Unleashed: how a doggie day care was perfect fit for employee and employer

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This is a story about hope, opportunity and a chihuahua named Bruiser. It takes place at Cha Cha's Doggie Daycare in East Sacramento, where 34-year-old Ashley Robertson has been working since October of 2020.

"I'm usually more of a cat person," she said, but then quickly added, "but I like dogs just as much."

Ashley Robertson with Bruiser, her favorite dog at Cha Cha's Doggie Daycare

Robertson has autism, and her job at Cha Cha's is supported by Progressive Employment Concepts, which assists businesses that hire people with developmental disabilities. Progressive is a partner of the Northern California Business Advisory Council, part of the Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the UC Davis MIND Institute. The collaboration introduces business to qualified applicants who have disabilities, which increases diversity, equity and inclusion at regional workplaces. Job options for people with developmental disabilities are very limited. So, the Business Advisory Council acts as a bridge between employers and the agencies that can provide support to businesses through the onboarding and training process.

Cha Cha's owner, Desalene Jones, was moved to contact the MIND Institute when she noticed that an after-school center next door, where kids with autism used to gather, closed due to the pandemic.

"I wanted to know how I could help; how I could be the change," she said. The Business Advisory Council discussed her vision and connected her with Progressive Employment Concepts, and they introduced Robertson as a possible hire.

But working at a doggie daycare isn't for everyone, Jones warned. "The dogs are loose here and running around and it's different from a lot of typical kennels, when you have 30 dogs jumping on you. Ashley walked through and was interested, and it seemed like a good match."

And it has been. Robertson now works 16 hours a week.

A great match

On a recent workday, Robertson described her duties at Cha Cha's, while nuzzling her favorite dog at the daycare.

Cha Cha's owner Desalene Jones (left) and Ashley Robertson feed the dogs a snack

"I like this little chihuahua named Bruiser because he's really sweet," she explained, in between cuddles. "I like to play with the dogs and I also like to do nap time with them. They'll lay down in whatever space they can find, and I usually sit with them. I also do leash work, feed the dogs their lunches and I also often clean up their messes," Robertson said.

Of course, that comes with the territory at a place whose website proudly proclaims #MustLovePoop.

"If you want to cuddle with a dog, at some point you're going to wash a wall. Even if you're not in this industry, if you want to cuddle with a dog, you're picking up some poop, so they go hand in hand," laughed Jones.

As part of the arrangement with Progressive Employment Concepts, Robertson makes a regular wage and has a job coach, Marlene Mangabat, who joins her at work part of the time. Cha Cha's also receives financial assistance while Ashley is being trained. The goal is to gradually decrease Mangabat's role until she's not needed.

"One of the biggest rewards of being a job coach is to see the changes," said Mangabat. "With Ashely, we were worried about her learning the dogs' names, but she learned them quickly and then was able to give them commands, so just to see her improvement, it's like --'wow!' -- you can see the confidence growing."

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