Story and Photos by Anna Holton-Dean
Bring Your Own Dog Grooming, Boarding & PLAYcare offers full-service boarding
and grooming for small and large dogs. For almost a decade, the business has been transforming and caring for the pets of the Owasso area, and founder Rachel Stolz couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do.
“Every day, I get to witness transformation,” she says. “Dogs come in dirty, stinky and straggly, and they leave smelling and looking like brandnew dogs. The most rewarding experiences come when we get calls from distraught dog owners because their furry family member has been banned from another facility due to behavioral issues, and we are able to lovingly care for that client’s needs. There is such joy in working in an environment where dogs are continuously at play around you.”
Growing up in Bryant, Arkansas, Rachel was never without a canine friend and dreamed of
spending her life loving and caring for dogs, her husband John Stolz, who also serves as general manager, shares.
“In 2011, after 22 years of loving and caring for children as a special education teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, and Owasso, Rachel decided the time was right to pursue her dream. So Bring Your
Own Dog Grooming, Boarding & PLAYcare was born!”
Rachel chose the name “Bring Your Own Dog” because she wanted to create a place where she would, in fact, bring her own dog, John says.
“We endeavor to be as much like home for the dogs entrusted to our care as possible. This includes playtime. At Bring Your Own Dog, play is never an add-on service. It is considered vital and is included in every service, whether your dog is here to be groomed, boarded overnight or here for daycare.”
John and Rachel met in the spring of 2012 when he boarded his Weimaraner, Gunnar, at Bring Your Own Dog. Gunnar didn’t want to leave, and neither did John. The couple’s friendship evolved into love, and in 2014, the two were married.
Together, under Rachel’s tender, loving care and John’s management expertise, they have built a team of dog lovers who pride themselves in providing hassle-free grooming, overnight boarding and doggie daycare services that are a treat for the dogs and pet parents of Owasso and the surrounding communities.
Loyal client Carrie Daigle says, “We are so fortunate to have found great people. … owners and employees all. I never worry about leaving our dog, whether boarding, daycare or grooming. BYOD is the best!”
John and Rachel have felt the love and care from Carrie and other clients returned back to them as Rachel battles cancer.
“I love watching my wife use the skills she acquired as a special education teacher to work her magic on the dogs entrusted to our care,” John says. “The relationships we have built with our loyal clients and their dogs over the years is truly the most rewarding aspect of my job though. There has been nothing more moving to me than to see the outpouring of love upon my wife and I over the past four and a half years as Rachel was diagnosed with and continues to fight stage 4 colon cancer.
“Sharing in the ups and downs of life with our people and their beloved dogs makes what we do so worthwhile. We truly love all our dogs and their people, and we know they love us.”
Now through Sunday, July 11, when the business celebrates its 10-year anniversary, Bring Your Own Dog is celebrating customer appreciation to show just how thankful they are. Customers can mark their calendars and stay tuned on Facebook for exciting details to come.
One other way Bring Your Own Dog shares the love is by helping rescue organizations, such as Zoi’s Animal Rescue and Skiatook Paws & Claws. Rachel and John have, themselves, been “rescued” by a Terrier mix named Lollie, a Shih Tzu mix named Peggy and a Black-mouthed Cur mix named Rosie. “You can see them pretty much any day of the week since every day is ‘bring your own dog to work day’ at BYOD!” John says.
For more information about boarding, daycare or grooming, call (918) 805-0751 or email [email protected]. You can also like them on Facebook for updates and fun doggie photos.
