Stamford's Harbor Pets Offers Fun, Convenience For Dogs & Their Owners
STAMFORD, CT — Tucked away at 68 Elmcroft Road in Stamford’s South End is Harbor Pets, a state-of-the-art facility which offers over 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play space for dogs.
Stamford resident Hillary Somers opened the business about five months ago with a mission to provide a social outlet for the city’s four-legged furry friends, and a convenient option for dog owners who work during the week or travel. The logo of the business is her 2-year-old Airedale Terrier, Gertrude.
Harbor Pets offers doggy daycare for full or half days, boarding in a kennel/cage free environment unless the owner wants their dog crated, and self-bathing stations with towels and soap included.
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There are three, temperature-controlled community indoor playrooms that can connect to each other, which give the dogs plenty of room to roam around and play.
When the weather cooperates, there’s roughly 7,000 square feet of outdoor space on turf, which Somers believes is the largest outdoor doggy daycare space in Stamford. The turf allows for proper drainage and for the staff to sanitize the area, Somers said.
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Human lunch-hour visits are welcomed. When dogs are boarded, staff is on-site 24 hours per day, and owners can check-in on their dogs through observation cameras.
Daycare is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
There are several requirements for daycare and a vetting process, Somers said, to ensure proper behavior and safety for all. There is a 10 percent discount to veterans for all services, according to the Harbor Pets website.
Somers has had a passion for dogs for as long as she can remember. Her grandfather, August Belmont IV, served as the chair of the American Kennel Club.
“I grew up training dogs,” Somers said. “As soon as I could walk I had to help.”
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Somers ran a pet sitting company for five years in the 1990s before doggy daycares even existed in most municipalities. She then got a job in New York City and commuted from Stamford. She wanted an option for pet parents that was close to home.
“I couldn’t believe there was nowhere to walk to from these apartments. I had my eye open for four years for this space, and it became available,” Somers said, noting that it took a year to get the space ready for operation. It previously served as a storage facility for developer Building and Land Technology, Somers noted.
Somers said she enjoys interacting with the dogs each day, discovering their personalities and sending them home happy. Her staff — six employees in total— also enjoys getting to know the dogs who come to Harbor Pets.
“My staff is young and active,” Somers said. “They get attached to the dogs.”
In the future, Somers hopes to host events for dog parents to meet and greet each other.
One such dog parent is Heather Cavanagh, president and CEO of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce. Cavanagh brings Chloe, her Bernese Mountain Dog, to Harbor Pets.
“Hillary and her team are such a great addition to the South End for our furry friends and family members. The first class daycare and boarding facility along with a great outdoor space makes our pets feel at home,” Cavanagh said. “Chloe loves her days of play and stays at Harbor Pets. Hillary and her staff treat our pets as if they are their own. We are so excited to have Harbor Pets as a Stamford Chamber member.”
Those interested in sending their dogs to Harbor Pets must first inquire online. For more information, go to the Harbor Pets website.
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