Meet the Owner
My Journey
by Pam Doherty
I’ve had the privilege of sharing my life with dogs for as long as I can remember. Like so many devoted dog owners, their well‑being is always on my mind. I care for them the way a parent cares for a child, and if one of my dogs seems even slightly “off,” it affects my entire day. Call it neurotic if you want—but anyone who has truly loved a dog understands the unconditional bond we form with them.
The hardest part of dog ownership, for me, was always leaving them. When I worked in the corporate world, I dreaded the daily 9–5 separation. Pulling out of the driveway while they watched from the window broke my heart. They became anxious, depressed, and disruptive—not because they were “bad,” but because dogs are pack animals. They want to be with their person. They want to be with their alpha. That was me… and if you’re reading this, it’s probably you too.
Traveling for work only made things harder. I loved the opportunities, but the excitement always turned into anxiety the moment I thought about leaving my dogs behind. Who could I trust to care for them with the same kindness and attention I did? Would a sitter understand their quirks? Would a kennel leave them in a cage for hours? I quickly realized that finding daily or overnight care that met my standards was nearly impossible. And yes—my standards were high. But I didn’t want “fine.” I wanted to be exceptional.
In 2011, I finally admitted what my heart had been telling me for years: my love for dogs was stronger than my love for my six‑figure corporate job. I knew I wanted to open a dog daycare, but I also knew that loving my own dogs wasn’t enough. To care for other people’s animals, I needed real experience. So I started at the bottom—literally.
My first job in the dog‑care world was with a company called Doody Calls. I thought maybe I’d buy the business someday, so I spent a year scooping poop in residential yards and public parks across the North Shore. It was humbling, to say the least. Friends didn’t understand why I’d leave a lucrative career to walk around with a bucket and rake in all kinds of weather. I drove a lime‑green truck announcing to the world that I was in the poop business. And you know what? I loved it.
There’s an art to finding poop in leaves, scooping it cleanly, and bagging it with a perfect twist of the wrist. I became a poop guru. I could tell the difference between a healthy dog and a sick dog just by what I found in the yard. Clients trusted my observations, and I took pride in knowing I was helping dogs stay healthy. It sounds funny, but it was meaningful work.
During that time, word spread that I was reliable, and I began getting referrals for dog‑sitting. Soon my nights and weekends were filled with dogs whose owners trusted me completely. That’s when I knew my dream of opening a dog daycare was becoming real.
But I still needed hands‑on experience inside a facility. In 2012, I approached the owner of Romp and Roll Dog Daycare in Newbury and convinced him to hire me. I told him my goal was to become the manager someday, and he gave me the chance to prove myself.
I’ll never forget my first day. I grabbed the leash of a playful dog who immediately launched me into the air. My 120‑pound, 55‑year‑old body hit the floor hard. I called my boss in tears, convinced I wasn’t cut out for the job. He encouraged me to stick with it—and I did.
Over the next year and a half, I learned everything that truly matters in dog daycare. I learned how to earn a dog’s trust—and an owner’s. I learned the importance of a clean, safe environment. I learned how different breeds communicate, how alpha and submissive dogs interact, and how personalities shift depending on whether a handler is male or female. I learned how to prevent conflict, how to integrate dogs at their own pace, and how to build a well‑trained, reliable staff. Eventually, I was promoted to Manager.
Leaving Romp and Roll in 2013 was bittersweet. I had gained the experience I needed, but saying goodbye to the dogs I loved was incredibly hard. You never really get used to leaving behind the animals who’ve become part of your heart.
But it was time. Time to build something of my own. Time to create the kind of dog daycare I had always wished existed when I was the anxious owner searching for trustworthy care. Time to build a place where dogs feel safe, loved, and understood—and where owners feel confident, not guilty.
That dream became The Beach Dog Daycare.
