By Judy Clabes
NKyTribune editor
If you are looking for that perfect Christmas gift for your Best Friend (aka your favorite dog — who already has everything, of course), Phillip Roe may just have what you are looking for.
Roe opened his new business — an indoor, heated dog-swimming pool in Florence at 5775 Constitution, Suite E — just before Thanksgiving.
Doggie Paddles is the area’s first and only indoor pool that allows you to give your dog a chance to do something most dogs really love while providing great exercise year-round.
Doggie Paddles is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dogs are booked for private 30-minute sessions, supervised by the dog’s owner, in an heated aboveground salt water system pool.
“Whether it’s for just fun, therapy purposes, increasing range of motion, easing arthritic conditions, building muscle and cardio, all dogs will benefit from warm water swimming,” says Roe.
He and his wife, Jennifer, were inspired to start their new business after seeing the benefits for their ‘first dog’ together, Sadie, who developed cancer and a debilitating disease that left one of her legs immobile and eventually took her life.
Sadie was a black lab, the family’s “princess,” who tore her ACL is both rear knees. The couple then lived in WV where the therapy was 1.5 hours one-way several times a week. They took both Sadie and her younger half-sibling Bailey to a horse rehab pool.
But the Roes made sure Sadie had quality of life right up ’til the end by taking her swimming. Then, after moving to Northern Kentucky, they continued to take their dogs to K9 Waves in Cincinnati which has a “great hands-on therapy” program in its pool. Another dog-and-water opportunity they used for Sadie wass the water treadmill at Hot Diggity Dog Canine Water Fitness in Wilder to help strengthen her knees after her ACL surgeries.
“Having those memories to me are absolutely priceless, knowing I gave Sadie the best life possible, even when she was not at her best health-wise,” said Roe. “Swimming truly makes a difference.”
Appointments for the 30-minute sessions are by reservation only — Book online, from your phone, or in person at the location. Life jackets and fetching toys are all provided and there’s a free elevated bath tub and doggie dryer to use after the swim.
As a special for the grand opening, there is a 50% discount for first-time customers. There are referral discounts and discounted package pricing.
Roe is a self-employed designer of fire sprinkler systems. He decided to start this business as a “sideline” because the drive to the doggie pool service in Cincinnati is 45 minutes each way and Northern Kentucky has a lot of “pet people.”
There are some rules:
• Only Dogs are allowed in the pool or on the swim entry/exit ramp. There is a two-dog limit per session.
• All swims are supervised by the dog’s owner. The pool is for recreational use only.
• Proof of vaccinations is required, and owners must sign a liability release waiver.
Roe says swimming in a dog pool can benefit your dog’s body in these ways:
• Loosening tight muscles
• Increasing circulation, endurance, and flexibility
• Increasing range of motion, balance, coordination and muscle strength
• Decreasing swelling and pain
• Relaxation
• Confidence building
While Doggie Paddles does not offer therapy, Roe says conditions that may benefit from dog swimming and therapy include:
• Joint injury
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Hip/elbow dysplasia
• Spinal injury
• Mobility problems
• Arthritis
• Pre/Post-Surgery
• Chronic pain
• Geriatrics
• Weight reduction.
See Doggie Paddles on Facebook.
What a great idea. Now I don’t have to drive across the river to give Fido a nice indoor swim during the winter.
Thanks Daniel. Look forward to you coming!