Passion for pets inspires venture for ’21 FHS grad
“We offer exercise for dogs on our state-of-the-art non-motorized treadmills in a climate-controlled mobile dog gym,” he said. “We help your dogs live a healthier life.
“It’s not an alternative to dog walking; it’s so your dog can walk longer into their lives,” Hennessy added. “It really helps with the ability of their hind legs.”
The runs also help dogs with mobility, weight management and to burn excess energy, which can be done regardless of the weather, he said.
The gym is located in his van so he can bring it to his clients, so “it will be at the clients’ homes,” Hennessy said. “Booking can be done over the phone or on our website.”
Hennessy expects to launch the business within the next two weeks.
“It’s been in the works for a while,” he said. “We came up with the idea in late May, when we first ordered the van I saw someone with a similar business model in a larger city, and I wanted to bring it to this area.
“I’ve always had a passion for dogs and (other) animals and I wanted to find something I could do on my own,” Hennessey added.
So, when he saw the business model, “it intrigued me.”
However, with the shipping shortages, “it took us almost seven months for them to get the van to us,” Hennessy added.
He can run two average-sized dogs at once on the treadmills. “I have a large and a medium treadmill,” he said. “So if it’s two Great Danes, I would have to do them back-to -back because only one of my treadmills can accommodate a Great Dane.”
Hennessy offers a trial run to introduce the pet to the treadmill and staff. However, “the owner has to be there for that for positive reinforcement and stuff like that,” he added.
Hennessy also has a weekly run, when the CRC staff will retrieve the pet, run it on the treadmills and return them once a week, and a bi-weekly run where more athletic, energetic dogs run twice a week.
To use the CRC’s services, dogs must be at least 4 months old and up to date on all vaccinations.
Canine Runners Club, which is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, can be contacted at 865-410-6611 or online at www.caninerunnersclub.com
