Attention all dog owners: a new business has opened in Villa Park called Bow Wow Playground. It’s a facility that will give your dog the opportunity for a play date with other dogs. You might ask why does my dog need something like this? But think about it.

Dogs are naturally social. Many dogs flourish when they are able to interact with others and be freed from the confines of their crates and leashes. Doggie daycare is an excellent way for your pet to beat boredom, eliminate destructive behavior and get exercise at the same time.

Bow Wow Playground, 400 W. St. Charles Road, offers 4,000 square feet of cage-free play area and a separate 1,200-square-foot fenced outdoor play area. Owners May Wells and Joanne Marcotte are devoted dog lovers and have great expectations for their new business. These friends and neighbors were both unhappy with their jobs and decided to form a business they would both love.

“I had been in the grocery retail business for 30 years and when I left I jokingly mentioned to a friend that I was going to walk dogs for a living. He replied that he took his dogs to daycare twice a week. So I thought what a great job to have happy dogs to play with all day. I mentioned it to Mae and she said ‘let’s do it,’” Marcotte said.

Bow Wow Playgound will keep your dog busy.

“You can expect your dog to have a day of fun in a cage-free play environment with positive reinforcement for good behavior. They also will receive plenty of belly rubs and hugs. As the owner you can spend the day away from your pet knowing they are being well cared for and you don’t have to worry,” Marcotte said.

She added that there is no typical day at Bow Wow Playground. What happens each day depends on the dogs that are there. Some days, the dogs will be separated by size and some days by temperament and/or both.

If the dog visits for a half-day, which is five hours or less, it’s all play time both indoor and outdoor, weather permitting. A full-day visit includes a one-hour rest period. According to Marcotte the dogs, will play until they drop so a rest time is necessary for them to take a break. The dogs may be crated for rest time or sleep on the large floor pillows. Either way the dogs will have a comfy nap. The crates are clean and all have a soft bed. The floor pillows are also a great option. The entire facility is absolutely spotless.

In addition to the doggie daycare offered, Bow Wow Playground boards dogs. The boarders have a full-day of daycare and then go down for bed in the evening. Marcotte said the dogs are usually so tired they sleep through the night.

The boarders are monitored throughout the night.

“We have Web cameras in place allowing us to view the dogs from home. The sleep room is temperature controlled and alarmed should the temperature go above 90 or below 40. We also have full-camera security on the building inside and out and a sprinkler system,” Marcotte said.

The facility has been well received so far.

“The response has been very positive. We have heard many people say there is a need for this type of business in this area. All of the dogs that have been here have seemed very happy,” Marcotte said.

Bow Wow Playground is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends by appointment. Give Mae or Joanne a call to gets rates or for more information at (630) 501-1777. You can also visit their Web site, bowwowplayground.com.