Shari Young
Co-owner
My Doggies Daycare

Many people have asked why we opened My Doggies Daycare. For each of us, this is a dream come true. Absolutely. We have a genuine, heartfelt love of all animals; especially dogs. To work in an environment where we get to play with a multitude of breeds and personalities every day is wonderful!

When it comes to me personally, I would say it started with my Midwest upbringing…
and the fact that my family adopted every stray in the neighborhood. I’ve always had an affinity for our four legged friends. I volunteered for years with the local humane society, and my heart went out to every one of the endearing rescues.

After my divorce in 2003, I moved to RSM with my daughter and our large Weimaraner named Crichton. Suddenly, instead of half an acre to play on, he had my little cement patio. Dog daycare seemed to be a good solution, but when I checked into several facilities in the area I was disappointed. Either the customer service was poor, or the facility smelled, or the fees were too high.

When I needed overnight boarding I found some places where Crichton could actually have his own little room – complete with a bed and TV (neither of which he would really use) but to my dismay he would only be taken out twice a day for a walk. There was no real playtime or socialization with other dogs.

So, I spent a year “making do” with what was available, all the time mulling over the idea of opening a facility. After consulting with various experts, and researching pet care options across the country, I knew this was something I had to pursue. Another year of research and planning followed, and then everything fell into place when Denise, Angie and Nicole, and our first trainer Sue all came on board. We shared a tremendous affection and concern for our canine friends, and felt the local residents would welcome a choice in dog daycare and boarding.

Once the various permits and licenses required by the City and Animal Services were obtained, we opened My Doggies Daycare in October of ’05. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the warm reception and overwhelming community support. Business has boomed…so much so that we recently looked into expansion. But after a lot of careful consideration, we decided against it. Too many dogs in one space can cause problems, and it becomes difficult to give that individual attention. None of us got into this business to get rich. We simply wanted to provide a safe and loving atmosphere with lots of one-on-one attention for the dogs.

So here we are! MDD will never be the biggest or the flashiest facility around, but hopefully we’ll always be number one with our canine friends!

Denise Thompson
Co-owner
My Doggies Daycare

If I could have looked ahead 10 years ago and seen my life now… I wouldn’t have believed it! Coming from the corporate world of high stress and deadlines, who would have guessed I’d be spending my days playing ball with dogs of all different colors, breeds and personalities. Giving doggie bubble baths and yes, mopping up puppy piddles and poo. I wouldn’t have believed it.

In the past, I missed out on several vacations and weekend trips because I didn’t want to leave my golden retriever, Brodie, in a crate for any length of time. My sons use to say, “Mom, he’s just a dog”. Though I knew that, I had a hard time thinking of him cooped up in a crate, while I was out having fun. May sound silly to some, but I know several of you can relate.

When I had an opportunity to become involved with My Doggies Daycare, I was elated. Just imagine…a place where dogs could romp, run, play and interact with other nonagressive dogs all day, while their owners could rest easy knowing their dog was probably having more fun than they are! Now that was the kind of business I wanted to be a part of.

I truly love being your pup’s “home away from home”, even if it is just for an afternoon. You know that feeling, when you arrive home and your canine friend runs to you wagging his tail, so happy to see you? How would you like to walk into 50+ dogs all doing that to you at once? It’s positively a rush.

I work in the facility on a daily basis and when I first make my way through the pack I acknowledge each and every one of them. It’s amazing how they perk up when you call them by name. Sound silly? No… these guys and gals love human attention and affection as much as they do socializing with their own kind.

I'm honored to be able to spend time with them and get to know their individual personalities. If I had known the rewards of My Doggies Daycare ten years ago, I would have done it then!

Angie Dicenzo, Manager
Nicole Dicenzo, Assistant Manager
My Doggies Daycare

My name is Angelina Rose Dicenzo. My sister Nicole and I have lived in Orange County for about 13 years. We have always had animals in our lives - and our dogs hold a special place in our hearts.

I’m pictured here with an Australian short-haired Pincher that I adopted from Majestic Canyon Rescue when he was only 8 weeks old. His previous owners said he was too wild and destructive. Probably because they didn’t allow him enough play time, or give him a chance to run off some of that excess energy! Dogs need exercise just like we do; without it they can be very difficult to handle.

