Attorney Jeff Drago pitches Jill Annesse’s plan to open a doggy day care at 236 Sumner St. at Monday’s Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association meeting. Annesse (who can be seen in the background) received widespread praise from JPNA members for her proposed business.
East Boston dog walker Jill Annesse received widespread support at Monday’s Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association meeting for her plan to open a doggy day care on Sumner Street.
With a growing population of young working professionals in the Jeffries Point neighborhood, Annesse said she has seen a growing need for a doggy day care near Maverick Square MBTA station where many commuters head to work downtown.
“I started a dog walking business back in June and many of my clients in Jeffries Point have said that a doggy day care is something the neighborhood lacks,” said Annesse at Monday night’s meeting.
The doggy day care, called The Dog Port, will be an indoor facility at 236 Sumner St. Clients will be able to drop their dogs off to Annesse before work for a full day of activities and socialization.
The facility will have an open play area where dogs will be divided by activity levels and size.
Annesse’s attorney, Jeff Drago said dogs would not be boarded at the facility and the hours of operation would be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Annesse said that dogs that participate in her daycare would be walked every 2-3 hours. All dogs would be screened and given a temperament test to ensure all dogs attending the daycare are well behaved and a good fit for the Dogport’s environment.
Also, all dogs would need a clean bill of health with a current copy of vaccinations and monthly flea treatments.
Drago said Annesse would hold an abutters meeting sponsored by the Mayor’s Office on May 7.
At the meeting Monday, JPNA members were excited by the idea.
“This is the great thing to add to the variety of business in East Boston and enhance the Main Streets district,” said one resident. “All too often one business closes and is replaced by the same business so this is an exciting use of commercial space in the neighborhood.”
One client of Annesse said that her reputation in the neighborhood as a dog walker has been impeccable.
“She is reliable and her reputation in the neighborhood is great,” said the resident.
If she is successful in her new business venture, Annesse said there might be future plans to expand the doggy day care into a full service facility that also includes dog grooming.
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