According to public filings, Dogdrop, the membership-based dog daycare concept founded by entrepreneur Shaina Denny, is preparing to expand with a new location planned for the Mueller neighborhood at 2009 Aldrich Street. While an official opening date has not yet been confirmed, franchise owners Josue and Diego Andonie told What Now Austin that the team is hoping to welcome customers later this year, pending permits.
“We’re still working on getting the building permits from the city. We’re hoping to open in August, but I don’t think we’ll be able to do that. Maybe in September, hopefully,” Andonie told What Now Austin.
According to the franchise owners, Austin’s strong pet culture made it a natural fit for the brand. “Austin is a very dog-friendly community, and there are a lot of dogs here. Everyone really cares about their dogs, so we thought this was going to be a great place for Dogdrop,” they explained. The owners also highlighted Mueller’s active, walkable environment, noting its mix of apartment buildings, restaurants, retail, and park space. They added that the neighborhood’s demographics closely match Dogdrop’s core customer base.
Josue and Diego Andonie also shared that they discovered Dogdrop while exploring franchise opportunities. “We bought a magazine about franchises and different types of businesses. We were looking for something to open together, and we both really like dogs,” they told What Now Austin.
After evaluating several concepts, they were drawn to Dogdrop’s system and platform. “We thought Dogdrop was the perfect daycare for us because they have a great system and are very flexible when it comes to members. We just thought it was the best option in the market,” they said.
Dogdrop founder Shaina Denny explained that the company operates on a membership-based model designed for flexibility, allowing pet parents to drop off dogs for as little as one hour or for full-day care without traditional booking requirements. Once enrolled, members can also access multiple Dogdrop locations.
She also emphasized the company’s focus on enrichment-based care rather than traditional kennel-style boarding. “We are an enrichment-focused dog daycare. Throughout the day, we do brain puzzles, snuffle mats, games, agility… and we also rest, with lights out and calming music,” Denny told What Now Austin.
Dogdrop was originally founded after Denny struggled to find a safe, convenient daycare option for her own dog, noting that many facilities were large, inconveniently located, or lacked individualized attention. That experience informed the brand’s emphasis on smaller facilities, controlled dog-to-staff ratios, and safety protocols such as vaccination requirements and behavioral assessments.
Denny also highlighted broader trends driving expansion, pointing to rising demand for pet wellness and enrichment services. She noted that the pet care industry often follows human wellness trends with a lag, including increased attention to nutrition, socialization, and mental health.
“The pet care market is typically ten-plus years behind the human market,” she said, adding that trends such as organic food, wellness, and enrichment are increasingly shaping pet services. Taking this into account, she expects continued growth in demand for dog daycare services as pet owners increasingly treat animals as family members. “We just want the best for our dogs,” she said, describing Dogdrop’s mission as building trust and providing consistent, high-quality care in a structured environment.
The company’s local franchise model allows owners like Josue and Diego Andonie to operate as community-based operators while benefiting from centralized brand support. “We’re just always really proud of our local owners,” she said.
Dogdrop’s expansion into Mueller reflects both rising demand in East Austin and broader plans for continued growth in the city’s pet care market, with additional locations expected to follow.
For more information, follow Dogdrop on Instagram and Facebook.
