Three months from retirement (退休), I was anything but excited. Retirement felt more like an end than a new beginning.
A new beginning didn't come until I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a little dog. I called to see if I could just have a look. To my surprise, they agreed. Within seconds of laying eyes on that small black-and-white fur ball, there was no way I went home without her. I named her Kelly.
I kept her in a large box, with some toys. She was very energetic. Even after a long walk, she still required attention and care until I played a game with her, which almost drove me crazy. So I turned to my cousin. "Get her into a good dog school. A dog like Kelly is in need of friendship with other dogs," he replied.
It was amazing to watch Kelly run around a yard with other dogs. Best of all, I noticed how well-behaved Kelly was after the play. One day, a strange woman called, "Would you be able to watch my dog for the weekend? I'll be happy to pay." Word spread until I was making money from nursing dogs. Kelly loved the friend, and I had to admit I did, too.
I set up the Hot Dggity Doggie Camp company in 2007. At first people didn't quite understand what I was doing. Gradually, word got around that you could drop off your dogs and picked them up after work at Hot Diggity Doggie. Business was growing rapidly. Every day the dogs were there to greet me. They needed me. And I needed them. Nowadays dog day care isn't unfamiliar around here. In fact, now I have quite a few competitors in town. The more happy dogs, the better.
