Your family dog is more than just a pet, it is a member of your family that gives you love with no strings attached.

As Josh Billings said: A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.

However, we all live busy lives and the demands on our time can make it hard to fit everything into our schedules. You want to take your dog for longer walks or take them to a park where they can socialize with other dogs because you love them but sometimes  there is just no time.

Lewis Bark Dog Daycare has the solution.

鈥淢any of our clients work long hours, or have a busy schedule with their children or volunteer commitments. This is where a dog daycare can help out,鈥� says Kevin Tarrant, co-owner of Lewis Bark.

Tarrant and his wife, Jocelyn, had used a dog daycare service in Victoria for their lab Emily about 15 years ago.

鈥淲e used to call it dog guilt,鈥� Jocelyn says. 鈥淲e were both at work during the day and wanted our dog to get out and have fun and socialize with other dogs鈥�

There are many benefits of taking your dog to a daycare. Activity for dogs during the day can help control, reduce, or even eliminate bad behaviour commonly caused by boredom, excess energy, separation anxiety and/or stress.

Moreover, some dogs have such high levels of energy and excitement that one hour of exercise during the day is not enough to maintain stable health and good behaviour. Dogs are pack animals and benefit from interacting with other dogs.

Earlier this year the couple started the process with the City of Courtenay to allow a dog daycare in their building at 241 Puntledge Rd.

鈥淚t is such a central location for people in the Valley to get to,鈥� says Kevin.

鈥淧lus we are surrounded by parks and trails where we can walk the dogs.鈥�

They felt it was important to design a space that was just for the dogs.

鈥淲e are really happy with how it turned out,鈥� Jocelyn says. 鈥淭here is lots of space for playing and an area for large and small dogs.鈥�

Lewis Bark Dog Care is located at 2 鈥� 241 Puntledge Rd in Courtenay.

Kevin and Jocelyn encourage people to come in and have a look and see if it would be a good fit for your dog.

Lewis Bark is open Monday 鈥� Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The business can also be found online at www.lewisbark.ca.

Also visit Facebook at Lewis Bark Dog Care.