Founded by animal enthusiast and Newport native Maia Chrupcala, The Wiggle Room emerged from a lifelong love for animals.
After dedicating years to social services, she needed a career shift – one that would blend her commitment to family support with her passion for animal care.
The U.S. pet day care market is now valued at $1.7 billion, and is projected to reach $3.9 billion by 2034, growing 8.6% annually, according to an April Global Market Insights report.
Seeing the growing trend of day cares in larger cities, Chrupcala began to explore the possibility of opening her own facility.
“I began to think about what it would be like to establish one myself. And two years later, I took the leap,” she said, signing a lease on West Main Road.
The former veterinary technician at the Newport Animal Hospital officially opened The Wiggle Room in 2010, naming it after her cherished English bulldog, Lola, affectionately known as “Wiggle Butt.”
Offering training, cage-free day care and grooming, the business has maintained relationships with some clients from day one, joining in their family sorrows after the loss of beloved pets and celebrating the arrival of their new puppy.
Wiggle Room offers classes and training focused on learning positive reinforcement methods, or staying calm in busy environments such as in crowds, around other dogs or traffic.
Another sought-after class, currently with a waiting list, is Yoga with Your Dog, a one-hour session led by a local professional yoga instructor.
However, not all dogs are well-suited for group play. To assess a dog’s compatibility, a Temperament Evaluation is required to determine if your dog meets the criteria for day care.
A psychology graduate from the University of Rhode Island, Chrupcala started a nonprofit called Northbound Pound Puppies in 2013, which has saved more than 700 dogs from Alabama in six years. Some of those dogs attended The Wiggle Room.
The facility has also become a haven for military families, which often require care for their pets during extended hours away due to temporary assignments, as well as for second-home buyers who commute between cities.
Like any business, The Wiggle Room faces its own set of challenges, such as the difficulty of finding the right pricing amid rising operational costs, including minimum-wage increases and inflation.
“I feel like I’ve had to raise prices more frequently than I used to,” Chrupcala said. “I try to keep our prices as competitive as possible.”
The Wiggle Room welcomes all breeds, such as the 200-pound Newfoundland that takes four hours to groom.
Despite the impact of trends such as remote work and third-party services like Rover, demand for Chrupcala’s services remains strong.
“Dogs still have boundless energy,” Chrupcala said. “There is still the necessity for you to wear them out.”
And after 15 years, she still enjoys the creativity that comes with catering to dog owners’ unique preferences.
“We use hair dye on some dogs. And we have a Pekingese who sports an orange and red ombré that looks like a mermaid tail,” she said. “One of our other clients has a dog with a blue mohawk.”
OWNER: Maia Chrupcala
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Dog day care and grooming
LOCATION: 741 West Main Road, Middletown
EMPLOYEES: Seven
YEAR FOUNDED: 2010
ANNUAL REVENUE: WND
