At Play With Sparky Doggie Playcare

Saved me when I had to go out of town unexpectedly, with very friendly staff who made sure my older doggo got all her meds and stayed happy and fed. I won't hesitate to come back if I need day care or boarding in the future.

Sparky's is Fantastic! We bring our little guy, Baxter there 2-3 times a week. You do need daycare reservations at least 24 hours in advance. Only have been unable to get a reservation 2-3 times but in general they have availability when we've needed it. They're overnight boarding is also great! We'd never boarded Baxter before so we were apprehensive the first night but the staff at Sparky's are so great!

No problems at all. Baxter loves it when we pull up to the front door and just can't get inside quickly enough! He loves all the staff there and so we think he likes the women there more than us lol! Great place-highly recommend! Particularly the incredible staff!

The do a great job with managing our pet's time with proper sized play groups spaced with break and rest times. They had be been very informative in how their day has gone. Great place to leave your dog with no worries.

It's a great place to take your dog to take your dog too. Your pet would enjoy it

Staff is awesome and trust worthy! Rates have gone up a little since we've been here, but we know exactly what type of care our dog is getting so it's worth it

While initially excited about all that At Play With Sparky offered, as we were coming from out of town and needed a spot for our doodle to spend some time while we went on some adventures he couldn't join us with, we can't recommend it. When we picked up our dog, he was returned to us frenzied, exhausted, dehydrated and with most of his food we had left.

Almost two days worth of food uneaten. He has a chicken allergy, so he had to eat our food, which means he either didn't eat at all or ate other dogs' food containing chicken. When we got back to our Airbnb he ate and drank like he hadn't in days. He was agitated, nippy and growling for the majority of the rest of the evening. Our dog is a gentle, excited doodle who loves everyone.

He ran from us for hours when we would try to give him pets or interact with him. To see him like this was heartbreaking. The one time we called to check in, the response was "no news is good news." Other places will give you specifics about your dog, but it seemed they paid no attention to our dog at all.

As an animal lover I was thrilled to start work here however my time was short because of poor training and management. The facility is run down and communication between employees is nonexistent, please for your own dogs safety avoid. It's a miracle they've been around as long as they have. Employees will insult dogs behind owners backs as they waste time in the office.

If you do not immediately fit their perfection for the workplace after day one you'll be gone with no chance to improve your performance. With a workplace as toxic as that why would you want your beloved pet anywhere near the place? Ignore all the glowing reviews on Facebook and Google, they trim the bad to make themselves look better.

This was our first time taking our beagle Ichabod to a daycare. We went to Biltmore for the day. It was absolutely wonderful he had the best time. He is 10 years old and very lazy and he actually came back a little dirty and it was great. Definitely recommend! When we come back he will be staying there again.

We called for a last minute accommodation but the staff member we spoke with was able to make our experience smooth and easy. We emailed our dog's vet records over and gave them a heads up on the time we were expecting to arrive. The staff did a great job acclimating our dog to the daycare space once we got there. Upon walking in, another dog acted as a "guide" to introduce our dog to the play area.

When we picked our dog up after about 5 hours, we could tell he was happy from socializing with other dogs and he slept well that night. This business offers a great service at an affordable price. We will definitely use At Play with Sparky the next time we're in Asheville and we need a "babysitter!"

Madiba loves APWSD. He's only been twice but we already bought a day care package! Wonderful & caring staff. They came highly recommended

The telephone and front desk experience gave no cause for concern, but when I toured the indoor area where they kept the dogs it was run down and the staff supervising the dogs were immature and showed no interest in the dogs. Think teenagers on cell phones being paid to scroll Facebook. The facility appeared sanitary, but old and disheveled. Didn't look like there was central air conditioning or heating which could be dangerous in summer or winter. I did not feel comfortable leaving my dog here and would not recommend it.

I been taking my dogs there for years! The first dog I had passed but they took great care of him. The one I have now they do outstanding with cooking his nails and grooming him. They also offer playcare and overnight. My dog loves to see them. Love this place!

