A Look Back at 2025 — What It Meant for Our Dogs and Our Community

This year has been an incredibly meaningful one for Luckydog. As we look back on 2025, we’re proud of the growth we’ve experienced — in the strength of our team, the care we provide, and the community we continue to build together.

At Luckydog, our mission is rooted in thoughtful, individualized care. We believe every dog deserves to be understood, respected, and supported in a way that meets their unique needs. That belief guides everything we do, from daily routines to long-term decisions about how we grow and evolve as a team.

Below are a few of the people and moments that helped shape this year and the work we are so passionate about.

Investing in Our Team

At the heart of everything we do is our team — the people who show up each day with patience, skill, and a deep commitment to doing what’s right for every dog. This year, we continued investing in that team offering comprehensive benefits, including record participation in health insurance and our 401(k) with company match. These investments matter because they support long-term stability and allow our team to stay focused on what matters most: providing consistent, thoughtful care.

We also remain deeply committed to ongoing education. Supporting our team’s growth ensures that the care we provide continues to evolve with best practices in the field.

Commitment to Education and Leadership

This year marked important milestones in leadership and professional development. Jill stepped into her role as Program & Systems Manager, taking on greater responsibility for the structure and consistency of the daily experiences our dogs receive. She works closely with Stacey, our Daycare Manager and Director of the Canine Academy, and Joci, who leads Lodging and Client Care, to ensure every part of the day is intentional and well-supported.

Jill, our third scholarship recipient, also earned her KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner) certification — a significant professional achievement that reflects advanced, science-based training and a deep understanding of canine behavior. For our dogs, this means care guided by observation, thoughtful decision-making, and proven best practices. For our team, it reinforces a shared standard of excellence grounded in science-based education.

We also celebrated meaningful milestones for other team members. Stacey and Joci marked seven and nine years with Luckydog, respectively, and we recognized new leadership growth as Selma stepped into the role of Daycare Team Lead and Sam into Projects Team Lead. These milestones reflect our ongoing commitment to developing leaders from within.

Enriching Experiences for Every Dog

This year, we continued refining the ways dogs engage, learn, and move throughout their day. One of the most visible additions was our first full season with the Luckydog pool, which quickly became a favorite. The pool offers a safe, structured environment where dogs can build confidence, enjoy low-impact movement, and cool off under close supervision.

Beyond the pool, we focused on strengthening the experiences already in place. This included continued use of private properties generously shared by our pet parents, allowing dogs to explore new environments in a controlled and enriching way. We also refined our enrichment programming and Canine Academy offerings, supporting skill-building and purposeful engagement.

And after all that adventure, our Lucky Spa plays an important role in helping dogs reset and feel their best — offering a calm, caring space where they can be cleaned up, refreshed, and comfortable after a full day of activity. Together, these experiences reflect our commitment to thoughtful care that supports both physical well-being and overall quality of life.

Investing in Better Experiences

This year also brought several meaningful improvements designed to enhance the experience for both dogs and their people. One of the biggest changes was the launch of our new membership program, created to provide greater consistency, flexibility, and value for the families who rely on us most. Alongside that, we transitioned to a new operational platform designed to improve communication, scheduling, and overall efficiency — helping us better support both our team and our clients.

We also continued to invest in the quality of what we offer on-site. After attending SuperZoo, we refreshed our retail selection to better reflect the products we trust and use ourselves — with a focus on quality, functionality, and thoughtful sourcing. These updates allow us to offer products we truly believe in and would choose for our own dogs.

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Building for the Future

A few years ago, as our team grew stronger and more confident in managing the day-to-day operations at Luckydog, we reached a point where I could step back and look more intentionally at the bigger picture. While our focus has always remained on the dogs in our care, this shift allowed us to reflect on how we could continue to raise the standard for both our team and the industry as a whole.

