The club is bumping on a warm, mid-week spring evening in Los Angeles.
Not the Hollywood dance club, not the beach, not the country club. I am talking about a dog park in Santa Monica, California that is a members-only club.
A private dog park where members pay $80 per month for a clean environment with safety requirements and protections for dogs is also a social club for dog owners. There are also human amenities, such as park monitors and pristine turf, that are available to keep the peace among dogs. There are free events, infused water, lint rollers and poo bags, comfortable lounge areas, cafe lights, and of course, a bar.
"There's something magical about taking a dog that had a horrible unlucky past, they get adopted, and they immediately get to spend the rest of their life in a private members dog park [...] That's a happy ending."
I visited on an idyllic Wednesday evening. Dog owners sipped from plastic glasses of wine, beer, and hard kombucha. Their dogs rough-and-tumbled to their happy hearts in the center, while they talked and laughed around the perimeter.
Isabel Washington, a consultant, said that she had spent five hours here before. I brought a bunch of friends and we all were here.
Foreground: Play time for pooches. Background: Play time for humans, AKA the bar. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
Dog Ppl opened in September of 2021. Alexander Esguerra told me that they already have over 900 members, and that they were closing memberships this week to make sure the density of attendees remains safe. Anyone could sign up for a membership. New members will have to submit an application explaining why they want to be a part of the community.
Sometimes people refer to us as the Soho House for dogs, and other times that is met with praise. This place brings joy to your life. It makes your dog happy.
Dog Ppl has a partnership with the Soho House, which is an exclusive entertainment members club. The discounted memberships to Dog Ppl are part of the partnership. The idea that dogs can help people meet each other in a way that a humans-only club just can is what Soho House is interested in.
Dog Ppl members Isabel Washington and Christopher Luna, with dogs Charlie and Layla. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
Dog Ppl member Romina Puga with dog Boots. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
Five years ago, Esguerra and Underwood met at a dog park in downtown LA, where they got to know each other. They felt that it was a bad place to live in. They came up with the idea for Dog Ppl. There are private dog parks all over the country, from New York City to Kansas City and beyond. Dog Ppl focuses on hygiene and human creature comforts, which they say is a more elevated experience than clubs in other cities. The factors meant to elevate the experience include readily available dog poo bags, frequent spray-down to fight doggy debris, and heavy cleanings by janitorial staff after hours. Those efforts are a big draw for members.
Romina Puga, a writer and TV host, and dog mom of border, joined Dog Ppl because it was a clean park with internet where she could watch her dog but also work. Puga has multiple other dog parks that are close to her house, but they are basically dirt and filthy. Puga goes to Dog Ppl in order to give Boots exercise and herself an excuse to get out of the house, and she describes the entrance of Dog Ppl into her life as a gift.
The lounge chairs are, apparently, for everyone. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
That clean and comfortable elevated experience comes with a price tag not everyone can afford. The parking lot costs and the $9 beers don't come free. When we checked out Dog Ppl for the first time, my sister felt there was a bit of a vibe of keeping your poor dog off my rich dog.
Esguerra says the dues reflect the costs to maintain the environment and pay staff, not a desire to keep anyone out. While members are limited to bringing three dogs, they can bring as many friends as they want.
Esguerra said that membership clubs have a negative connotation for people who feel they can't afford them. We mean the dogs.
Dog Ppl is a business trying to grow and make money like any other, and the human amenities are a big reason a person might shell out $80/month for membership.
Spring events include an Earth Day talk and a workout class. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
Mimosas and dogs? Yes please. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
It is understandable that the high price might make people feel uneasy. Status symbols and wealth signifiers have a long history with dogs. Lower-income areas have less public dog parks than wealthier ones. Dog Ppl is an extension of that pre-existing privilege, and paying for something that is already a somewhat exclusive public good makes it worse.
Julie Urbanik, an author and researcher who studies pets and society, said that she thinks that increasing economic privilege is being displayed through pets. Why are you attacking me?
Santa Monica, where Dog Ppl is located, already has a large cluster of dog parks. Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable
Dog Ppl is taking precautions that may support the idea of a private dog park, or at least the parts of it that are meant to serve the dogs. Dr. Hunter Finn, a vet with a large social media following, has spoken out about the dangers of dog parks. Dog Ppl has put in place a number of things that are positive for owners who wish to protect their pets.
Finn likes the idea of a dog park that is not open to the public.
Hand sanitizer, poo bags, and a lint roller come on every table at Dog Ppl. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
Melya Kaplan, the founder of Santa Monica-based non-profit Voice for the Animals, sees the spaying and neutering requirement as a boon. She is not crazy about the entrance fees for the people and dogs they might exclude, but hopes Dog Ppl will use its success to give back to the rescue community.
Dog Ppl works with dog adoption agencies to connect them with club members. They are working with rescue organizations to hold adoption events at the park. Dog Ppl is working on a partnership that would allow people who adopt from the rescue to get free or discounted park memberships.
Esguerra said that taking a dog that had a horrible unlucky past, and giving them a home, and then spending the rest of their life in a dog park, is something that is magical.
There's no playing fetch at Dog Ppl (toys can cause fights to break out, says Esguerra), but dog piles are most definitely allowed. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
While my own rescue mutt, a terrier-German shepherd mix named Meerie, ran around Dog Ppl for the first time during her trial visit to make sure she was well-behaved enough to become a member, I was strangely nervous. Would Meerie pass the test? Esguerra asked if we would be allowed the keys to the community of people who put their dogs first.
It is definitely a privilege to put your dog first, and just because you can't afford a private dog park doesn't mean you don't love and care for your dog as much as someone who can. The existence of Dog Ppl is proof of what the public sector lacks, more clean, accessible dog parks in zip codes of every income level.
Companion animals are essential components to families in this day and age.
I joked with my friends that I was already having trouble foregoing private school for the ideals of a public education when I was considering signing up for Dog Ppl. With twinkle lights so inviting, turf so clean, free wi-fi, and nary a whiff of dog poo on the air, who can resist? Especially if you are a dog person.
Members-only clubs are really going to the dogs. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
All Rights Reserved © 2024
