In a world where pets are more often than not regarded as cherished family members, one Long Island doggy daycare has taken that sentiment to a whole new level.
Hounds Town Commack Rd., New York, has recently gone absolutely viral thanks to a creative idea that has pet parents everywhere wishing their fur babies could get the same treatment – the doggy yearbook.
Koby Miata, a four-year-old Pit Bull mix, is a proud resident of this New York shelter, a well-known daycare that’s been capturing the doggy life with “school” photos for five years now.
But, last September, the daycare’s co-owner, Holly Farrelly, decided to up the ante with a whimsical new concept that would soon leave pet owners envious and eager for their own furry yearbook.
The Best Present Ever
Inspired by her own children’s yearbooks, Farrelly got the idea to create a doggy yearbook. It was meant to be a tribute to the joy and memories dogs bring into their owners’ lives, especially since not everyone has children and can experience an actual yearbook photoshoot.
“Dogs are people’s kids now. I wanted to make something special that would bring people joy,” Farrelly explained in an interview.
Farrelly turned to Shutterfly, the same company that created her children’s yearbooks, and set the wheels in motion to give dogs the best keepsake ever.
The yearbook featured everything you’d expect from a traditional school yearbook: adorable photos of each dog, event highlights, and personalized messages. And, of course, there were school photos of the dogs in their prime moments – just like the real thing.
Jess, Koby’s mom, adopted the pup after he was found abandoned with his littermates in a box on the side of a road in South Carolina. Thus, seeing his happy face made her entire year!
“He’s come such a long way. It means so much to me to have this memento,” she said.
She decided to preorder the yearbook, expecting nothing more than a simple keepsake. To her surprise, the daycare sent her the first-edition yearbook for free.
“I was absolutely stunned by how well it turned out. I knew I had to share it with everyone,” she stated.
The World Needs To See
So, Jess did just that. She posted a TikTok video showing off her precious yearbook, flipping through its pages for all to see.
In the video, she lovingly shows off Koby’s official school photo, snapshots of him attending various daycare events, and even heartfelt messages from fellow dog parents.
“It’s the best thing ever! Just a quick browse can turn your whole day around,” Jess exclaimed in the video.
Farrelly admitted that creating the yearbook was no easy feat. It took “a lot of trial and error,” but the overwhelming success of the first edition made all the hard work worth it.
Now, Farrelly has fine-tuned the process, and the daycare is ready to tackle another yearbook for its new batch of doggy attendees.
“I saw how much it meant to people. I’m definitely going to make it again next year,” she stated.
Thanks to Jess’s viral TikTok, the concept of a doggy yearbook quickly caught the attention of other Hounds Town USA facilities.
In fact, Farrelly said the Pittsburgh branch reached out with interest and reported receiving five requests from eager dog owners wanting a yearbook of their own. After seeing the immense joy the first batch brought, Farrelly was more than happy to share the process with others.
The creation of the doggy yearbook begins every September, when Farrelly spends three full days capturing pictures of the daycare’s canine attendees. Throughout the year, she also gathers pictures from field trips and daycare events to round out the pages.
The yearbook even honors those pets who have passed on with a heartfelt “rainbow bridge” tribute page, which brings a touch of sweetness and nostalgia to the otherwise cheerful publication.
Jess isn’t the only one who feels this yearbook is a treasure – her TikTok video alone has brought tears of joy to countless pet parents. In fact, dog owners from all over are now clamoring to have their pups immortalized in similar books.
“Who knew a doggy yearbook could create such an emotional response? It’s not just for the dogs; it’s for us too,” Jess mused.
As the doggy yearbook craze continues to spread, it’s clear that Hounds Town has tapped into something truly special – a way to celebrate the love, joy, and memories that our furry friends bring into our lives.
And, for Koby and his friends, it’s just the beginning of a tradition that’s sure to be cherished for years to come.