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.