Fortunately, Girr (the name comes from a cartoon called Invader Zim) has become a wonderful companion. Now 4 ½ years old, he loves to go down to the stables with the horses or adventure off to the creek, play in the water and chase birds.

I also have another rescue named Shelby who is a Pit Bull Terrier from Missouri. (And yes, Pit Bulls do receive a bad rap. Brought up in a gentle, loving household - they are obedient, loyal, and very friendly.) I got Shelby when she was about 4 months old and she and Girr hit it off right away. They love to play and snuggle together on their beds. Shelby is now 4 years old and she is a definitely a handful!

Nicole has two boxers, Sparky and Lyca, who we consider as Girr and Shelby’s cousins. They all love to wrestle together. Sometimes when they get in that certain mood, they will wrestle for about 20 minutes, every 2 hours or so. We call it Wrestle-mania!

The truth of it is - dogs love to play. And we love dogs. Which is why My Doggies Daycare is such a good fit for us. Rather than just taking dogs into our home, we now have a complete daycare facility large enough to allow dogs plenty of room to romp and play, socialize and receive lots of our love and attention.

Both of us have a solid commitment to care for every pet as if they were our own. We hope you will consider bringing your special K-9 kid to our daycare. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or stop by for a visit any time. We look forward to serving South OC dog owners for many years to come!

Cradelle White
Dog Trainer
Daycamp & Bootcamp
Private training while at
My Doggies Daycare

Cradelle doesn’t train dogs the way a lot of other
trainers do. To her, commands like "heel," "sit" and
"stay" are useful, but are really just one means to an
end. The end being a nice, calm, responsive dog that
can be taken most anywhere, trusted in the house,
and can be around other dogs.
We often get calls from people who say their dog previously "failed" dog obedience training. The issue is typically not the dog but what the other dog obedience instructor failed to successfully teach the owner. Cradelle’s method of setting dogs up for success and focusing on both ends of the leash is a major factor that sets her apart.
 
     “I have apprenticed with a well-known Southern California Master Dog Trainer-Animal Specialist who has been training animals for over 30 years, and am currently completing the Certified Dog Trainer program. For the last six years I have worked with all different breeds of dogs and gained an understanding of the different types of dog behaviors.
     I get tremendous satisfaction from working with families to help create a bond between themselves and their dogs – an integral part of my job is teaching clients how to best communicate with their dog to achieve the behavior they desire.”

Sue Stevenson
Dog Trainer
Private In-home Classes
My Doggies Daycare

A German Shepard saved Sue's life when she was just two years old. As an adult, her Rottweiler saved her home from burning down when a fire started in the kitchen.

Sue has knew she was destined to work with dogs. She has a lifetime of experience, having grown up with breeders and show dogs and being educated by professionals in the dog world.

Specializing in problem solving and behavior modification, Sue knows that not all dog profiles fit the basic obedience format. Her FOUNDATION TRAINING program is based on affection training methods. It goes beyond basic obedience to create peaceful coexistence at home and in public. Today Sue’s talents are in demand. Her K9 clients range from rescued dogs that must be rehabilitated to be suitable for placement to OC’s most affluent family pets.

Rosy Carbajal
Dog Groomer
My Doggies Daycare

When I was a teenager, my friends always called my home “Rosy’s zoo”. I had from 5 to 10 different pets at any given time, some rescues, some for pet sitting and of course some were my own dogs and cats.

A wagging tail, the defenseless whimper, and the unconditional love that dogs possess are all elements I can’t live with out. After volunteering my spare time at the local shelters for about 2 years, I decided to make my living at what made me the happiest - “loving pets”. I became a professional groomer in Orange County over 8 years ago and it has proved to be a wonderful way to fulfill my desire to be around animals.

My clients know that I will take great care with their pet, and he/she will come back looking fantastic! I am experienced in many specialty styles and clips for all sizes and breeds. If your dog is a little shy, nervous, or apprehensive – don’t worry. While in my care, your pet will receive the individual attention and tender loving care that it deserves.

