinations for distemper/parvovirus, bordatella and rabies are required before pets can stay. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day year-round, Taj Ma Howl is at 1705 Coastal Highway, between Dagsworthy and McKinley avenues on Dewey's bayside. Call 302-988-4186 or go to junglejimstotalpetcare.com.
