EXPERIENCE THE MUTT HUTT
The Mutt Hutt is a cage-free, homelike, social atmosphere for dogs to come, sit and stay. The Mutt Hutt understands dogs and their need to exercise and socialize. We also understand owners with busy schedules. We offer 2500 square feet of indoor space and 5000 square feet of outdoor green space.

Our facility has everything your dog could ask for and more! The Mutt Hutt staff encourages interaction among dogs of all ages, breeds and sizes. Play keeps a dog's mind active and helps it remain mentally fit. Boredom leads to destructive behaviors such as chewing, digging or barking, and can adversely affect a dog's willingness to obey commands. During your dog's stay at The Mutt Hutt, your dog can expect a day rich with activities and attention and filled with interaction, play as well as necessary nap time. We provide a healthy, fun and nurturing environment for your dog while you are away. Our focus is on constructive, rather than destructive, dog behavior. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring that your pet is well cared for at all times.

The Mutt Hutt provides a safe, clean and socially centered indoor and outdoor green space environment for dogs. Each dog enrolled is sure to receive the proper time and attention he or she needs. We have a strong commitment to ongoing training and education, and maintain a staff of dog lovers and owners who are experts in canine first aid, Red Cross Pet CPR and animal behavior.

To enroll your dog in The Mutt Hutt click here.

We offer "Baby on Board" service for new parents. Feel free to call us from the parking lot and one of our Pack Leaders will be happy to assist getting your dog into TMH or back to your car at the end of the day. Please note your dog(s) must be leashed and controlled so we can remove them from the car safely. Please be patient with us too! It's always helpful to let us know in advance that you will need this service. This is for parents with children 2 years or younger in car seats only.

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS...

Becca Riker, Owner and Director of Operations
I am an active 15 year resident of historic Tremont and the owner of The Mutt Hutt. Animals have been a passion since I was a little girl. I grew up with multiple dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils and whatever the cat brought in. My first dog as college student living on my own was a rescue I named Sirouk. I found her in poor living conditions as a puppy, underweight and hid her in my purse and removed her from the cruelty. After I graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh I left her with my parents and moved ot Cleveland to pursue a career in the art field. Sirouk lived a very active life for 14 years.

After an 8-year career as a graphic designer, I co-owned a dog waste clean up business Happy Tails Pet Services Inc. While working at Happy Tails I began and pet sitting and dog walking in Ohio City, Tremont and the Warehouse District neighborhoods to spend more time with dogs rather than their waste. I fell in love with the idea of spending my days with dogs and pursue a career in dog daycare. While researching the daycare industry I started to visit dog parks around the east coast and during my vacations. I thought it was such a great idea that I wanted to help Cleveland bring a dog park to the area. I worked closely with citizens in my community and the local councilman to establish Cleveland's first dog park through a grassroots group called TREATS. The first dog park in Cleveland is located in Clark Field west of Tremont.

Tremont's Clark Field Dog Park Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

While I was researching traditional kennels for my own dogs when I needed to board them while on vacation and was not satisfied with what was being offered in the area. I wanted my dogs to feel at home which prompted me to start cage-free and staff supervised overnight stays at The Mutt Hutt. In April 2009 after 2 years of rescuing and finding homes for homeless pets through my networks at The Mutt Hutt I formed a board of directors and officially registered a nonprofit rescue called Secondhand Mutts with the state of Ohio. Since its inception we have helped find dozens of otherwise forgotten dogs homes with forever families. Secondhand Mutts operates out of The Mutt Hutt and the staff of the hutt are shining examples of volunteerism. They work countless hours taking special care of the dogs in the adoption program and even give them needed breaks in their own homes. This project has become my pride and joy and the most fulfilling part of taking care of animals in need.

My first two dogs I raised since they were pups are Bacon and Mudd Pie. Bacon is a red Doberman Pinscher who passed away suddenly on March 26, 2010. Mudd Pie is a chocolate Labrador Retriever mix I adopted from the Cuyahoga County Kennel in 1998. She was fighting a brain tumor for two years and passed away on June 7, 2010. In January 2007 I adopted a red Doberman Pinscher from the Ashtabula Animal Protective League and named her Sizzle Lean. Sizzle was a drug house dog and passed away from complications associated with her prior living conditions in May 2009. I have built a website in her memory.

In my home I currently own five dogs and four cats. Shortly before Sizzle died I adopted a fawn Doberman Pinscher I named Crab Cake from Secondhand Mutts. In May 2009 I adopted Buttermilk, a cream and white Doberman Pinscher from Southwest Ohio Doberman Rescue in Cincinnati. In August 2009 a senior Doberman Pinscher was transported from a high kill shelter in Mahoning County to be placed in Secondhand Mutts for adoption. I bet you guessed what happened next. Yes, I snatched him up and proudly named him Jimmy Dean. Shortly after Bacon passed there was a void in my heart for a red dobie so I returned to Cincinnati. In May 2010 I adopted a young 7 month old red Doberman Pinscher I named Falafel. A few months later I was called to the Cuyahoga County Kennel to pull a dog for Secondhand Mutts who's time had run out. While I was there I happened across cage #58 - a beautiful blue male Doberman puppy that I just had to have. I promptly adopted him and named him after my favorite blue cheese soup - Stilton Cheese Soup. This is my Doberman Family:

Back Row: Crabcake, Falafel and Buttermilk
Front Row: Jimmy Dean and Stilton Cheese Soup
Photo Credit: Portraits by Martha

My cats are very special to me. I have a 16 year old gray tabby named Yukon, and two white cats named Rigatoni and Joplin all adopted from the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Recently, while pulling dogs from a high kill shelter in Wooster, Ohio for the Secondhand Mutts program I adopted a deaf, white cat and named her Bowie.

Yukon	Rigatoni	Joplin	Bowie

All in all its a very happy home with my critters. Please read on to learn more about the staff I am so proud of. I look forward to meeting you and your dogs as they come and visit us and their critter friends. As you browse through the rest of the website if there is anything I can help you with personally please don't hesitate to call. You can reach me at 216-621-6888 or email at becca@themutthutt.com.

My business and lifetime of caring for dogs
is dedicated to the fond memory of Bacon and Mudd Pie.
I consider them co-founders of The Mutt Hutt and Secondhand Mutts.
They are truly an inspiration to me and will always be missed.

October 31, 1997 - March 26, 2010	October 13, 1997 - June 7, 2010

Over the last five years my business has received many awards and accolades. These awards would not be possible with out the hard work of my entire staff. I am very lucky to have such a great group of people work for me and stay with my business. In 2008 The Mutt Hutt was awarded by Cleveland Magazine as "Best Pet Daycare". Also in 2008 we received an Angies List Super Service Award. Most recently, during the month of October 2010, Cleveland Magazine readers picked The Mutt Hutt as "Best Pet Daycare" and COSE (Council of Small Enterprise) awarded us with one of the 2010 COSE 10 Under 10 winners. I was very touched to be recognized by Ohio Citizen Action as the Grassroots Champion Award recipient at their 35th Anniversary celebration. Most recently we were awarded with the 2011 "Best Pet Daycare" by Cleveland Magazine.

More of Becca's beloved and missed four-legged friends who crossed the Rainbow Bridge:

Sizzle Lean	Merekesh	Cannoli	Turkey Gravy