I brought my dog here for a trial and decided it was not right for us. They only have outdoor play areas so when they go inside for breaks (every other hour) or because of weather, they are going in cages in a dark, dirty area that smells and is not climate controlled. The building is old and the floor is filthy in the kennel area in a way that seems impossible to clean. They should really update the place. One staff member was helpful but the others seemed young and not so interested in the dogs.

My dog loves going here. She is young and needs tons of exercise, and they make sure she gets it. The first few times I took her, I watched her body language carefully at drop off and pick up, to make sure I could see any hesitation on her part. There was none! She loves the staff there and runs to greet them, then charges up the stairs to get to the play area.

The place isn't fancy, but who cares? Dogs don't notice decor. The staff cares for the dogs, and it shows. I will be boarding my gal in a few days and I know they will treat her well. Yay Sparky's!

Horrible owner.rude and sarcastic. The facility is dirty and dated. More attention seems to be paid to promoting the co-owner's line of puppy leashes and other home sewn items. Never received a sorry.pup lost weight while there and seemed anxious when I visited.

This was our first time boarding any of our animals. We normally have friends/family members help with the care when we are away. But we never had an 11 month old lab mix named Winnie either that has almost endless energy to burn in a day's time; A little too much for those same friends/family members. My husband had a conference in the Asheville area so when doing our research on the Internet, we came upon "Sparky".

Each time we called to ask about their boarding facility including what a typical day would be like for our Winnie, description of the facility, where she would play, vaccinations needed, etc., they were always SO helpful and pleasant. We were nervous at the idea of leaving her there but it did seem to cater to her need of lots of interaction and her love for "hanging out" with other pups. Finally, the day came.

When we arrived, Ann was so very cordial and patient and so sweet to Winnie. We did call a few times to just inquire how she was doing. Ann knew that we had called and she took the time to send us an amazing video of when Winnie was playing in the pool with other dogs; she was having a FABULOUS time. We thought that was just so sweet for Ann to do that.

That took care of any further concerns, for sure. When we came to pick Winnie up on the third day, she was glad to say hello to us but she just turned around and went to the door where she had come from; we think she just wanted to go back where she could play with her new found friends. What a wonderful experience for everyone! Wish we lived in the area; we would bring Winnie often to have a dog's day out. PS Winnie slept for two days after getting home, Proof to us that she had a wonderful time! Great job "At play with Sparky."

Five years after our first review, we still use and trust Sparky's. Our dog always comes out happy and relaxed. An older facility than some but well maintained with excellent staffing. Great place.

I am going to write in all caps why I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking your beloved best friend to "At Play With Sparky" in Asheville, NC. SHELBY IS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN YOUR PET'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING! I have been a rescue mom/foster home for many years and an animal lover/advocate my entire life. This has put me in the company of pet groomers/vets across the nation for decades now.

When I find a kindred spirit, a true helper of animals, someone caring and attentive to the needs of both the pet and owner, I give a huge shout out and thumbs up on the web. All of the above mentioned should be reason enough to check out "At Play With Sparky". If you are hesitant for any reason about taking your baby here I will encourage you to call them.

Have a convo with Shellby. Pay attention as she speaks with you and you will find that she is not just working for a paycheck nor trying to hustle you in to booking an appt. When I called today I was greeted by a warm voice that made proper introductions and then began asking me questions about my pets. I cannot tell you how crucial this step is in determining if the services they provide will be appropriate for your pet.

This gathering of data is the first necessary step to ensure that you and your BFF are on the right track regarding care. I am sad to report that many groomers do not take the time to do this, BUT SHELBY DID! In all my years of working with groomers/vets this has only happened a handful of times. I was so used to the SOP in the grooming industry of my pet's/rescue's needs being handled like "just another appt." that when I found my first groomer who considered their job not just a way to earn a paycheck, but rather a true career, calling and craft that I was instantly educated in how to choose a good groomer for our rescues that are sometimes in need of special services due to neglect and /or abuse.

