An Exclusive Interview with the Founder of Petsville
A lot of you know and love Petsville as your dog’s favorite daycare and boarding place. But have you ever wondered about the story behind its inception? Well, today, we’re diving deep into the heart of Petsville with its founder, Amr
In our chat with Amr, he spills the beans on his own pet-filled adventure, how Petsville came to be, and all the cool stuff you can find at their latest digs in Dubai Investment Park (DIP). Let’s fetch some insights, shall we?
Can you introduce yourself?
Hi there, I’m Amr , the founder of Petsville, and also the CEO of The Petshop. Petsville holds a special place in my heart—it’s been my baby for about six years now. I am originally from Egypt, I’ve been in Dubai for nearly two decades. Oh, and did I mention I’ve got two kiddos, six dogs, and one fearless feline?
How’d you end up with 6 dogs and a cat?
Funny story! I never planned to have such a full house. Started with one dog, and well, you know how it goes—one pup leads to another, and then the other four were basically dogs dumped at Petsville. They were either staying for holidays at Petsville and never got picked up or dogs that unfortunately some people bought without proper awareness and ended up giving them away. Me and my kids do everything basically with the dogs around…
As for the cat, I’m actually pretty allergic to them. But fate had other plans when I found this amazing cat who got along with the dogs. I decided to take him home, despite my allergies kicking up a fuss. After trying countless remedies with no luck, I came across this game-changer: Purina’s anti-allergy cat food.
They claimed it could work wonders in just three weeks. Ready to put it to the test, I handed the cat over to a friend and asked them to give it a try for three weeks. To my surprise, in just two weeks, my allergies had gone like magic. It’s been three months now, and I haven’t so much as sneezed in the cat`s presence. Talk about life-changing!!
What inspired you to start Petsville?
Back in my corporate days, I was traveling a lot and used to leave my dog at boarding. It was around 2009 upon my return was nothing short of a nightmare. My dog was almost dead. The lack of communication from the facility made it worse.
After exploring various options, I found a boarding facility that was better, but not quite what I had in mind as it was really small. Despite offering the owners suggestions for improvement, they weren’t implemented. That’s when I realized that if I wanted to see my vision come to life, I would have to do it myself. And so, driven by passion and determination, Petsville began to take form over the next two to three years
In 2018, after years of planning and overcoming various obstacles, Petsville was born in a warehouse in Al Quoz.. Petsville was boutique with nice vibes and I was extremely lucky with the team that I hired at the beginning they are like family and all of them still work here until now.
As Petsville gained momentum we were fully booked all the time, we expanded our space and took over the warehouse next to us and introduced features like the dog water park, designed to offer pets a fun and stimulating environment.
During the build-up, the unforeseen challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Despite the uncertainty and difficulties, we remained steadfast in our commitment to our staff. We weathered the storm, ensuring that no one on our team suffered financially and that our services continued uninterrupted.
As restrictions eased and life began to return to normal, Petsville continued to thrive. We expanded our reach to the next warehouse and added big parking for our customer`s convenience. The next step was opening branches in different communities across Dubai, including Palm Jumeirah which is one of the most pet friendly communities in Dubai and Maeisam city center. Each new location brought us closer to achieving our goal of providing top-notch pet care services accessible to all.
Our latest milestone is the opening of our flagship location in Dubai Investment Park, with state-of-the-art facilities across 25,000 square feet. Offering 4 play areas and two chlorine-free swimming pools, we’ve spared no effort in creating the ultimate pet paradise and and I genuinely think it’s the most premium boarding and daycare in the world
What makes Petsville in DIP unique?
Petsville DIP stands out for its unique offerings, especially our chlorine-free swimming pools. We use high-quality bioorganic cleaners, despite their expense, to ensure the safety and clarity of the water. Our pools are so clean that you could even drink from them without worry! The facility itself is impeccably designed, reminiscent of a serene Greek island retreat.
With 80 spacious rooms, some areup to 16 to 20 square meters that can comfortably accommodate multiple dogs from the same family. We prioritize the comfort and well-being of our furry guests, offering larger rooms at no additional cost to those with medical or behavioral needs. Our goal is simple: to ensure that every dog feels at home and receives the personalized care they deserve.
What services does Petsville offer?
We offer a range of services including daycare, boarding, grooming, and a cattery. Our cattery has been operating at our Al Quoz branch for the past three years, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll be opening another cattery at our DIP branch soon. This means we’ll have two locations equipped to accommodate our feline friends.
In addition to our core services, we also provide a convenient pick-up and drop-off service for your pet. With a fleet of eight dedicated vehicles, we ensure safe and reliable transportation for your furry companions.
At our DIP branch, we’ve designated an outdoor area where pets can stretch their legs and enjoy some playtime in the morning. The design of our facility in DIP is particularly special, as it gets natural light throughout. This creates a welcoming and comfortable environment for both pets and their owners, making their stay with us as pleasant as possible
How is it like to run a place like Petsville?
Some people might think that running a pet care facility is all fun and games, but the reality is quite different. While it’s true that there are enjoyable aspects to the job, managing such an operation comes with its challenges, especially for those who aren’t familiar with working with dogs.
At Petsville, we have proper standards for managing our facility. Take, for example, the dog per handler ratio. While some daycares might have 30 or 40 dogs under the care of one handler, we firmly believe in maintaining a lower ratio for the safety and well-being of all the pets. Typically, we aim for around 10 to 15 dogs per handler, ensuring that each pet receives the attention and supervision they need.
Maintaining hygiene is another crucial aspect of our operation. We follow routine cleaning procedures and protocols to ensure a clean and safe environment for all pets. Waste management is also a top priority, as proper disposal is essential for maintaining a hygienic facility.
Any plans for Petsville’s expansion?
Absolutely! Once we’ve got DIP running smoothly, we’re eyeing Abu Dhabi for our next adventure. Who knows, maybe even beyond to GCC! Petsville is a lovely brand and people love it and people trust us. We’re on a mission to bring our top-notch pet care services to as many furry friends as possible.
As a pet owner, Do you think Dubai is a pet-friendly city?
Reflecting on the past, I wonder if the UAE has become more pet-friendly over time. And the answer is a definite yes. Having lived here for almost twenty years, I’ve seen a big change in how people treat pets. Nowadays, many restaurants are happy to have pets inside or outside, like Ella’s Eatery on the Palm.
We also have beaches where dogs are welcome, such as in Umm Al Quwain and the new Dubai islands by Nakheel. Dubai has become much more welcoming to pets. But can we do even better? Of course!
I often think about whether I’ll be able to take my dog to the mall or on public transportation one day. While I’m hopeful, I know it’s something we all need to work on together. Pet owners should clean up after their pets and teach them how to behave in public. By doing this and working with the authorities, I believe we’re moving towards a future where pets are welcomed everywhere.
In conclusion, Amr’s journey from the corporate world to founding Petsville shows how passion and hard work can make a big difference. By caring for pets so well, he’s not only made Petsville a top spot for pet care, but also helped make the UAE more pet-friendly. Remember, as Amr says, it’s up to all of us to make sure pets are welcome everywhere. With people like Amr leading the way, pets have a brighter future ahead.