A popular doggy day care centre in Cardiff has announced it is closing after being hit by massive cost increases. Action Petz Cardiff became Britain's first indoor dog walk park when it opened in its original location back in 2014 but is now shutting its branch in the capital for good despite its owners doing "absolutely everything" to keep it running.
The state-of-the-art facility on Wentloog Road in Rumney provided dog owners with somewhere to leave their pets to be looked after and played with, as well as an indoor park to walk them away from the often wet and windy weather. With a swimming pool, heated areas, indoor and outdoor facilities and trained staff, dogs were given "the absolute best care", while an on-site cafe also meant owners were well looked after too.
The business also has a branch in Swansea, which has recently relocated due to complaints about barking. However, while its new centre there is set to open at the end of the month, the Cardiff centre will officially be closing on Monday, February 20.
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Announcing the decision with "enormous regret and upset", the owners said that while they had "tried absolutely everything to keep this centre going", soaring costs, the cost of living crisis and other post-Covid pressures had led to "lead to tears, constant worry and sleepless nights" before they regrettably decided to call it a day.
In a statement shared on social media, they said: "We have thought of every idea possible to not have to come to this decision. We have even invested our own, personal money into the company but unfortunately, our overheads are spiralling, not to mention the enormous price increases on what we must pay and the increases coming just to keep the centre open.
"We understand there will be tons of suggestions, I.e. re-opening the play park alongside day care however, by doing this will mean not being able to take the number of day care dogs we're now licenced to have - meaning we're back to square one. We introduced the winter warmer sessions, which haven’t really been as successful as we'd hoped and haven't even covered just having the lights on.
"We increased our prices to match inflation...but we've seen numbers decrease, which we COMPLETELY understand due to the cost of living crisis. Believe us, we've thought of all this and everything in-between."
The team acknowledged that the news was "hugely disappointing to our customers and furbabies" and thanked those who had used and worked at the centre, saying that the business "wouldn't have made it as far as [it] did" without them.
"We are wholeheartedly sorry to be letting you all down but (and if we're completely honest with you all), the stresses and anxiety that has recently surfaced for businesses since COVID, as well as cost increases has lead to tears, constant worry and sleepless nights," they explained. "All this and us both working full time in the background also.
"We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers who have supported us since we opened back in May 2019, right up to the present day. Without your continued support we wouldn't have made it as far as we did. Finally, [we] would like to thank our staff - past and present for their dedication to the centre and the love and care they've shown to every single dog (and customer) that's come into the centre. They have treated every one as if their own and we know they are just as disappointed as we are with this decision."
All centre managements have been cancelled with immediate effect as the business enters its final week, while the play park has now been closed and will not be re-opening. The final event will take place on Sunday, February 19, with a 'Big & Bouncy' breeds session followed by a final 'Power Hour'.
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