Applicant Sarah Goldberg said she wanted to start her business, Canine Cuddles: Day-care for Dogs, on Ledgar Road to help ease the guilt that dog owners felt when leaving their pooches locked up all day.
“When I got my border collie Bentley last year I quit my job because I didn’t want to leave my puppy at home alone,” Ms Goldberg said.
“I come from an education background running childcare centres, so I wanted to apply the same principles with the dog day care centre.”
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READ NOWMs Goldberg said demand for the service was high, with four “doggy day care centres” already operating in Balcatta alone.
“This is a great opportunity and the centre will be able to hold up to 50 dogs a day with safe, structured play areas that will reduce noise in residential communities,” she said.
Councillor Giovanni Italiano said he was opposed to the proposal because of noise concerns from workers in the area.
“This facility is good for dogs but I’ve had people calling me objecting to this. They don’t want it – they don’t want dogs barking all day near their workplace,” he said.
“This should be further out in an industrial area. This is not in the right location.”
The committee recommended the project be approved with several conditions and a 12-month trial period.
Cr Rod Willox said the project “ticks all the boxes”.
“The 12-month approval period is a safeguard; there is a need for this in the community,” he said.
“Anything that will result in better care of dogs is a good thing; dogs can suffer from separation anxiety and owners do not realise they have been barking all day long.”
The council will make a formal decision on the application at tonight’s council meeting.