A Manitowoc couple has taken over the former Silver Lake Country Store property, where they will open a new canine care center.
Brian Thompson and Amber Hutchinson came up with the idea for Patriot Pups specifically to cater to family pets that may not be as friendly with people or dogs they are not familiar with.
The couple has a nearly three-year-old dog named Roudy, who they say can be rather “spicy,” so they know exactly how hard it can be to find a place for them to stay when the parents need to leave on vacation, work, or a family emergency.
“Doogie parents can drop their babies off, and not have to worry,” Amber explained. “Let’s be real, people with aggressive dogs really have nowhere for them to go.”
Months of planning have gone into exactly how Patriot Pup will handle these kinds of canines, who, in some cases, may be prone to biting people and dogs they don’t know.
This led to the idea of installing an automated doggie door, which allows the dogs to play inside or outside as their hearts desire.
“If you have an aggressive dog, you will bring your dog back to the kennels. You would put a collar on your dog, guide your dog into the kennel, and the door will close,” Brian revealed. “Your dog will not leave its kenneled area until you come back to pick it up.”
While Patriot Pup stemmed from the idea of housing aggressive canines, all dogs are welcome.
There will be a separate area for the more social dogs, allowing all pet owners to have a safe space to leave their beloved fur baby.
As for the name, Patriot Pup was born from the fact that Brian is a veteran himself, which Amber says gives them a unique perspective on helping the veteran community.
Amber noted, “We have a lot of things up our sleeve related to active military and veterans and how we can help them.”
Part of that help is something they are calling the Patriot Pup Guardian Fund.
This is a donation-supported fund created to help National Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty military members and veterans who need care for their dogs when military duty calls.
Brian and Amber are continuing to renovate the property at 5184 Calumet Avenue, and are seeking employees to help run the shelter, which will also have a retail space with natural treats and other pet supplies. Amber and Brian are aiming for a grand opening in late May.
For more information on Patriot Pup or to apply for employment, visit the Patriot Pup Facebook page.
