Local dog daycare, pooch-passionate owner star in a new series

By her own admission, Elise Vincentini doesn't care how dirty or smelly she gets, as long as her customers are happy. "I'm sure people think I'm crazy, but I'm OK with that," she says with a shrug.

Vincentini's brand of craziness is well-known to her clients in Seattle, but soon people all over the country will see it. Her business, the Downtown Dog Lounge, is the setting for a weekly series, "Adventures in Doggie Daycare," beginning April 7 on WE, the Women's Entertainment channel.

Calling Vincentini's passion for dogs "over the top" is an understatement.

In the first episode, she and her staffers arrange a wedding photo shoot, complete with canine bride and groom outfits, for regulars Mable and Mosley, whose human counterparts were getting married the next day. The dog's owners had hoped the pets could attend the actual ceremony, but when the venue nixed the idea, Vincentini decided to bring the wedding atmosphere to the dogs.

"We believe in pampering the pooch. In a big way," says Vincentini. "If you're not pampered, what the hell?"

Viewers will also meet the timid mauzer, Molly, making her first visit to the day care, and the rambunctious vizsla, Sancho, whose attorney owner spends some $10,000 a year on him.

Subsequent episodes show the ins and outs of training and grooming — painted nails, herbal ear washes and all — and what can happen when you take a dozen energetic dogs on a camping trip and nature supplies an overnight rainstorm.

At the center of all this is Vincentini, 40, a New Jersey native who until five years ago was on a completely different career path, living in Seattle but traveling as a seafood-marketing rep to Denver, Atlanta, New York — even as far away as Chile, Scotland and Thailand.

Her weimaraner, Lily, who spent a lot of time in boarding facilities, developed a serious case of bloat, which can come from eating too fast or exercising too soon after eating.

"She went into emergency surgery, and the vet said, 'You'll be lucky if she pulls through.' I was on the floor of the vet's office in tears, saying, 'If she makes it through this, I'm going to change everything.' "

Vincentini kept her vow, opening her first dog-care spot the following year. Now her two locations, Belltown and Elliott Way, host more than 150 dogs a day, and a Capitol Hill site opening next month will accommodate another 50.

The eight-episode series, shot last summer and fall, is the work of Seattle-based Screaming Flea Productions, which visited several dog-care facilities and chose the Downtown Dog Lounge for its atmosphere and high-energy staff. If the show clicks with viewers, further seasons are likely.

On WE, the show will be the second half of a doggie double-header, following the 9 p.m. "America's Cutest Puppies."

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com