When Colleen Shefferly came home from vacation to find her dog’s daycare had closed without warning, she didn’t just panic. She built something better.
What started as a personal crisis for the soon-to-be retiree became Royal Paws Dog Daycare, a Metro Detroit facility that’s earning fierce loyalty from dog owners across the region - not just for its services, but for the way it makes people feel.
“I was getting ready to retire and I went on vacation, came back from vacation and the dog daycare that I took my pet to was no longer,” said Shefferly, owner of Royal Paws. “They closed while I was on vacation.”
That jarring moment sent Shefferly on a months-long deep dive into the local pet care landscape - researching competitors, identifying gaps, and ultimately concluding that the area needed something more intentional. She applied her business background to a place driven by genuine affection for animals.
“We’ve been able to bring the best of the best staff to the facility,” Shefferly said. “We have loyal customers that trust us, and we treat your dogs like our own.”
That last part, she said, is not just a slogan. “They’re like our kids,” she added.
A plan, not just a playroom
Running a dog daycare, the Royal Paws team will tell you, is far more nuanced than letting dogs run loose in a room together.
General Manager Megan Mudrak said the facility’s approach starts with a simple but firm philosophy: “We love to set your pup up for success. It’s not failure.”
New dogs aren’t simply dropped into the mix. Staff assess each animal carefully, matching them with compatible playmates based on both size and personality. “We separate by size and temperament,” Mudrak said - and that evaluation doesn’t stop after the first visit.
“We’re constantly evaluating pups to make sure that they’re in the appropriate playroom,” she said, describing a daily process designed to catch problems before they start. The facility also offers enrichment activities and one-on-one time throughout the day, built into the cost of daycare.
For busy owners, Mudrak says, the payoff is practical. “Regular daycare and socialization gives you and your pup something to look forward to,” she said. “You can come home, your pup’s nice and tired after pickup - they’re exhausted, they’re ready to tuck her in for the night for you.”
‘You know that your dog’s being well cared for’
For Sue Joye, a Royal Paws customer, the proof is in the parking lot.
“We pull up in the parking lot, my dog already knows, and if it’s warm out, the dog’s head is out the window, ready to go,” she said with a laugh.
But it’s the staff, Joye said, that keeps her coming back. “They care for your dog like no other. You’re not just a drop-off and another customer.”
The facility does crafts with the dogs, decorates for holidays, and shares photos on social media - small touches that add up to something larger for owners who spend their workdays wondering if their pet is okay.
“I can’t tell you how much as a customer it makes me feel when I leave in the morning that my best friend is being taken care of,” Joye said.
For more information, visit royalpawsdaycare.com or call 586-803-3438.