The Paw Spa Pet Resort

Treat Your Dog Like Family

By Deborah Daley​

​

We’ve all heard that “man’s best friend is his dog.” Many dog owners would go a step further, considering our dogs as part of the family. As such, we want to make sure they are always cared for in the manner that they deserve. Sheila Irish, owner of The Paw Spa Pet Resort, feels the same way. She has created a “family” experience for the dogs in her care…you can feel confident that your furry family member is having a great time, even while you’re away.

Sheila, a passionate dog owner in her own right, created her company after she saw a need for dog services. “I could not find a place for boarding that I felt comfortable with for my own dogs when I was going on vacation,” she recalls. “That is when I decided to establish The Paw Spa Pet Resort.” 

She did a great deal of research, traveling to other states and facilities to choose the best elements for her facility. “I bought a large piece of land and built the facility from scratch. My philosophy is that dogs are our family and should be treated to the best place possible.”

The Paw Spa Pet Resort lives up to this philosophy in every way. The resort offers daycare, boarding, and grooming, as well as a gift shop. The facility itself features 54-square-foot suites, a running area with 6,000 square feet of outdoor space, and an expansive indoor yard and pool for paddlers (the pool is in the shape of a bone!). 

An additional feature Sheila installed is a state-of-the art air exchanger on the facility’s roof to completely change the resort’s air four times per hour. “There are different diseases dogs can get, and we have had very few since we opened because of this filtration system.” It’s not hard to see why the resort has been voted the Best Dog Day Care through the Best of Omaha for 10 years in a row. The company was also a winner of the Sarpy County People’s Choice Award. 

The Paw Spa Pet Resort is a family business, with Sheila’s children and husband involved. She also employs 23 people, each of whom feels the same way she does about dogs. “Everybody here loves dogs,” Sheila notes. “My employees know every dog when they walk in, and that makes a difference to a pet owner. We love these dogs, which makes the dogs and owners feel good.” 

In fact, her advice to any new business owner starting a new endeavor is that you need to focus on hiring right. “The heart and soul of any company is their employees, so take the time to make the right choices.”

To attend The Paw Spa Pet Resort, dogs must be current on all vaccinations and be verified healthy by a veterinarian. Everything is personalized, from grooming that is specific to each breed as well as the type of daycare and boarding needed by each dog. 

“Communication is key to our success, and we make sure we know the owner’s needs and expectations. In fact, if you are considering our boarding services, we offer a free one-day daycare to see if our facility is the right match for you and your pet.”

It is a full-time, all-consuming job, but Sheila wouldn’t change it for the world. “I get tremendous rewards when I see not only how happy the dogs are but how pleased the owners are. It gives me great joy.”

Pet owners give the resort rave reviews, and much of the business comes from word-of-mouth advertising. Dog owner Tyler particularly appreciated the grooming his dogs received. “Crystal is the best! She took her time for my doggies when grooming. I think I was more anxious than my dogs. She handled me well, too! She assured me how well my doggies did and provided an update when I picked up, which I love.” Stephen echoes these sentiments. “It is an awesome place that takes top notch care of our family dogs. I cannot recommend this place enough!”

Prices are very competitive, and Sheila offers a 10 percent military discount. Overnight boarding is $65 for one dog and is decreased to $48 for a second. Daycare runs $40 daily, with a half day of 4 hours at $35 a day. It is important to book ahead of time, especially for the holidays! 

The resort is open to dog owners from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can see your pet playing online anytime at thepawspapetresort.com. The facility is located at 16912 Audrey Street, just off 168th and Harrison.

​

​