Escape to the Country, a kennel in Foothills County, has become famous thanks to its unique “Pup Bus.”
Located between Black Diamond and Okotoks, this special dog boarding facility has become a crowd favourite among dog owners.
The Pup Bus, an old school bus transformed into a dog-friendly ride, has become a viral sensation. One video has reached over 26 million views.
“It just started off with one video,” said Emma Godley, the owner of Escape to the Country.
The idea for the Pup Bus came from the kennel’s adventure walks, where dogs were driven around in staff cars.
Godley wanted to make these trips more exciting and comfortable. Inspired by a similar service in Alaska, she decided to buy an old school bus and fix it up.
“I went out and bought an old school bus, re-purposed it, and the wrap cost me more than the bus and all of the mechanical stuff, too,” said Godley.
The cost was worth it. The Pup Bus began its fun journeys in May 2023, after a few months of preparation to bring it up to sniff for the dogs.
“It was mostly a convenience thing for us, and we thought, ‘Oh, that’s kind of cute,’” Godley says.
Initially, they only shared the Pup Bus videos on Facebook for their local clients. Soon, Katie Michailuck, a staff member who is social media savvy, suggested that they try posting on Instagram.
One of the videos went viral, attracting attention from media outlets like AccuWeather and a Calgary radio station, XL 103.
Dogs Go Stir Crazy Too
Every Wednesday in Diamond Valley and Thursday in Okotoks, the bus picks up up to 16 to 18 dogs and takes them on a scenic drive through Foothills County.
The ride ends with an hour of playtime at the off-leash Little Creek Private Dog Park. Godley calls this adventure a “sniffari,” where dogs can explore the outdoors, sniff around, and enjoy water and nature.
“The dogs definitely, if they’ve been here for a while, it’s nice for them to have that different sensory experience,” she explained.
A simple bus ride can enrich the lives of the pups. Psychology Today says over 40 percent of dog owners do not walk their dogs regularly.
Almost 60 percent of dog-walking pet owners admitted to skipping walks each week. The most common reason was bad weather, followed by work pressure.
There are several reasons why a pet owner might skip their daily walk with their dog. However, this simple choice can have a big impact on a dog.
Just like us, dogs need physical activity and mental stimulation to stay healthy. Otherwise, dogs seek stimulation in other ways, often including negative behaviours like excessive barking and aggression.
Small World For Us, Big World For Them
Captive and pet animals often don’t get to choose their activities or experiences. They are usually just given things to do rather than having control over their own choices.
For some social animals, like dogs, being alone for a long time can make them feel bored.
Signs that an animal is bored include being sleepy most of the time, suddenly becoming restless, avoiding things, and looking for new sensations.
When captive animals do not get enough sensory or mental stimulation—like exercise, exploring, or learning—their brain pathways can weaken, and their brains may even shrink in size.
Some of these boredom behaviours have been seen in dogs that do not get enough physical or mental activities.
Giving dogs more things to think about and new environments to explore can improve their quality of life, and unusual or harmful behaviours might decrease.
We can get in our cars and visit our friends if we are bored. Pets don’t have that freedom.
If you were stuck in the same four walls of your house, wouldn’t you go crazy? Just look at how the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown negatively affected people’s mental health.
Data from the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics found that over half of all university students reported worsening mental health and well-being caused by “prison-like, quarantine conditions” in 2020.
While Escape to the Country doesn’t give pups the freedom to choose their destination by putting them behind the wheel, it gives them a chance to explore the world.
Like A Five Star Resort
Escape to the Country offers more than just the Pup Bus. They also have doggie daycare, adventure walks, and a pet food delivery service.
The facility is designed with comfort in mind, featuring heated floors for winter, air conditioning for summer, and large play areas both inside and outside.
Cats are treated just as well, living in spacious suites with climbing trees and plenty of natural light.
“We’ve got great clients; they want the best for their animal, the best care for their animal,” said Godley.
The kennel is known for its high standards. It allows dogs out four to six times a day under supervision.
“For the dogs, if they’re tired and they’ve been stimulated, then it’s nap time. It doesn’t have to be a barky kennel; it’s usually nice and quiet,” she adds.
Escape to the Country has grown significantly since opening in 2011. It started small, with just three kennels in a garage, but now it’s much bigger.
Recently, they expanded again to make more room for dogs and cats. They also plan new additions like an outdoor “catio” (a cat patio) and a bigger play area for dogs.
Godley’s love for animals shows in everything she does. She grew up on a farm and has always been around animals. Her passion drives her to keep finding new ways to improve her kennel.
She finds the experience to be “very rewarding,” especially when she sees shy dogs and their nervous owners grow more confident over time.
Escape to the Country is more than just a place for pets to stay. It’s a community where dogs and cats are professionally cared for and given the enrichment they need to stay healthy.
