Most franchise brands don’t start with a growth plan. They start with a moment that proves something works. As Hounds Town reaches 100 locations nationwide, its story began with one moment that changed everything.
In 2013, Jackie Bondanza walked into a Hounds Town location with her dog Maggie, after being told by others that her dog wasn’t a fit for daycare. Too aggressive. Too difficult. Too risky. She’d heard it all.
Exploring other options, she found another concept and found Michael Gould at Hounds Town. As a former law enforcement K-9 expert, he spent decades working with dogs that others misunderstood. He evaluated Maggie. And within minutes, he saw something different. There was nothing wrong with Maggie— the issue was how she was being managed.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Mike’s approach wasn’t based on opinion. It was built on structure, experience, and a deep understanding of canine behavior. He integrated Maggie into a controlled pack environment. Shortly after, Jackie received a video: Maggie—playing, social, and thriving.
That moment changed everything. Not just for Maggie. But by sparking a vision of expansion to bring this to as many people as possible.
And ultimately, for what Hounds Town would become—a growing franchise system serving communities across the country.
What Jackie and Mike Built Behind the Scenes
After that experience, Jackie saw the bigger picture: If this worked for Maggie, it could work for all dogs—and their owners.
That realization became the foundation of Hounds Town’s vision.
Together, Jackie and Mike didn’t just grow a brand; they built a scalable franchise system.
A system based on:
- Structured dog management rooted in canine psychology
- Simple, repeatable operations
- A service model driven by routine, recurring demand
- A community-based approach that builds customer loyalty
This wasn’t about adding complexity. It was about removing it and building
something operators could actually execute.
From One Location to a Scalable Franchise Model
Before franchising, the proprietary dog management model was already proven. Mike had been operating successfully since 2001. That operational foundation became the blueprint.
From there, the focus shifted to:
- Refining the playbook
- Testing across markets
- Building infrastructure to support franchisees
- Creating a system that works beyond the founders
For Hounds Town, the expertise came first, and franchising came second. That approach helped create the foundation for a franchise model that could grow across multiple markets.
Why This Opportunity Resonates with the Right Franchise Investors
The pet industry is one of the most stable and emotionally driven categories in the U.S., with over $151 billion in annual spend. Demand is not the challenge. Execution is. Hounds Town is designed around that reality. For prospective franchisees, that means:
- A proven model that has been successfully replicated across 24 states and 100 locations
- Recurring revenue driven by ongoing pet care needs
- Operational simplicity compared to many service businesses
- A support system built from real-world experience
This is about stepping into a system that’s already working, based on real-world experience running locations.
A Mission That Drives Long-Term Growth
At its core, Hounds Town is built on a simple belief: every dog deserves to be part of a pack. That shows up in all-day inclusive daycare environments, partnerships with shelters and rescues, and deep community integration at the local level. For franchisees, that creates something more durable than transactions. It builds trust—and trust is what drives the long-term, sustainable growth that has helped Hounds Town expand to 100 locations nationwide.
What This Means If You’re Exploring Franchise Ownership
Stories like Maggie’s matter. But not just because they’re emotional but because they answer the real questions serious franchise investors ask:
- Is the model proven?
- Can it scale beyond the founders?
- Is there real demand behind it?
- Is there a system in place or just an idea?
Hounds Town didn’t grow to 100 locations by chance. It grew because Jackie and Mike built something that works and made it replicable across the system. That moment in 2013 didn’t just change one dog’s life. It created a blueprint. One that continues to scale: one location, one community, one operator at a time.
Explore Your Future with Hounds Town
If you want to understand where this all started—and what it could look like in your market, read more about Hounds Town.