by Kathy Hosler
Photos by The Pet Station Country Club
t The Pet Station Country Club, our mission is to be the ultimate in pet care,” states Scott Burnley, founder and co-owner. “One way we achieve that is to compete with ourselves to get better every year. You can’t stay stagnant; you’re either growing or you’re dying.”
Preparing to open their third and largest location in the Louisville, Kentucky area, The Pet Station’s newest luxury facility spans 25,000 sq. ft. Features will include a 3,500 sq.-ft. indoor dog park equipped with custom-built agility equipment, an immense outdoor splash park with 15 interactive features and a scenic half-mile nature trail for pets.
by Kathy Hosler
Photos by The Pet Station Country Club
t The Pet Station Country Club, our mission is to be the ultimate in pet care,” states Scott Burnley, founder and co-owner. “One way we achieve that is to compete with ourselves to get better every year. You can’t stay stagnant; you’re either growing or you’re dying.”
Preparing to open their third and largest location in the Louisville, Kentucky area, The Pet Station’s newest luxury facility spans 25,000 sq. ft. Features will include a 3,500 sq.-ft. indoor dog park equipped with custom-built agility equipment, an immense outdoor splash park with 15 interactive features and a scenic half-mile nature trail for pets.
Raising the Standard of Care & Creating Careers
So, how did this exceptional pet care facility get its start? Well, a series of unrelated events brought together the talents needed to create The Pet Station Country Club…
During college, one of Scott’s professors posed a question. It was, “If you could do anything, what would you really want to do?”
Scott thought for a moment, then answered, “Well, I’d like to be a dog trainer.”
His professor quickly said, “Then, that’s exactly what you should do!”
Scott scoffed at the idea thinking, No, that’s not a lifetime career; it’s just a pipe dream or something you could do as a hobby. Nonetheless, that day planted the seed for The Pet Station Country Club.
Rebecca and her husband, Paul, also owned a pet grooming salon. So, Scott, Rebecca and Paul collaborated to expand beyond grooming and open a business that incorporated training, boarding and daycare.
Ever since that day, Scott, along with his wife, Sarah, who is the Human Resources Director, Rebecca and Paul have been business partners. And in early 2017, they opened the first Pet Station Country Club location.
To build a world-class facility, there has to be a need for your services and clients willing to pay for them.
These efforts significantly helped spread the word about The Pet Station in the beginning.
“To build a world-class facility, there has to be a need for your services and clients willing to pay for them,” says Scott. “We actually created demand by offering upscale services and amenities that other facilities did not.
“For instance, our Luxury Lounge was designed specifically for small dogs, catering to people who were hesitant to leave their pets at a traditional boarding kennel,” he continues. “We wanted to create a home-like environment complete with real beds and couches, and had people with them 24/7. That made pet owners feel more confident and comfortable leaving their dogs with us.
True to their country club theme, they have lots of grass; in fact, 15,000 sq. ft. of turf at each location. And what is a country club without a pool? They have beach-entry pools and splash pads, with their newest location boasting the largest splash pad east of the Mississippi.
The Pet Station also offers “Dog Daycation” which is more than just regular daycare. It’s filled with activities that enhance, engage and enrich the dog’s stay during the day. Membership packages, luxury add-on services, enrichment activities and other amenities are also available. Another standout service that has really topped the charts is their board and train program.
They have beach-entry pools and splash pads, with their newest location boasting the largest splash pad east of the Mississippi.
“The fastest way to accomplish the most with a dog is to put them through a three-to-four-week board and train,” Scott emphasizes. “First we teach the dog, then our focus is on the owners. We have a system set up which includes a ton of actual follow-up time built into it, including a free monthly class to reinforce, refresh, and maintain their skills with their dogs.
“Owners also gain lifetime access to a private Facebook group, where we share dog-related content that not only focuses on training, but also helps clients live and co-habitate with their dogs in ways that are good and fulfilling for both the family and the dogs,” he adds.
One way The Pet Station has achieved their success is by assembling the right team of people. And in a service-based industry that is driven by team dynamics, it’s essential to hire individuals with the right attitude.
“We have five core values at The Pet Station Country Club: Team player, Professionalism, Service, Character, and Compassion,” Scott states. “Our values are an acronym on our initials, TPSCC. By implementing these qualities in all of our departments, we work together to create a cohesive team that bonds around a common purpose.
“I set out to raise the standard of the industry,” he continues emphatically. “Not just for myself and the team/pets in Louisville, but for others. I am also on the Owners of Dog Daycare board.”
All of our departments offer various levels of development, so people can strive for growth in their current position while preparing themselves for future opportunities.
“We are a growth facility that promotes from within,” he explains. “All of our departments offer various levels of development, so people can strive for growth in their current position while preparing themselves for future opportunities.”
An example of this is their grooming department. Instead of hiring groomers that are already trained, The Pet Station has partnered with the Nash Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. They even sent one of their groomers to Nash to become an instructor for their grooming team.
The Pet Station places great importance on giving back to the community as well. They have partnered with GRRAND (Golden Retriever Rescue and Adoption of Needy Dogs), and built a dedicated wing in one of their facilities to care for those dogs, free of charge, until they find foster homes or forever families.
When asked what separates The Pet Station Country Club from other pet care facilities, Scott said, “From an ownership and leadership perspective, I believe it is our relentless focus on improving our team so they, in turn, can focus on the dogs. Also, our close attention to detail in everything we provide for clients and their dogs (we board cats, too) is crucial.”
He concludes with, “The camaraderie and teamwork that we have as a company is enabling us to fulfill our mission to make The Pet Station Country Club the ultimate in pet care!”