Terrapin is Dog's Best Friend
Dogs are humans' best friends, and Cheryl Staab '02 is doing her best to return the favor. The founder of DogCentric, Inc. provides a dedicated walker and personalized service for each of her clients in Montgomery County and northwest Washington, D.C.
After graduating from Maryland, Staab started a full-time marketing job and soon realized that it was too difficult to get home at lunch every day to let her dog, Morgan, outside. After being disappointed by the available dog walking services, Staab—who always wanted to be an entrepreneur—thought it would be the perfect opportunity to start a business.
"My goal was to start a dog walking company that offered only private, customized visits and was known for reliability, customer service and quality of care," she explains. With her degree from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, Staab was able to pair her passion for animals with a breadth of experience and knowledge gained at the university.
Her new career off the ground, Staab wanted a way to give back to the animal rescue community, but wasn't sure how best to be of assistance. With the Washington Animal Rescue League expanding in 2006, the increased capacity of dogs created a perfect opportunity for Staab to help out with the promise of walking all of the dogs in the shelter at least three times per day. Since the partnership began, DogCentric has provided nearly $100,000 in dog walking services, at no cost to the League.
"I believe the success of a company should be viewed not only by their total profits but also by what they do for those less fortunate. It is incredibly fulfilling to see the difference we make every day in the lives of homeless dogs as they wait for their forever homes."
And how does Staab's beagle, Morgan, feel about her master's successful business? She's happy to wag her tail as DogCentric's mascot and spokesdog. When she's not too busy chasing squirrels or taking naps, that is.
To learn more about Staab and DogCentric, visit www.dogcentric.com/aboutus.html.
