New Dog Daycare Business Opening Jan. 28

Busy pet owners in Charlestown and downtown Boston soon will have a new place to bring their pups while they are at work.

Crate Escape, a dog daycare and grooming business, is opening its third location at 200 Terminal St., Charlestown on Jan. 28.

The site marks owners Bradley and Stephanie Hastings’ first move from the suburbs into the downtown Boston area since opening the business in 2004. The first facility, opened as Raining Cats and Dogs but later renamed Crate Escape Too, is located in Huron Village, Cambridge, with a second spot located at 30 Brighton St., Belmont.

“We’re just really excited to get a chance to provide daycare for Boston dogs,” said Barbara Stanley, marketing manager.

Stanley said one of Crate Escape’s hallmarks is their effort to learn about how dogs play and interact, ensuring their sites are safe and fun for all involved.

“For the first seven or eight years, we just put all the money back into the dogs. It wasn’t about advertising. It wasn’t about fancy decorations. It was just about safety and about finding out how the dogs play best,” Stanley said. “I think that’s kind of a different scenario for Boston.”

The newly renovated and soon-to-open Terminal Street location offers 17,000 sq. ft. of space for Crate Escape’s dog daycare, boarding and grooming services, as well as a small shop selling healthy foods, treats and supplements, collars, leashes and dog toys.

The site also features 3,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space, according to Stanley.

Pet owners interested in using Crate Escape’s daycare service must first go through a review process.

“Dogs do a temperament test before they come in to the daycare just to make sure they’re not aggressive and that they have the potential to play well,” Stanley said. “If a dog is really shy or a little bit scared, we can work with a lot of that. We mostly just make sure that the dog’s OK being there and that it’s not a safety issue for us.”

Once a dog passes the temperament test, he or she can be signed up for the daycare program, which is available six days per week: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Overnight boarding is available for customers who utilize Crate Escape’s daycare program and can range from a late evening pick-up or single overnight to vacation boarding, Stanley said.

The Charlestown site has space for about 100 dogs in the daycare program and can board up to 30 overnight, Stanley said.

About 15-20 employees will work at the Charlestown location, including site manager Jenny Sunkel. Stanley said the company put up fliers around the neighborhood and on Craigslist and has hired several new people for the location, including a few from Charlestown.

“We are excited to welcome new customers in addition to our dedicated customers from East Cambridge, Somerville and Medford who will be switching to the Charlestown facility,” Crate Escape reps said in a press release. “The new Crate Escape Charlestown has been constructed with our expertise, providing a safe environment, where dogs exercise, socialize and where dogs can be dogs.” 

Crate Escape

• Features: Dog daycare, overnight boarding and grooming services and a shop selling healthy dog food, treats, leashes, collars and dog toys
• Located: 200 Terminal St., first floor (In the Charlestown Maritime Center, underneath the Tobin Bridge)
• Daycare hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday (by reservation), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Telephone: 617-886-9003
• Website: crate-escape.com
• Email: crate.escapecharlestown@gmail.com