Front row left to right, Marisol Garcia, manager, Stacy Read, owner, and Jack Juncker, general manager, pose with their furry friends at the new Digstown location in North Stapleton. Back row left to right, dog handlers Rick Vanderbloom, Emily Salazar, and Shin Lor (hidden behind a dog).
“The dogs just keep coming as Stapleton grows,” says Stacy Read, owner of Digstown, which opened its second location Dec. 18 in North Stapleton. The first Stapleton Digstown, at Montview and Willow since 2006, was “busting at the seams,” Read said. “We were turning people away, especially at the holidays.”
Digstown provides daycare and lodging for an average of 100–120 dogs per day, according to Read, who lives in Conservatory Green with her two young sons and golden retriever named Zurri.
Read bought the land in North Stapleton in 2014, and built the 18,000-square-foot building that houses Digstown North. “About 8,500 square feet is Digstown, and I’ll lease out some space. I’m also opening a liquor store there,” she said.
The property includes an acre-and-a-half outdoor play area for the dogs. As at the original Digstown, dogs will play in swimming pools with fountains, as well as on ramps and platforms. “In the winter they can come in to get warm and then go back outside during the day,” Read said.
Read said the facility was built with safety in mind. “We have no chain link fences to catch collars or paws, and no sharp edges that might injure a dog if they slam into them.”
Dogs are separated into groups by activity level, size and disposition. “When I opened Digstown South, I thought that dogs of similar size would want to play with each other. But it’s more about who likes who. We get Great Danes who like playing with the little guys, and the little guys like it too.”
She dislikes the word “kennel.” “In my mind, a kennel is a cold, harsh environment. We provide a homey place where dogs can be comfortable and have fun.”
Hours are 6:30am–7:30pm, Monday through Friday, and 8am–7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday. Pop-in tours are available on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. Digstown North is at 5088 No. Central Park Blvd. For more information, call 303.399.5500 or see www.digstown.us.
