BOWDEN - A 93-acre site, once the pioneer location of the town's largest employer, is the new home for what is claimed to be Canada's largest pet resort.
It's A Dog's World Pet Resort is holding its public opening on June 1, 2 and 3 at the former home of Bow Seed Nursery, formerly called Alberta Nurseries & Seeds, which began operations in 1928 and closed in 2012. Citizens, especially dog and cat owners, are invited to come and see the transformed site. Tours will be offered, with golf carts available for extended viewings of the spacious 93-acre site.
During its heyday the nursery employed hundreds of Bowdenites and area citizens, but closed its doors forever six years ago. But Paul Leussink, a Sundre-area grain farmer and former and last owner of the now closed Innisfail Truck Ranch, kept his eye on the abandoned nursery with a notion to bring back the glory of its once vibrant and prosperous past.
With his daughter Brie, and with the 90 acres of lush treed property immediately north of the old main nursery site, Leussink believes there is ample evidence he can make the now renovated facility one of the best and innovative, as well as the largest, pet resorts in the country.
"The pet industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries globally. A lot of people are deciding to have pets instead of kids," he said noting the "huge" pet chain stores now flourishing in towns and cities across Alberta. "It is a well needed industry. I looked at the property and the buildings and tried for a long time to determine what the best type of business was, and this is what I decided would be a good fit.
"After some research with the 90 acres we will be Canada's largest pet resort in terms of area," he added.
Leussink purchased the abandoned 93-acre property in 2016 for an undisclosed price. It was known back then he had an ambitious plan to turn 90 acres of it into new commercial ventures, from north of the main building site and along the west side of Rge. Rd. 11, to across the road from the Bowden Refinery. While those future plans are still in place, Leussink will now use those lands as a dog park, where clients can play with their dogs and give them a good run.
"It is a gorgeous 90 acres because it used to be a tree farm. It is beautiful when you drive into the back. There is a lot of area for people to play with their dogs," said Leussink, whose new business will offer memberships to new clients. "We will be one of the first pet resorts to offer an agility course to train your dog to its members, to be able to come in even after hours."
Since last winter, following a series of extensive incidents of vandalism, Leussink has invested about $200,000 into cleaning up and modernizing the site's main buildings.
"There was extensive cleanup of the nursery property, and we hauled 50 truck and trailer loads of garbage to the landfill," he said.
The main building has been thoroughly renovated and painted, with all windows replaced. He said 65 interior dog kennels have been installed as well as eight cat condos. He said the plan is to have 100 dog kennels and 20 cat condos ready by August, with another 50 dog kennels by next year.
Along with an agility course, Leussink said there are three outdoor play areas for dog socialization, as well as interior socialization rooms, particularly important during cold winter months.
Leussink said there will be five employees at the resort to start, including himself, Brie and three part-time. He said a groomer will be hired. As well, 2,000 square feet of the main building's total 20,000 square feet area will be set aside for veterinary services. Leussink said he's seeking a veterinarian on either a contract or partnership basis.
"It would be a very good opportunity for somebody who just came out of university with a licence, and start with small animals," he said.
For more information on the opening of It's A Dog's World Pet Resort on June 1, 2 and 3 call 587-447- BARK (2275).
