Saving Chief

Meet Chief. Chief is a six year old male Catahoula Leopard mix. He has one blue eye and one brown eye. Chief was rescued from a local animal shelter, Hillsborough County Animal Shelter, by loving pet owner, Angela, just days before he was scheduled to be euthanized. Angela has a big heart for dogs, and loves to foster dog's every chance she gets. Angela needed a place to keep Chief while her own dog was undergoing a very intense training program, so she turned to her friends at 
Camp Bow Wow. 

Chief at 50 Pounds

Camp Bow Wow happily welcomed Chief and was home to him for about a month. Being at Camp every day allowed Chief to get exercise and play time with other dogs, enhancing his social skills. When Chief first came to Camp, he weighed only          50 pounds.

While living at Camp, Camp Manager Jon Stob couldn't help but fall in love with the sweet dog. Jon noticed how calm Chief was and how easy going he is around people. Wanting to give Chief a better life, Jon decided to adopt Chief into his home. Jon says "It felt good to help him and save him, and we have a special bond because of that." Even after adopting Chief, Chief still had to undergo an intense heart worm treatment, lasting a few months. 

Today Chief is heart worm free, weighs 72.5 pounds, and spends his days either working in the office with Jon and greeting customers, or hanging out with friends at home. Chief is such a special dog to everyone at Camp, and he still receives visits from Angela. If it weren't for Angela and Jon, Chief would not have the life he has today. Adopting a pet from a shelter not only changes that pet's life, but enhances the life of the person adopting.

Barbara Cardin; Dog Lover, Business Owner

As a fellow dog lover and owner, Barbara Cardin was happy to open up her own franchise with Camp Bow Wow, offering other dog owners like herself who have a busy schedule and beloved pets, a chance to let their pup socialize with other dogs. 

Barbara says, “This is such a special place and dog owners are truly grateful to have a place like Camp Bow Wow.” Not only does Barbara share a passion for the canines in her life, but she also has a deep respect for her hometown of Tampa, FL. 

When opening Camp Bow Wow, Barbara had a lot of help from one of her mentor’s and dear friend, former Davis Island Mayor Bill Sharpe. Though Bill passed away a couple of years ago, his sincere and genuine love for Tampa and the community remains a vivid memory for Barbara. Bill's love for the community and helping others left a lasting impression on Barbara's heart, and she hopes to carry on that same love for her community through her business.

Barbara was able to learn a lot of helpful information from Bill concerning marketing tactics and how to make a positive difference within the community. Aside from Barbara’s love for her community and their pets, she also shares a passion for poker. As a self-taught poker player, Barbara has made a lot of friends around the country in the poker industry, all while gaining the upper hand and improving her skill.

Being given the opportunity to work with Barbara has taught me as a student to appreciate what advice others in the industry have to give, and to retain the relationships made in the most unexpected places. Barbara stresses her desire to reach out to mom groups in the Tampa Bay Area, and hopes to contribute to their children’s’ educational growth by teaching children how to interact safely with dogs.

Currently, Barbara has two dogs, Chloe and Wrigley. To Barbara, her pets are her family, and she carries that same love for her own dogs into her business, ensuring that every dog at Camp Bow Wow is loved as if it were at home. 

What is Camp Bow Wow?

People all around the world share an interest in dogs. Dogs are considered to be man's best friend, and one of the most extraordinary characteristics about dog's are their ability to remain a loyal companion, no matter what.

Since dog's play such an important role in human's lives, it is important to reciprocate that love back to the dog. People that have dogs tend to also have day jobs, and what most people may not consider is how their dog feels about being left home alone while their master is away at work.

Dog's not only get sad from loneliness, but they can develop severe health problems in their joints due to inactivity. Not only is taking your dog to daycare healthy for your dog, it is also giving your dog the chance to have a social life! Consider the dog in your life and let them enjoy a happy, healthy life.

So what is Camp Bow Wow? Camp Bow Wow is a Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camp designed exclusively for our furry friends. We will provide a fun, clean and safe environment for your dogs to romp and play. Our Camp Counselors are certified in dog behavior, dog first aid and Camp  Bow Wow high safety standards. Your pup will receive lots of love, attention and pampering! Camp Bow Wow campers spend the day with other campers and our Certified Camp Counselors. After a long day of play, our overnight campers get tucked in to their own comfy cabin with a campfire treat to enjoy on a warm fleece cot, fading off to soft classical music.

Camp Bow Wow is a non-traditional boarding facility. It's a place where a dog can be a dog. Give your pup a new Leash on Life along with exercise and socialization. Our Canine Campers play all day with other campers and return home free of stress.
Our Fun and Safe Camp Includes:

    8,200 Square Feet of Indoor Camp
    1,500 Square Feet of Outdoor Camp
    3 Large Indoor Play Areas
    3 Large Outdoor Play Areas
    High Speed Doggy Web Cams
    24-Hour Monitoring System
    Spacious Individual Comfy Cabins
    Cozy Sleeping Cots with Fleece Blankets
    Pup Pools & Play Equipment
    Campfire Treats at Bedtime
    Doggy Lounge
    Open 365 Days Per Year
    Lots of Love and Attention

If you'd like more information, give us a call at (813) 870-CAMP (2267) or send us an email at tampaairport@campbowwow.com. SEE YOU AT CAMP!