Many essential workers are required to be away from home for long hours during the pandemic and that means their four-legged friends are left alone.

One local doggy daycare is working to change that.

Joe Giorgione of Rochester arrives at Green Valley K9 to drop off his rescue pup – Chi Chi – as he heads to his job as an essential worker.

Chi Chi will spend his day with dozens of other dogs whose owners are also essential workers.

Green Valley K9 in Henrietta has strict safety protocols in effect.  

“We allow one dog and client in the lobby at a time,” said Josh Mueller, head of operations for Green Valley K9. “We also have hand sanitizer inside, and the clients come in, they are restricted to where they can be we have a six-foot protocol as well. Our staff is provided with masks and gloves and other PPE.” 

“They help us through these hard times, and to know that we have people like Josh and the staff here at GVK9 does help us to do the job, and it's no different during 9/11 or Katrina when some of us had to deploy, those folks were confident knowing that their family and their four-legged family members were being good take care of your heart swells,” said Joe Giorgione of Rochester.

Not a bad way to pass the time for these dogs.  They can swim, relax and enjoy time outside.  The facility opens a 6 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. with staff on-site 24/7. Clients pay for daycare and boarding if needed.

“Pets are our family. They do give us emotional support. They help us through these hard times, and to know that we have people like Josh and the staff here at GVK9 does help us to do the job,” said Giorgione.

Green Valley K9 — watching over the essential friends of our essential workers.