The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Our dogs aren’t just pets here in Sisters Country — they’re our companions; they’re members of the family.

That means it’s a really big deal to entrust our furry friends’ well-being to another when we’re at work or when we go out of town. For years, folks in Sisters have relied on Central Bark for doggie day-care and boarding that they can trust — and on Groomingdales for keeping dogs looking and feeling their best with skilled and attentive grooming.

Calvin Hasse recognized the quality of the business Cathy and Sam Hernandez built here over some 15 years, and saw an opportunity.

“It was for sale and it grabbed me,” he said. “They built a good business, a good clientele. They had a good referral business.”

Hasse took ownership of the operation in January.

A native of New Zealand, Hasse moved to the United States seven years ago, and to Bend a year ago. Hasse has owned a wide array of businesses over the years — from a car wash in Lahaina, Hawaii, to a fishing tackle shop, from working in real estate, to now operating a beloved Sisters institution.

But Central Bark & Groomingdales is not simply another entrepreneurial opportunity for Hasse. He loves animals, and has fostered them on a volunteer basis in the past. He noted that, “New Zealand has a lot of feral cats.” His fostering work prepared those who were viable candidates for homes and others for a “job” in barns and the like.

His rapport with his charges was evident as The Nugget walked through the facility with him last Friday, among a horde of friendly and excited dogs of every breed imaginable. Often there are multiple dogs from a single family on hand.

“We have some dogs that are here every day,” Hasse said.

Central Bark’s day care offers dogs a chance to be among friends while their person is at work, or when they’re otherwise occupied. It can be a benefit for any dog to spend some social time with other dogs, and Hasse noted that a spell of day care can be beneficial to seniors who have high-energy dogs.

“The dogs are nackered at the end of the day,” he said. “They want to go home and sleep.”

Folks who are nervous about boarding their dog can give day care a try first, Hasse notes.

Day care is available Monday through Friday, and boarding is available through weekends. It’s best to book boarding early if possible.

“The more notice the better,” Hasse said, noting that one week is good.

The work is very hands-on. Some dogs require special diets and/or medications, and Central Bark is on top of that.

Between the boarding facility and the grooming facility, Central Bark & Groomingdales has eight employees, and Hasse said a new groomer is coming on board.

Hasse doesn’t plan any immediate changes to an operation that has served Sisters well for so long.

“To be honest, I just want to run it as it is for a few months and evaluate,” he said. “Ideally, I’d like to make improvements, but I don’t know what those would be yet.”

Like most folks, Hasse was drawn to Central Oregon by the natural beauty and the lifestyle. He loves to golf and he’s taken up skiing — when he’s not surrounded by a bevy of happy dogs.

(Note: this story was edited to correct the last name of a previous owner of Central Bark & Groomingdales).

Central Bark & Groomingdales is located at 367 W. Sisters Park Dr. For info call 541-549-2275, visit http://www.centralbarkand

groomingdales.com, or email [email protected]

groomingdales.com

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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