Dogs Rule, Newberry

A shuttle bus pulls up to the curb, and a Dogs Rule staff member leads another drowsy charge to its front porch. This pooch is knackered, having spent all day carousing at Dogs Rule, a leash-free dog-care facility whose wall-mounted “BEWARE OF THE DOG” sign belies the canine camaraderie within. As pooches enter the facility, the staff separates them into groups according to age, temperament, and size, and watches over the pups as they wrestle in the outdoor play lot’s dirt, chase soap bubbles, splash in the pool, or strategize table-side manners in the play house. Overnight guests—whether feline or canine—bunk down in crates at night. Dogs Rule's groomer Diane Lyons, herself an owner of four dogs, backs up her passion for canine coiffures with 29 years of grooming experience.

During their pets’ time at Dogs Rule, owners can opt for grooming sessions or vaccinations at an additional charge. All proceeds from the facility benefit the nonprofit AHHHHA, which finds homes for abandoned animals and offers low-cost spay and neuter services to pet owners.