Through our own experience — and through close collaboration with veterinarians, board-certified veterinary behaviorists, and other licensed professionals — we recognized a clear need for more thoughtful, consistent, and practical education for those working in pet care. Much of what existed lacked the depth, structure, or real-world application needed to truly support teams in their day-to-day work.

In response, we began building a more intentional approach grounded in what we’ve learned through years of hands-on experience. This work has helped us refine our own practices, strengthen our internal systems, and continue improving the level of care we provide at Luckydog. The process itself has been instrumental in helping us grow — not only as a business, but as caregivers committed to doing right by every dog in our care.

As this work continues to evolve, we’re preparing to thoughtfully share it more broadly, with plans to make these resources available to the wider pet care community in 2026. At every step, our focus remains the same: supporting teams with practical, experience-based guidance while staying true to the values and standards that guide everything we do.

Investing in Our Community

This year also brought meaningful opportunities to give back and stay connected to the community that supports us. We were proud to continue our involvement with organizations doing important work locally, including our ongoing support of Greenhill Humane Society as a Gold Sponsor for both Bark in the Park and the Greenhill Gala. Their dedication to animals in need closely aligns with our own values, and we’re grateful to play a small part in their mission.

We also had the opportunity to support Food for Lane County, helping contribute to efforts that provide critical resources to individuals and families in our community.

Beyond these partnerships, we remain committed to supporting other local organizations and causes that matter deeply to us. Whether through sponsorships, donations, or behind-the-scenes support, giving back is an important part of who we are and how we show up for the community that supports us.

Community Support

We’re also deeply grateful for the many local partners who help keep Luckydog running smoothly behind the scenes. Their reliability, craftsmanship, and care play an important role in supporting our day-to-day operations and the environment we’re able to provide for the dogs.

A special thank you to our trusted veterinary consultants — whose expertise helps guide our standards of care and decision-making every day. We’re also deeply grateful to Ashley Horner and her team at Summit Bank for their continued support and belief in the work we’re building.

We’re equally thankful for the many local professionals who help keep our facility running smoothly: Automatic Heat, who services our HVAC systems and installed our pool heater; Baxter Plumbing; GMD Electric; Gustavo, who keeps our outdoor spaces in top shape; and Jeff, our go-to handyman whose craftsmanship, including building our pool deck and major improvements to the facility over the years, has made a lasting impact on our space. Their reliability and attention to detail play an essential role in the environment we’re able to provide for the dogs in our care.

A Season of Generosity

This year, we were deeply moved by the generosity of our community — especially during the holiday season. Many of you went above and beyond to show your appreciation for our team, resulting in a truly record-setting outpouring of kindness. While generosity is never expected, it meant a great deal to our staff to feel so seen and valued.

These gestures matter more than you might realize. They reinforce the long hours, the attention to detail, and the care our team brings to their work every day. Knowing that their efforts are noticed and appreciated by the families they serve is incredibly meaningful, and it reminds us why we do what we do. We’re grateful to be part of such a thoughtful, supportive community.

A Year of Recognition

This year, we were deeply honored to receive the International Boarding & Pet Services Association’s (IBPSA) Pet Care Business Excellence Award, recognizing Luckydog as Best in the Nation within our category. This national distinction highlights organizations that demonstrate exceptional standards in animal care, operational excellence, and team development.

Receiving this recognition reflects the care, structure, and accountability behind everything we do — from the systems we’ve built to the consistency and professionalism our team brings to their work each day. It’s a meaningful acknowledgment of the standards we hold ourselves to and the thoughtful approach that guides how we care for every dog.

We were also honored to be named a Community Choice “Best of” winner, an award that carries special significance because it comes directly from the families who trust us with their dogs. Together, these recognitions reinforce our commitment to doing the work the right way and continuing to raise the bar for quality care.

With Gratitude

Thank you for being part of the Luckydog community. Your trust, support, and partnership allow us to continue building something thoughtful, purposeful, and deeply rooted in care.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2026!

Lots of love,
— Dee Dee

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