Karina Heredia
Dog Groomer
My Doggies Daycare

I’ve always been an animal lover. My family adopted their first dog when I was two and we had him for sixteen years.  He was a white wheaton terrier with long gray ears.  I grew up loving and learning from our pets.  I honestly don’t remember a time when we didn’t have a furry friend.  I recently rescued a 2-year-old pit bull. His name is Butch and even though this breed doesn’t have the best reputation, he is a very sweet boy; both playful and loving.  He has become a very special part of my life and I am grateful to have found him.

I’ve been with My Doggies Daycare for over a year now and I can honestly say I really enjoy my time there.  Before I started grooming, I had several office jobs and took a few classes trying to discover my “niche”. When Rosy took me under her wing as her assistant, I discovered that grooming a dog is a work of art.  It takes an artistic eye and a lot of patience to do what groomers do.  After months of training, I am now a full time groomer for My Doggies Daycare.  It really makes me feel proud when I see how good a dog looks after I finish grooming him or her.  It’s a very rewarding job and I truly enjoy my new career.

Camden Clack
Office Supervisor
My Doggies Daycare

Joined MDD: 3/06
Place of Birth: Atwood Illinois
Pets: Violet and Silver (Italian Greyhounds)
Favorite part of the job: Getting to meet/greet our canine friends every day, and visiting with their parents.
Hobbies: Going for walks on the beach with her dogs, going to the firing range and going to the gym.
Special Talent: Making clients and visitors at MDD feel welcome. Accomplishing any new task that is asked of her.

Deb Blum
Floor Supervisor
My Doggies Daycare

Joined MDD: 6/06
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Pets:  40 Labs, 37 Retrievers, 24 Boxers, 15 Pugs,
25 Toy Poodles, 18 Lhasa Apsos…the list goes on and on…
she considers all of the MDD family as her pets!
Favorite part of the job: Making new dogs feel safe & happy.
Watching the dogs play and form special friendships.
Hobbies: Walks on the beach, golf, rollerblading – she has several “roller dancing”routines.
Special Talent: Her endless patience and genuine love for each and every dog at MDD. If you've ever caught Deb on the webcams, she is almost always surrounded by dogs wanting her attention and affection.

Sarah Perry
Kennel Supervisor
My Doggies Daycare

Joined MDD: 11/06
Place of Birth: Fountain Valley, CA
Pets: Rosco, Jackson, Gizmo & Gadget
Favorite part of the job: Being with all the dogs in the play areas. Each one is special and unique in their own way, and I enjoy getting to know their personalities.
Hobbies: Reading, drawing, watching movies and listening to music.
Special Talents: Sarah & Shari see eye to eye when it comes to keeping MDD clean. Both are fanatics! Sarah and her husband Justin just recently had their first child. Kayden is the smallest member of the MDD pack and we all adore him.

Dena Paschall
Certified Animal Health Care Specialist
My Doggies Daycare

Joined MDD: July 2006
Place of Birth: San Clemente
Pet: Gypsy Girl – a cattle dog mix that has stolen her heart.
Favorite part of the job: Ensuring the well-being and over all care of our canine friends while developing a special bond with each individual dog. They are all so unique!
Hobbies: Volunteering with dog shelters, playing piano &, keyboard, creating special computer effects. Hoping to apprentice for dog training in '08.
Special Talent: Dena has one of the most pleasing personalities of anyone you'll ever meet. She is great at customer service; always willing to lend a hand;
and is our expert for animal health care.

Our Staff is Certified in Pet First Aid & CPR

We all know the undeniable strength
of the human-animal bond. For many
of us it is so strong that our pets
are considered a part of our family.
Every day at MDD we are entrusted
with the care of our clients
four-legged “kids” and we take this
responsibility very seriously.
Click here to read more...

My Doggies Daycare is licensed, bonded and insured. We are also members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the National Association of Professional Petsitters (NAPPS) and certified in pet first aid.

If you would like to contact any of us at My Doggies Daycare, please feel free to stop by, email: infomdd@mydoggiesdaycare.com or call 949.709.4600.