Dogs are rocking and rolling on Dover day care bus
Katie Morris with Walter and Rebel on the bus
Growing up with dogs and always having them in her life has led one Dover woman into a business she never imagined she’d own.
“I actually started dog sitting just for a friend,” said Katie Morris, owner of Rock N Rollin’ Rovers dog day care.
The friend soon realized how nice it was to have that peace of mind for her dog while she was at work. News then spread of Morris’ service.
“To be honest, this was not my plan. It chose me,” Morris said.
Morris’ average day is busy. Some dogs get dropped off by their owners, and once settled, Morris picks up her other clients in a small former school bus.
“I get on the bus, and I have a little notepad. It’s got my whole route written out for each day because every day is different. Each dog is different,” Morris said.
At each stop the dogs are excited to ride the bus, where they get to look out the windows and listen to rock ‘n’ roll music.
“That’s always fun watching them board the bus, and they get to have little doggy seat belts,” Morris said.
Morris returns to her home for doggy day care programming.
“It’s honestly just a mixture of playtime in the backyard where we spend much of our time. We’ll have two different snack times. They have actually made their own schedule,” Morris said.
The dogs have, in order, play time, snack time, nap time, play time, snack time and then they go home.
“I tell everybody it’s like kindergarten,” Morris said.
The dogs know the routine.
“Especially when snack time comes around because they all know they need to sit down and they calm down. When I’m sitting down for my lunch, they all just pick a spot around me, and they lay down and relax,” Morris said. “These dogs are just like kids, and that’s how I treat them. Here, they are treated like family and with so much love. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Morris also administers medications if needed. For cleanliness, her backyard is covered with artificial turf, multiple play areas and toys, all surrounded by a 6-foot-high privacy fence. She is in the process of installing a small swimming pool for the dogs.
Aside from the peace of mind owners have about their pets when they are at work, there are a lot of advantages to sending a dog to day care.
“They know that their dogs are getting the socialization, and during play time, they’re getting their energy out. They’re not all crammed up in a crate or alone and bored at home,” Morris said. “(The owners’) biggest thing is they want their dogs to have just as much fun as everybody else does.”
The most important thing is socialization.
“Here we work on proper socializing for the dogs because they do communicate with each other, just like we do. And I have taken on some dogs that have never been around other dogs,” Morris said. “It’s just slowly working with them and getting them to open up and feel comfortable around other dogs.”
She also has worked with dogs that have separation anxiety.
She began her business in May 2024, and this year had enough demand for transportation to purchase a used bus for the service.
It’s a convenience, especially for some of her dogs’ owners who work from home.
“It’s just easier. Instead of having to get up early, load them up, leave and go back home,” Morris said.
Morris previously transported the dogs in her truck. She could only take one to two dogs each trip.
“For economic reasons and cute reasons too, it was the best decision,” Morris said. “It’s so cute just seeing them all seat-belted in their bus seat.”
For smaller dogs or older dogs, Morris also has special accommodations like beds or a backseat hammock on the bus to ensure they are comfortable and safe.
The Rock N Rollin’ Rovers program is full at this time. Morris has a waiting list for the day care. She hopes in the future to expand. She also offers boarding, and her boarding schedule is available on Facebook.
“The goal is definitely a home with a building and more acreage and have everything right there in one spot. That takes time, but I’m patient,” Morris said.
Currently, Morris’ daughter Maddison McCord, 12, helps her care for the dogs and rides the bus with her most days in the afternoon.
“She helps me keep everybody happy on the bus,” Morris said.
Visit Rock N Rollin’ Rovers on Facebook.