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Dioji Dog Associates Hope Murdoch and Jason Harvey have quite a job. That’s a lot of doggies to care for guys!
Julie Carbaugh and Assistant Manager Felicia Garcia keep Dioji from going to the dogs… so to speak.
Julie Anne Clyde with her father’s dog Mr Wiggles.
Jason Hardy with Josh the dog. Feel the love.
“Dioji... just a fun way of spelling ‘D-O-G’. If you say those three letters out loud you get ‘Dioji’!” explained Jeannie Wendel, one of the owners. Jeannie and Bryce Wendel, husband and wife, and Susan Vasquez are Dioji’s business partners and owners. The two women met in college at Cal Poly where they were roommates. Several years after graduation, the friends got puppies around the same time and became engaged in the joys and frustrations of raising their puppies. Over time (and a marriage) the Wendels especially had bad luck or were disillusioned with the customer service offered at various traditional kennels, dog day care centers and by dog sitters. One of their dog sitters stole their money and abandoned their dog they had entrusted in her care while they were away. (Said doggie took the fifth.) Out of their love of dogs and a desire to create a top-notch dog day care business, they founded Dioji first in Goleta in August of 2007. (A Santa Barbara property opened in August of 2011.) “Our philosophy is cage free and fantastic service,” said Jeannie, Bryce and Susan (almost in unison). Like I said, my kind of place.
News Hound Gets the (Poop) Scoop Still, since I’m no pup reporter, I decided to not rely on human dog-ma, but instead query some of the canine clients for the real poop on Dioji. Looking around, I instantly spotted Jake with his human handler. Jake – known in some circles as “Mr. Wiggles” – is internationally recognized for his doggerel and Dioji barkamonials. He has a paw print in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. “Bark bark?” I asked Jake about this favorite haunt. “DIOJI ROCKS!” answered the five-yearold yellow lab owned by Janet and Jerry Belch. “I love it. Swimming is my favorite.” The signature bone-shaped pool is a big splash among many of the clients. A lot of ruff-and-tumble pool play and dog paddling is popular among many of the breeds. Even if you don’t swim, you’re usually drenched when the 8-year old, 130-pound Newfoundland named Bailey shakes off. “My favorite thing to do at Dioji is swim laps, jump out of the pool and shake off, drenching whoever is nearby, “ said Bailey, owned by Susan and Erik Vasquez. (They
also have two children.) “My favorite treat is playing all day and then getting to stay for a slumber party at night with all my pals! I only get to do that when my folks are out of town though.” Other breeds appreciate the finer amenities such as the retail, spa and massage services available. Big Red (an assumed name to protect her privacy) is a red-haired bombshell of a Lab who always poses her best side for Dioji’s web cam. Boy does she draw wolf whistles. A regular, this diva adores Dioji’s door-to-door limousine service, which picks her up for her regular shopping and spa day at the resort. She shops till she drops at the Doggie Boutique – “darling, they have the most fabulous chew toys” – and then enjoys a spa bath complete with full body brush and blow out along with dental brushing, pedicure nail trim and de-skunking. Then she gets a relaxing massage, and the Dioji limo drops her back at home. I gently asked Big Red, “Ruff, ruff, ruuuuffff?” “Darling, where else but Dioji? I mean Rodeo Drive has nothing on this spot. After a visit to Dioji, I look and feel ten years younger!” “Grrr ruff?” I couldn’t help myself. “Dog years, you idiot,” she retorted with a snarl.
Sweet Sora Needs A Home Not all the females at Dioji are bitches, though. I came across Sora, 12, a sweet Yellow Lab that was rescued from the Animal Shelter pound by Jeannie. She lives full time at Dioji but hopes to find a permanent home soon. She has a kind of Cinderella quality about her waiting for that someone right to give her a home. “Whine, ruff?” I asked, sadly. “Alas, my prince will come someday,” Sora hoped. Then she trotted off to play. That’s my kind of girl.
Zeus Tells It Like It Is Dioji is quite a place and I’d had quite a day. But it wasn’t over. On my way out, I passed by a second Great Pyrenees, Bacchus’s older brother and Dioji patriarch, Zeus, who had been stretched out, sleeping with one eye open, looking over the comings and goings of the resort. And as I trotted past him, he barked out one final piece of wisdom for me to take home. “Unless you’re the lead dog,” Zeus decreed, “the view never changes.” You can say that again, old-timer.
Goleta Girl’s Picks
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eap into the New Year with the premiere of A Leap of Faith, a full-length program by Santa Barbara Dance Theater’s new artistic director, Christopher Pilafian. This dance company is in residence at the UC Santa Barbara Theater and Dance Department and sounds great. A Leap of Faith is showing at the Hatlen Theater on the UCSB campus from January 16 – 20. There will be only five performances – Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm and 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $19 general; $13 student/senior, UCSB staff and faculty. For information, call the box office at (805) 893-7721. Adrift in the winter doldrums? Get a belly laugh at the Comedy Hideway that hosts Stand-Up Comedy with headliners from HBO, Comedy Central and NBC. The next shows are Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 and 10 p.m. The Comedy Hideaway showroom is located inside Petrini’s (near Trader Joe’s) in Goleta. For more information, call (805) 364-2999 .