We took a business trip recently to Seattle and had the pleasure of meeting one of our most favorite and definitely our most famous clients, Elise.
Elise is the owner, and very hands-on operator, of Downtown Dog Lounge which is opening up it’s third location in the heart of Seattle just this week. We first met Elise when she contacted us to commission custom Pop Art portraits of her pooches, Lily, a Weimaraner with an overactive appetite, and Gunner, a very gentle German Short-haired Pointer. At that time she was just in the process of opening her second location and had lots of wall space to fill. We were happy to oblige with four pop portraits of the lovely Lily in the original Belltown location; and a quite comical portrait of Gunner with Lily on his mind for the new, lounge on Elliott Way.
We were so excited to meet Elise, Lily and Gunner in person and see their awesome digs – and we were not disappointed! The trio is one big bundle of energy and the Downtown Dog Lounge is amazing (noisy, but amazing). We even got to tour the new location at Capitol Hill while it was still under construction. With it’s coffee bar inside, and drive-thru, drop-off service outside, it will cater to Seattle’s hippest pups and their parents in style!
But the most exciting part is that Elise, Lily, Gunner, and the whole gang at Downtown Dog Lounge are now the stars of “Adventures in Doggie Daycare,” the reality show on WEtv (Women’s Entertainment television network). And let me tell you it is definitely entertaining!
The show exposes the doggone insanity that is every day life at the lounge with nearly a hundred canines coming and/or going at any given time. It reveals the challenges the crew faces, between training, grooming, and supervising unruly pups, plus pleasing their nutty parents. They also focus on Elise and her crazy life since she gave up her previous career, traveling as a
seafood-marketing rep to Denver, Atlanta, New York — even as far away as Chile, Scotland and Thailand. Lily spent a lot of time in boarding facilities then, and during one stay she developed a serious case of bloat, which can come from eating too fast or exercising too soon after eating. She needed emergency surgery, and the vet told Elise, “You’ll be lucky if she pulls through.” Elise, in tears on the floor of the vet’s office made a vow that if Lily made it through this, she was going to change everything. And change everything she did – the following year the first Downtown Dog Lounge opened, and Elise is the first to admit that Lily is the real boss!
We could not be more proud of Elise, Lily, and Gunner for not having let their sudden stardom go to their heads! We are also proud that a new, fabulous comic portrait of Lily and Gunner will be prominently placed in the new location.
Adventures in Doggie Daycare could not be more captivating, please check your local listings, set your TiVo, and visit WE’s website for more info and even go behind the scenes.
(You can click here to see more pictures from our day at the lounge.)
