Bianca Kapteyn wants celebrities — and their dogs — who visit Toronto for its world-class film festival to know it has world-class pet care, too.
Kapteyn runs Canine Culture, a Toronto-based dog lovers’ blog, and co-founded the Four-Legged Lounge, a “doggie day care” in Yorkville for pets who visit the city with their famous owners.
“We wanted to create a sanctuary for them,” she says. “No one in Toronto has done it before. We provide ext-raordinary service, as well as a limo if the dog needs to be picked up.”
Pampered pooches are given up to an hour of private care, including nail trims.
Many celebrities have already taken advantage, although Kapteyn cannot reveal who. “Much as I would love to,” she says, “we don’t want the paparazzi to come and take photos of their dogs.”
Despite its frothy setup, the Four-Legged Lounge is meant to illuminate a serious issue: The number of homeless pets in the GTA.
A local shelter, Helping Homeless Pets.com, provided the lounge with framed photos of dogs up for adoption, and its famous customers have been encouraged to donate.
“The goal is to make adopting rescued dogs and cats chic,” says Kapteyn.