If you are like me, you want only the best for the ones you love that CANNOT CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES AND DEPEND SOLELY ON YOU AND YOUR GOOD CHOICES IN ORDER TO THRIVE AND FLOURISH IN THEIR LIFETIME. Please be diligent and choose wisely. My choices in the past through ignorance have at times had devastating consequences for both my family and the animals we love, save, foster and find forever homes for.

Please don't let this be you. I can say through personal experience who you take your pet to for care MATTERS. Forgive me for stating what I have learned through education is the obvious to those who innately know. This review is more for pet owners who do not know that there are bad groomers in this world that can hurt your pet AND YOUR WALLET!

And speaking of wallet, I was quoted a very reasonable price for bath, nail trimming, and undercoat furmination by Shelby At Sparky For Play. They only up-charged a few dollars more to furminate. If you have never used a furminator before let me tell you, IT IS INCREDIBLY LABOR INTENSIVE! You get a caring and "tuned in to your pet" staff with affordability.

You can give your BFF the very best care in return for the ONLY TRULY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE you will ever receive in your lifetime. Such a small price to pay for the priceless gift of love, loyalty and devotion that only your pet can give you. Please remember to spay/neuter your pets and rescue when possible. Make a difference every chance you can. "I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being (or creature); let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." ~Etienne de Grellet, Quaker Missionary~

My dog seems to really love coming here for boarding. Whenever I pick her up or drop her off she is in great spirits. The staff is very friendly and knows my dog by name. Most convenient hours I have found anywhere. Great place for doggie day care and boarding!

Wow! I don't even want to give one star to this business. Be very careful if you purchase a day care package. It is absolutely non-refundable (my issue for not reading the fine print). My biggest issues were with the way my blind standard poodle was handled. There is a flight of stairs that the dogs need to come down when you pick them up and even though I repeatedly had to remind them that she is blind, they would leave her at the top of the stairs to fend for herself coming down.

She fell twice before I could get to her. She is blind but has been going to daycare in Colorado since she was born and she is now 4 years old. We never had a problem in our other daycare. Several times the poodles (I have two) came home smelling like poop and often covered in mud. Mostly though it was the way I was spoken to that I take issue with.

I would have understood the policy had it been presented to me when I asked for a refund, but the owner Tara was very unprofessional and argumentative. One thing she said was "Your dogs loved it here, I don't understand what your problem is". Even though she was unwilling to return my money she offered to "gift" it to a friend of ours. So, in the end our friends will receive 8 days of camp and I am grateful for that small concession. My advice would be to check around before you choose At Play With Sparky. We have found a much cleaner place to go with a caring compassionate owner.

These guys are always friendly when you call to start, never had any issue and our dog throughly enjoys her time as she gets extremely excited every time we get out of the car at this place!

Great staff and really good operating hours. My 2 dogs stayed one day while we were on vacation in the area. They seemed to have a really good time and slept great! The staff also worked with me remotely via email to get the reservation set up and to check vaccine records. Overall good experience.

My little siberian husky Lucy had an incredible time here today. We're from out of town and needed a place to keep her for a few hours. The staff was super nice and made my husband and I feel super comfortable leaving her there. She seemed almost sad to leave when we picked her up (but happy to see mommy and daddy of course)! Don't believe the negative reviews. I'm sure accidents happen, but the staff here is great. Some dogs aren't socialized properly and their owners should know better than to put them in this kind of environment!

Do not use! My dog was there one day and contracted a skin staph infection!

Love At Play With Sparky! We had to board our puppy for a few days while we were on vacation -- they took such good care of her AND her nervous new parents! The facilities are great, and the staff really cares about their charges. Our little girl was nervous when we left her, but came home happy and tired. We wouldn't hesitate to keep her here again, or recommend the facility to others.

Yeah. it's pretty good. The staff is nice. They have great operating hours (open early close late). Two different play areas provide options for which social group your dog might fit into best. Kennel free boarding. Absolutely no concerns when I leave my dog there. He always seems happy and tired when I pick him up.