Barking Hound Village: How it all Started

It’s all about Atlanta’s dogs

Barking Hound Village has cared for others’ dogs as if they were our own since 1999. We're proud to be Atlanta's FIRST doggie daycare, boarding and grooming facility.

Little did our founder/owner David York know that rescuing one dog would send him on a more than decades-long journey that would:  help create a new industry in Atlanta, launch like-minded folks to build their own businesses and turn him into a tireless force in the Atlanta animal rescue community, forever changing the lives of thousands of dogs throughout Atlanta.

From the moment he found Sophie in Tennessee, David was in love. He brought her home with him, spoiled her and years later, threw her a twentieth birthday party. David’s business schedule prevented him from being with Sophie as much as he would have liked, and one summer in 1998 he searched for a place to board her.

Dismayed at the limited number of quality kennel options in Atlanta, he started Barking Hound Village, incorporating all the care, attention-to-detail, and loving support Sophie was accustomed to, and that he wanted other dogs to have. David started down this life-changing path by caring for his neighbor’s dogs. The first Barking Hound Village doggie daycare and boarding opened on Cheshire Bridge Road in 1999, quickly becoming the destination for Atlantan’s seeking a home away from home for their furry family members. Now, more than a decade later, BHV continues to care for many of the same dogs that were pups back then, because of the love and trust developed with their families.

David’s love for Atlanta and the community has led him to support many other Atlanta charities, such as: Adopt a Golden, Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Pet Rescue, Zoo Atlanta, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Meals on Wheels, Forward Arts Foundation and many others.

By partnering with rescue organizations throughout Atlanta, the Barking Hound Village family is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless animals throughout Atlanta.

BHV: growing like Atlanta

Barking Hound Village quickly expanded to multiple locations throughout Midtown Atlanta and even two locations in Texas (Austin & Dallas). But, as Sophie grew older, David didn’t like spending so much time away from her, so he sold the Texas stores to his original employees. The pair had moved from Atlanta to Texas to help launch and run the stores, and David knew he would be leaving Texas in great and experienced hands. Today, they continue to maintain the Barking Hound Village standards of care for their Texas doggie guests, and they are planning to expand to another location.

The tradition of excellence continues

Enter Scott Powers, nearly a decade later. Budding entrepreneur Scott adopted the love of his life, Monty, a black and white terrier mix like Sophie. Scott had always cared deeply for animals and he decided it was time to make a life change out of the corporate world to follow his true passion to work with animals.

But where to start?

Scott began exploring the doggie daycare industry and met David through a mutual friend. David suggested he come to work for Barking Hound Village and learn the business from the pooper scooper up. Scott did just that and quickly advanced through a variety of roles, eventually becoming Barking Hound Village’s Director of Store Operations for all Atlanta locations. Today he helps David keep the high standards BHV is known for, streamlining operations and remodeling stores for the twenty first century.

Briefly, very briefly, Scott thought about heading out on his own, but David had other plans. As with his first employees, David suggested Scott buy the Westside store and remain in the Barking Hound Village family to continue building a stronger company from the inside. Scott jumped on the offer and then worked with David to open Barking Hound Village Buckhead two years later. Today, David, Scott and their teams elevate the standards of daycare, boarding and grooming throughout Atlanta by bringing their passion for Atlanta's dog community to life now and for many years to come.

More than a decade after Sophie claimed David’s heart and changed his life, Barking Hound Village is the largest, locally owned, doggie daycare in Atlanta, with five locations that have convenient, easy interstate access throughout Midtown and Buckhead. Today, we continue to set the standards for Atlanta’s doggie daycare and boarding as Atlanta’s most awarded doggie institution to-date.

Visit one of our locations when your best furry friend needs a vacation or just a day away from the couch. We’ll pamper your pooch with the same devotion we give our own pets. And remember, at Barking Hound Village, we’re making the world a happier place – one dog at a time.