LEE — Love Us and Leave Us pet day care is closing its doors in the community after three years serving pet owners across South County.
It’s not for lack of customers.
Owner Renee Dodds said hundreds of dogs and cats have passed through the facility’s doors over the past few years. She and the staff have cultivated relationships with each pet — and their owners.
“We have this one little old dog, her name is Bug,” Dodds said. “She’s pretty much been our office manager since Day 1 and I’m really going to miss seeing her underbite in that office.”
Dodds said an array of factors, including staffing challenges, led to the decision to close the Lee location, which was announced Sunday on the company's Facebook page. The facility in Pittsfield will remain open, and Dodds said she has plans to expand services there.
She noted it’s always difficult to draw staff when working with animals, but that it’s been particularly tricky in recent years.
The staff she does have are overwhelmed and burnt out, Dodds said. Hours are long and people often have to pick up extra shifts.
“We can’t just close for the day,” she said. “We have animals there.”
Dodds first opened Love Us and Leave Us almost 19 years ago. What started as a successful doggy day care, groomer and boarding house in Pittsfield, later expanded to a second facility in Lee.
“I knew there was a need for dog-sitting because there’s another dog boarding place in Stockbridge, but from there down to Connecticut, there’s really nothing,” Dodds said.
Since then the Lee location has been bustling.
While Love Us and Leave Us is on its way out, Dodds said there’s a chance it may be replaced by another pet grooming, day care and boarding company.
“We have had a lot of interest in the building and business,” Dodds said. “So I’m really hoping that someone can take the business over and just be able to serve all these customers.”
If not, Dodds said some pets can transition to the Pittsfield location. But the facility is set up differently than the one in Lee and won’t be a good fit for all, she said.
For those pets, Dodds recommends exploring other options, like in-home pet sitters (who should always be licensed and insured, she said).
Day care will continue in Lee three days a week through Aug. 26 and grooming will continue until Aug. 29. Boarding will remain open for dogs through Sept. 9 and for cats through Sept. 18.
