Berry Farms Local

New Business Opens in Berry Farms with A PASSION FOR PETS

BY PAM WINDSOR

A passion for pets inspired Shawn Day to open Dee-O-Gee in Berry Farms. The locally-owned pet boutique offers a wide range of services, including professional grooming, dog training, a dog day camp, and more. 

With so much growth in this part of Franklin, it was the perfect location for a place that caters to families with pets.

“There are a lot of dog families in this area,” Day says. “Of course, COVID changed the landscape to where so many more people decided to get dogs. So, there’s a big need for both grooming and pet retail in this area.”

The grooming salon uses only natural and organic spa products, suitable for pets with sensitive skin. Customers can choose hypoallergenic shampoos ranging from Oatmeal to Honey Vanilla to Lavender. 

There’s also a DIY Dog Wash available for those who want to wash their own dog, but not in the bathroom tub at home. Instead, just bring your dog, and Dee-O-Gee provides the tub, the water, shampoo, brushes, and towels.  

One of the more popular services is the dog day camp.  

“A lot of people work from home and can’t get any work done because their dogs are driving them crazy,” Day says with a laugh. “So, it’s great for their little dog to get out and play with his or her little pack at the day camp. We have toys they can play with, we take them on walks, then give them rest time, social time, and lots of fun time.”

Dee-O-Gee also provides dietary consulting and sells a wide range of healthy foods. In addition, Day is a certified pet dietician.

“We’re big fans of mixology,” she explains. “The problem with modern-day feeding is marketing people try to make it out like you need to stay with one brand of dog food. And they do that, so you’ll stay with their brand. But dogs need to mix it up, just like people mix it up. One day you’ll have steak; the next day, you’ll have wings; the next day, pizza; the next day, barbecue, etc. And your digestive system is healthy. If you’re going to take care of a living being, you need to mix up the food.”

And the food, she believes, should be raw, grain-free foods. She says a lot of dog food on the market today contains things that aren’t healthy for dogs.

“A lot of these foods have corn, wheat, and fillers that are bad for dogs. They’re heavy carbs and create a situation where dogs start to develop diseases that previously didn’t exist in the dog population. These are more like human diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Dogs in the wild, wolves and animals like that, don’t develop things like diabetes.”

Day enjoys helping educate people to help make their dogs’ lives healthier. 

She definitely loves what she does. 

“It’s such a fun business! I feel like dogs are the most faithful companions you can have, and their sweet spirit just rubs off on you.”

Dee-O-Gee is located at 6001 Hughes Crossing in Bery Farms.