Dog training business to open in former Pampered Pets storefront

Nov. 24, 2021 | Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW – The East Longmeadow Planning Board approved a special permit for a new business, K9 & Pets Dog Training, at 576 North Main St., a storefront with a controversial history.

The last business to operate there, a dog daycare called Pampered Pets, was shut down after a dog in its care was mauled to death. The Planning Board had the daycare’s special permit revoked after determining the business did not supply adequate staffing to manage the dogs.

K9 & Pets Dog Training owner Sergio Nieves laid out his qualifications to the board. After being a dog trainer and animal officer in Puerto Rico, Nieves moved to Massachusetts in 2017 and began running a mobile dog training business that focuses on obedience. In addition to training dogs in people’s homes, Nieves has worked with the state police to provide K9 unit training. He told the board that he is one of only five dog trainers in New England certified to train using a bite suit. Nieves is certified in canine CPR and has worked as a veterinary technician.

Nieves is now expanding his dog training business to include group training sessions in the evening and a training camp in which people can drop off their dogs and he will work with them one at a time throughout the day. The business will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nieves will have limited retail sales of pet-related supplies.

“I think you’re much more qualified than the previous occupant of the site,” Planning Board Vice-Chair George Kingston told Nieves.
Chair Russell Denver asked about the ratio of trainers to dogs. Nieves said he will have between three and five staff members and he will personally train them. He assured Denver that he does not plan to have the dogs together during the daytime training camp and that the training will be one-on-one.

While Nieves is focusing on training for now, he said he may consider expanding to a daycare model in the future. He estimated there would be between two and five dogs per person in that situation, although Planning Board member Cassandra Cerasuolo suggested setting the ratio based on Ollie’s Law, the bill in the legislature that was created in response to the dog who was killed at Pampered Pets. If signed into law, it will set staffing numbers for dog daycares.

Site plan waivers were also issued for three businesses. Burgess, Shultz & Robb is an accounting firm that will be located at 2 Center Sq.

Cali Med Spa will offer aesthetic medical treatments at 294 North Main St. The business will have between three and four staff members and will be open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The owners expect 10 to 15 clients per day.

Cheeky Clover, a craft retail company, was approved for a home office and small amount of in-home storage. As an office only, the business will sell its products at craft fairs and online.

The board released Emmanuel Marino and Eric Chapelle from their performance bond of $74,426 for the Josie Lane subdivision off Pease Street after the Department of Public Works stated it had no concerns.

Share this: