FARGO – Rocket Dogs K9 Aquatics and Wellness Center is closing its doors.
Owner Julie Saatoff made the announcement in a Facebook message posted Tuesday, Jan. 25.
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart, that due to no fault of mine or Rocket Dogs, I am being forced to close my doors. Wire Properties has sold the building. I have to be out by April 1, 2022,” Saatoff wrote.
The last day to be open for Rocket Dogs at 3320 39th St. S., will be March 19.
“The new owner wants me out,” Saatoff said in a telephone interview Wednesday, Jan. 26.
She said she’s had people reach out to her “about possibly reopening somewhere else,” but she doesn’t have the money to tear down and move her dock, pools, and other equipment, including a $40,000 dehumidifier, to another location.
She is unsure of trying to raise money through a GoFundMe appeal, but the biggest obstacle she sees is finding a building capable of holding the business in a short amount of time.
“The prices are up so astronomically high,” Saatoff said.
“I’m looking into all my options, but I had to put it out there” to my customers, she said. “It’s breaking my heart, so what do you do?”
Forum File Photo / Michael Vosburg
Saatoff said many messages of support and condolences have come in from those concerned and saddened about the coming closing.
“I didn’t realize I’d have such an outpouring of support,” Saatoff said.
Rocket Dogs is an aquatics center for dogs, offering dock jumping, swimming, rehabilitation, weight loss and dog bathing stations.
Saatoff had nearly completed putting together the doggie diving haven in December 2019 when she first met with a Forum reporter and photographer. The proud Army veteran planned to open to the general public in January 2020.
She was all in on the venture, cashing in her 401K retirement account and drawing on other assets to raise the funds to get the business off the ground.
“It’s a lot of fun. I’m in heaven. I can load up my dogs at 9 o’clock and go to work,” Saatoff said at the time. “I’m excited. I’m just so excited.”
Fast forward to today.
While she still has hope something can be done to save her business, she is fielding questions from people interested in buying Rocket Dogs’ equipment.
“It started out as my dream, and is going to end up as my nightmare,” Saatoff said.
In her Facebook post, she wrote of the sadness and heartbreak she felt, while thanking those that had visited her business.
“I am truly grateful for all the joy and happiness Rocket Dogs brought to so many dogs and their families and all I have met through this journey,” Saatoff wrote. “I personally will miss all of you.”
