BY ANNA HOLTON-DEAN | PHOTOS BY CINDY ALVAREZ, SNOOTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Pooty Powell, a 10-year-old male rescue mix, attends dog daycare at Camp
Bow Wow several times a week. While he’s not a fan of car rides, he recognizes
where he’s going when his human dad, Nick Powell, makes the turn into the
parking lot. “He stands up; he can hardly stand still because he wants to get
in there so bad,” Powell says.
“I usually have to remind him, ‘Wait’, while I’m undoing his harness. Then, he does a little stroll around the front door to leave his mark for the day, and in we go. As soon as he makes it behind the gate inside, he’s completely forgotten that I’m there because he’s so excited to get in. So, he’s usually off before I can even get out a ‘bye!’”
Of course, he’s just as happy to see Nick at the end of the day, but his excitement is proof he’s a satisfied customer. And he’s not the only one who can’t contain his enthusiasm.
“The clients are happy when they bring their dogs,” owner Amy Nichols-Walters says. “I like when clients send us emails or videos of their dogs on their way to camp. It is hilarious. They say, ‘We’re going to Camp Bow Wow,’ and the dog is flipping out; it’s the cutest. I love the dogs. I do this because I love dogs.”
Camp Bow Wow has been serving the Tulsa metro area for 11 years, offering premier dog day care and boarding at two locations—Tulsa and Bixby. It’s a fun, safe and upscale place for dogs to play, romp and receive lots of love and attention. Additionally, they also offer training and grooming services in Tulsa. (Call for service details.)
But as their website describes, it’s so much more than day care and boarding: “We are your partners in making sure your beloved dogs get the care and attention they deserve.”
That partnership and personal attention are what have kept Pooty and Nick coming back for so many years.
“The staff is so good with him, and you can tell he really enjoys spending time with them as well,” says Nick. “They give great service in the front, too, and are always friendly. [I’ve seen] a lot of the same employees there for a long time, so it seems like it must be a good place to work as well. If they’re taking care of the employees, it makes sense they’re taking care of my dog, too.”
For extra peace of mind, owners can check in on their campers and boarded pets via webcams. “I like being able to drop in on him virtually via the webcams, especially when I’m traveling,” Nick says, “just when I need a dose of my little buddy.”
The Bixby location even features four luxury suites with 24/7 camera access for those who want to check in any time of day on their boarded furry children. “There are those who will spend more on the dog than on their vacation to make sure their dog is OK. I love the webcams myself, too, and my dogs are boarding right now,” says Nichols-Walters.
How It Started
Camp Bow Wow opened in Tulsa 11 years ago when Nichols-Walters decided to leave corporate America for more furry, friendly faces. Four years later, she added the Bixby location.
“I wanted something more rewarding,” Nichols-Walters, who was living in Texas at the time, says. “So, I looked into buying the franchise and quit my job. I got married and moved back to Tulsa and worked on it for a year to get it open.”
And she has never regretted taking the leap. “It’s the best feeling ever to go play with dogs instead of sit behind a computer all day,” she says. “Who doesn’t want dog kisses? Dogs have unconditional love. They don’t care if I go to work without makeup; I never do. I just put on a Camp Bow Wow T-shirt and jeans and go to work; I don’t have to put on a suit.”
Locations & Hours
Camp hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
For more information, call (918) 437-3647 (for Tulsa) and (918) 943-6400 (for Bixby) or visit online at www.campbowwow.com/tulsa/ and www.campbowwow.com/bixby/. To see adorable campers, follow on Instagram: @campbowwowtulsa, @campbowwowbixby. Camp Bow Wow is located at 142 S. 147th East Ave. in Tulsa and 14992 S. Grant St. in
Bixby. ■
