History of Hounds Town USA

......Michael Gould, owner of Hounds Town USA, has worked with dogs most of his life as a trainer and handler. Before founding Hounds Town USA, Mike was working independently with a dog owner on training and other issues. This dog owner worked long hours and wanted some socializing opportunities for his dogs. He asked Mike Gould if he would consider spending time with his dogs, bringing them along on errands and just allowing his dogs to have some social activity during the day. Mike agreed, not knowing how this would end up. Before long, that original dog owner had told a few friends what Mike Gould was doing for his dogs, and a few more dog owners asked Mike about spending time with their dogs.

Our Staff

......Boarding seemed to be a natural extension of the day care business. Grooming evolved from customer requests. By 2005, Mike had an opportunity to purchase a building in another area of Long Island, Ronkonkoma. There were enough regular customers living in that area of Long Island that Mike was confident a second doggie day care location would be successful. Clearly, Mike was correct! Business at both locations has only grown since they first opened.

......Mike began to see a void in the Long Island community: quality day care for dog owners who are unable to be home for their canine family members. Mike embarked on a solution; thus was born Long Island Dog Camp, which eventually became known as Hounds Town USA.

First Doggie Day Camp

......In 2002, Mike opened his first doggie day camp location in Port Jefferson, Long Island. Long Island Dog Camp provided a safe, healthy, and loving environment for dogs. Realizing that working with dogs and dog owners was a unique operation, Mike set out to create a doggie day care center that offered a fully social experience for the dogs. Mike’s passion for and career with dogs dates back to 1982 when he served as a training officer and canine handler with the New York City Police Department. He later transferred to the Nassau County Police Department where, as a lieutenant, he commanded the department's canine unit from 1995 to 1999.

At Hounds Town USA, dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcomed, entertained, and allowed to do what they do best: act like dogs. As pack animals, their most basic needs are fulfilled as they socialize, interact, tumble and play in this safe and loving environment.

The standard Mike and Hounds Town USA have set in the industry continues to expand and transform.

Our Staff

There's a good reason why vets and animal care specialists refer their clients to us - our staff! Joining Michael at Doggie Day Care are Sarah, Erin, Allana, Sarah, Brittney, Marianne, Angelica, Tom, Shannon, Lauren and Steph.

All staff members observe, work with and handle packs of dogs on a full time basis. We do NOT hire seasonal employees or on a limited basis (we don't have someone who is a receptionist, for example). Many of our staff members do have a veterinary or animal shelter background while others also work with livestock (horses, cows, etc). Doggie Day Care requires very specialized training on our part since you can't go to school to learn how to handle packs of dogs. We take staff education VERY seriously and are always learning how to make our facilities even better!

Pack Leaders

Marianne - She is the Business Manager for both facilities. Marianne handles all of the administrative work that goes into Doggie Day Care including fielding customer issues, concerns & inquires, accounting, employee management, building maintenance, computer networking...oh, you get the idea. Prior to Doggie Day Care, Marianne spent over a decade in the corporate world in Executive Recruiting, Human Resources and Network Administration. When she isn't running around one of the day cares, Marianne is at home with her son, her old pit-mix pooch Sassy and her step dog, Mr. Magoo.

Email Marianne with any questions, rants or raves! If you'd rather speak to her live, ask a staff member for her cell phone number.

Marianne & Mr. Magoo

Erin - Erin spent 2 years working at 
Brookhaven Animal Shelter before coming to Doggie Day Care. As the Facility Manager in Port Jeff, Erin manages the staff and oversees the facility. After being on the phone with a utility company for an hour, Erin remembers why she prefers working with animals.

Email Erin here.

Erin & Max

Sarah

Sarah is our newest Shift Supervivsor in Ronkonkoma. In addition to handling daycare duties, Sarah is an organizational wizard and is attempting to make sense out of Marianne's disaterous office. Email Sarah Here.

Hounds Town USA is consistently striving for positive growth and making a positive difference in the lives of their dogs and dog owners.