Year-round Valentines: Pooches develop bond at doggy daycare

What started as puppy love between two young dogs has grown into an enduring friendship nurtured by their owners.

The pair, a black Labrador retriever named Gabby and a black Lab/German shepherd mix named Heinz, met about two years ago when both went to doggy daycare at the Donovan Veterinary Clinic in Ligonier.

Each dog’s owners had decided that their high-energy, rescue pups needed to get out of the house a couple days a week, for their own good as well as for their owners’ sanity.

“They became pretty much inseparable right away,” says Gabby’s owner, Arlene Lowry of Ligonier, whose family includes husband Bill and son Joey. “Say his name and her tail wags and her ears perk up.”

“For whatever reason, they just hit it off,” adds Heinz’s owner, Julie Deem of Cook Township.

But like any love story worth telling, complications soon arose.

When the clinic relocated from its site on the south side of Route 30 to new quarters on the north side of the highway, the daycare was closed due to lack out outdoor space.

Daycare buddies

“Since we did not want our dog to lose her best buddy, we contacted Heinz’s ‘parents’ and it was decided to enroll Gabby and Heinz at another facility,” Lowry says.

The pair now go to daycare on Mondays and Thursdays at Cozy Inn Pet Resort and Spa in Cook Township.

“The minute (Heinz) sees Gabby, he will literally explode with excitement,” Deem says. “It’s a nonstop wiggle session. The only thing that will distract him is a run-and-fetch session. Give him a toy and he’s like a guy with his car.”

Gabby, on the other hand, prefers swimming in Cozy Inn’s bone-shaped pool. But when it’s time for outdoor exercise, the pair are reunited, says activity staff member Autumn Seftas.

“They always go out together,” she says.

“Although we did not know Heinz’s family prior to this romance, we planned our last-summer vacations at the same time so the two could share a family kennel and not be distressed about our absence,” Lowry says. “We refer to Heinz’s parents as our dog’s in-laws, and we text each other if there is a change in schedule. We try to drop off and pick them up at the same time to spare the Cozy Inn employees from having to deal with a sad, whining dog.”

“(My husband Jim) brought this special toy for Heinz and told (Cozy Inn staff), ‘When he starts crying because Gabby’s not there yet, give this to him,’ ” Deem says.

All the maneuvering “became a little bit ridiculous,” Lowry says, “But you want your dog to be happy. It’s almost like your child.”

Like besties at camp

So far, the friendship has been confined to daycare — and it probably will stay that way, Lowry and Deem agree. They aren’t planning any home visits between their pets.

Deem says her family has an 11-year-old corgi mix that “doesn’t take kindly to having other dogs around. She’s the boss of the household.”

“You don’t want to invite another Lab into your house,” Lowry says. “One is enough. She’s excited to go to daycare and it’s a nice break for us.”

And as sweet as the story is, the friendship between Gabby and Heinz is not unique, says Cozy Inn owner Carol Boerio Croft.

“Heinz and Gabby are just one of many sets of dogs that find love at Cozy Inn,” she says. “Not love-love, but they are like besties at summer camp. The fun thing is the dogs come repeatedly for vacations or daycare or grooming, and they always remember who their little friends are, and it’s really cute.”