By Melissa Shepard, associate editor
SIT, STAY, ’n Play: Total Pet Care Solutions has opened at 1900 W. M-21, Owosso, providing cage-free option boarding, dog daycare, pet and farm sitting and mid-day dog walking services. Shown is owner Michelle Flagg (right) and Doreen Graves with a few of their daycare dogs. (Independent Photo/MELISSA SHEPARD)
Shiawassee County’s premier pet resort and dog day care is now open and providing cage-free option boarding, dog daycare, pet and farm sitting, along with mid-day walking services. Owner Michelle Flagg and her husband Jeff opened the new business at 1900 W. M-21, Owosso, in the former Mid-Michigan Construction facility (originally built more than 50 years ago by Brewer Engineering). Sitting on five acres, there is plenty of room for the dogs to run and play and to take the dogs on leash walks, so they aren’t in pens all the time. In fact, that is the primary goal of this business. The boarding kennels are actually called suites. Each suite (there are 14) has a window, a cot and pillow for the dog, and they are meant to feel like the dogs are at home. There are no wired cages at this facility. There is also a big play area inside the facility for when it is raining.
Flagg, originally from the Clio area, was a Registered Nurse for 15 years. In fact, she worked at the Genesee County Humane Society while she was putting herself through nursing school and she is a Certified Veterinary Assistant. After a back injury in 2006, she started a pet sitting business from her home. Flagg had been looking for years for a suitable place to open the business. “I’d always wanted to have a boarding facility and daycare. There isn’t a dog daycare facility around here and I saw a need for it,” said Flagg.
Doreen Graves works full-time at Sit, Stay, ’n Play. She has 15 years experience pet sitting. She owned her own pet sitting business called DJ’s Pampered Pet Sitting, along with previously working at the Shiawassee Humane Society and as a Veterinary Assistant at both Northside Animal Hospital and Clay-Mar Veterinary Clinic. Graves stated, “This is what I love to do, taking care of these babies (the dogs).”
There are still a few openings for boarding for the Fourth of July holiday and also a few daycare openings available. Requirements are that dogs are up to date on their shots and friendly with other dogs.
Sit, Stay, ’n Play is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Persons interested in any of their services or in-home pet sitting or day walking may call (989) 723-7598.
