Pet Transportation Arrives in Lakewood

Dawn Manuelle began scouting out the idea of “doggie transport” when she recently needed help getting her yorkipoo, Jake, home from dog daycare.

She found one service on the East Side, but it's a limousine service for canines — a little more than she’d hoped for and a little too big for Jake.

The Lakewood resident learned that the service she was seeking really didn’t exist.

So, she started it. 

Manuelle recently launched Sit, Stay. Ride!, a pet transportation service that shuttles pooches (and felines) to and from , a Lakewood dog daycare center on W. 117th Street.

She has a full-time job as a paralegal at a law firm, but this is more of her passion, she said.

“The whole dog thing is new to me,” Manuelle said. “I never realized before Jake that you could become attached to your dog. That’s good because I really understand my customers.”

Sit, Stay. Ride! offers morning pickup, between 6:30 and 8:30, as well as an evening service from 5:30 to 8.

Manuelle buckles up the smaller dogs, and lets the larger ones sprawl across the backseat of her car (she’s looking to upgrade to an SUV). Cats will usually be caged.

She’s even been trained and certified in the American Red Cross cat and dog first aid program.

Manuelle sends a text message to her customers when she arrives at the daycare.

“They seem to like that,” she said. “It gives a sense of relief.” 

She charges $15 for round-trip service — pickup in the morning and evening delivery or $7.50 for a one-way trip. And for additional pets, it’s $5 for each one.

“One thing that I’ve found interesting is that every dog knows its street,” she said. “They will be resting in the back seat until we get close to home. Then, they perk up.”

Most of her customers live in Lakewood, but there are some outside the city — as far away as North Olmsted.

“A dog’s favorite question is ‘wanna’ go for a ride?,” she said. “So the dogs seem to like it.” 

For more information call 216-264-9433.