The dogs onboard this bus bark “woof, woof, woof!” all day long. Hope Mehlberg began taking her dogs for a walk after work to relax and touch grass. This simple routine evolved into a full-time doggie daycare service, necessitating a school bus for transportation. Mehlberg, a former federal government employee from Oconto, Wisconsin, shared, “I started with just my own two dogs.” Dodge, a 10-year-old yellow lab, and Teddy, who recently passed away due to illness, were her initial companions. More dogs, including Zeppelin, joined her walks, prompting the launch of a pet-walking service. With increasing demand, Mehlberg eventually transitioned to a full-time business, K9 Konvoy, and acquired a bus to transport up to 26 dogs.
Every day, I transport dogs of all sizes and ages from their homes to the park, where they can play and socialize with each other. “It’s incredible. I never imagined it would grow into something like this, but here we are,” said Mehlberg.
A typical day for me starts at 8 a.m. when I start up the bus and load my furry passengers before picking up the rest of the dogs. It usually takes me about an hour to gather all the dogs before we head to the park.
The three-acre park, owned by my family, is where the dogs have a blast playing. When I began the dog care service full-time, we revamped the area, fenced it, and added toys and play areas such as tire swings and trails. The park is always evolving, and I have plans to introduce more activities once the weather improves.
“I believe in letting dogs be themselves,” Mehlberg stated. “If there are mud puddles, I let them enjoy it. At the end of the day, if they’re dirty and need a bath, then I’ve done my job.”
After a fun day of play and socializing, the dogs get snack time and a quick clean-up if needed before boarding the bus back home.
Running this business solo, I handle everything from driving the dogs to managing our social media accounts, with occasional help from my husband for maintenance. Despite the hard work, I love every part of it.
“I get to spend my days with dogs,” Mehlberg shared. “I couldn’t ask for anything better. It’s the most rewarding job I’ve ever had and likely will ever have.”
(This story was updated to correct a typo.)
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her at sshafiq@gannett.com and find her on Twitter and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Originally published on USA TODAY: Wisconsin-based dog care service, K9 Konvoy, transports dogs on a school bus.
