We love Sparky! They have taken such good care of our dog Bailey for years and were there for the pups during Helene.

The dogs are in separate kennels for most of the day. It is a prison with one hour in the yard

We started bringing our girl, Daisy, to Sparky's when she was about three years old, just after we became a forever family. Nine years later she still goes to Sparky's for play care and an occasional overnight stay. The staff is great and Ann is practically a member of our family! To us it is more important to know Daisy is loved, cared for, and gets lots of individual attention than sending her to a doggy spa or slick new facility. Sparky's has heart and soul. read more

No Ac in the summer time where the dogs rest and sleep, and no heat in the winter. Place is unsanitary and run down. The schedule for the dogs here is divided into groups depending on how many are there. Sometimes there would be about 30 big dogs... that mades about 3 play groups. Well some dogs would be stuck in a run/crate for longer than 3 hours because the "enemy lists" would completely disrupt the rotations. Super unorganized, there shouldnt even be an enemy lists at a daycare. Just saying because i dont feel like people should pay to have their dogs stay in a crate for 3 + hours read more

I brought my dog here for a trial and decided it was not right for us. They only have outdoor play areas so when they go inside for breaks (every other hour) or because of weather, they are going in cages in a dark, dirty area that smells and is not climate controlled. The building is old and the floor is filthy in the kennel area in a way that seems impossible to clean. They should really update the place. One staff member was helpful but the others seemed young and not so interested in the dogs. read more

After bringing my dog here for over a year and spending a lot of money, I find out that my dog was kept in a kennel for the whole day. Instead of being told there was an issue (which I find hard to believe because my dog is around other dogs on a daily basis when I take him to work with me) the facility continued to take my money for "playtime" services. The inside is dirty and not climate controlled- read more

The telephone and front desk experience gave no cause for concern, but when I toured the indoor area where they kept the dogs it was run down and the staff supervising the dogs were immature and showed no interest in the dogs. Think teenagers on cell phones being paid to scroll Facebook. The facility appeared sanitary, but old and disheveled. Didn't look like there was central air conditioning or heating which could be dangerous in summer or winter. I did not feel comfortable leaving my dog here and would not recommend it. read more

Horrible owner...rude and sarcastic. The facility is dirty and dated. More attention seems to be paid to promoting the co-owner's line of puppy leashes and other home sewn items. Never received a sorry...pup lost weight while there and seemed anxious when I visited. read more

As I pulled up to the building I got a bad feeling. Not only is it run down on the outside but inside is even worse.

Great staff and really good operating hours. My 2 dogs stayed one day while we were on vacation in the area. They seemed to have a really good time and slept great! The staff also worked with me remotely via email to get the reservation set up and to check vaccine records. Overall good experience. read more

My dog loves boarding here! Every time I pick her up after a weekend she is tired and happy.

I had taken my lab mix there several times, and he was seeming less and less eager to even get out of the car. The last straw was when I picked him up after a visit, and it looked like there was mud on his ear. He was VERY eager to leave. It wasn't until I got home that I could see his ear had a puncture wound clear through. The 'mud' was clotted blood. That he had been attacked, and that no one there mentioned this to me, confirmed we'd never go there again. read more

My dog loves going here. She is young and needs tons of exercise, and they make sure she gets it. The first few times I took her, I watched her body language carefully at drop off and pick up, to make sure I could see any hesitation on her part. There was none! She loves the staff there and runs to greet them, then charges up the stairs to get to the play area. The place isn't fancy, but who cares? Dogs don't notice decor. The staff cares for the dogs, and it shows. I will be boarding my gal in a few days and I know they will treat her well. Yay Sparky's! read more

I used Sparky's because of the hours and location, but regret the decision. The first time, his pads were raw and I just thought he must have been playing in the pen. (They have concrete bottom pens in the back.) The 2nd time I took him was about a month or two later, and I should have known something was amiss when he didn't want to go in the back, but I thought maybe the pens reminded him of the pound (rescue anxiety?). I had opted to use Sparky's again because I was going to be in and out of the hospital that day and it was so convenient. Well, I drove past Sparky's 5 times (not including dropping him off) and never saw him outside - he's huge and because of his color, really, really hard to miss. I thought, "Well, they did tell me they rotate the dogs through the outdoor area and the back pens so there are never too many dogs outside; what are the odds!" I picked him up and he was all nasty and feces/mud smeared. No big deal - they're dogs. He used all his 150# pull me to the car, not a good sign, but still, I'm not thinking anything is really amiss... not until I took him home and washed him off and guess what? PUNCTURES! He has punctures on his mouth, cheek and nose! He had a 1.5" wide swollen line across the top of his nose as if something uniform and hard had whacked him (no idea, maybe like a gate?). His paw pads were bloody, worn, and the quicks of his nails bleeding like he'd been trying to dig out of the concrete pen for a heartbreakingly long time. I couldn't see his injuries when I picked him up because he was so dirty - but when I got him home and washed him, I just couldn't believe how numerous and significant they were. I called Sparky's and asked what had gone on and they spoke with the guy was in the yard (I was told they have someone out with the dogs the whole time) and he said my dog had been outside the WHOLE DAY and had a GREAT TIME. No altercations. I mean, clearly not everything was "great!". You know, I have never seen my dog initiate any kind of challenge to another dog - he's just super laid back, but it would be naive to think that he's not capable of hostility - I am sure he is, I just haven't seen any evidence of it. So, my upset is not that I think my dog was unjustly attacked, because who knows!? My upset is that no one noticed, no one called me, no one even remembers anything happening and certainly something pretty BIG did happen and not just with the other dog(s), but inside their pen... and he really must have been in there and digging for a long time. His poor pads, all ripped. And what happened to his nose?? And how was he never outside when I drove by??? I didn't get what I paid for and my dog got hurt. I'm beyond unhappy and I'm definitely not returning. I would suggest that you ask your dog trainer and the likes for their opinions before selecting a Doggie daycare. I should have. Learn from my mistake. Sparky's staff: I'd appreciate it if you didn't contact me in any way/ form. read more

Do not use! My dog was there one day and contracted a skin staph infection!

I decided to bring my Italian Greyhound during my weekend get away to Asheville. After mulling over what to do with him when I had a scheduled site visit at the Biltmore, I decided I needed to find a doggie daycare asap! I asked around at a local restaurant in the Biltmore area, and they directed me to At Play With Sparky. I'm a responsible dog mom, so I wanted to check out the facilities and talk to the staff before I left my dog there for a couple of hours. I arrived at At Play With Sparky the day before I needed to have him watched. I walked around the outside area and looked at the fenced in FUN play area they had for the dogs - one for smaller dogs and one for larger dogs... I thought, so far, so good! I walked in an was warmly greeted by Tara - who I later found out was a co-owner. She was very welcoming and did not hesitate to show me around, behind staff doors where the indoor dog area was. The area was clean, and the dogs were separated by age and size. It smelled clean and the dogs looked happy and well cared for. She explained to me their rotation method to make sure all animals have time to play, to eat, to rest and to socialize. She made me feel very comfortable and I reserved at spot for my dog at daycare the next day. I must admit, I went back to my hotel room and researched and researched, because while I was happy with the facility, I wanted to make sure I left no stone unturned. After researching, I decided At Play With Sparky was the right fit for us. They are conveniently located near the Biltmore and near Biltmore village. Plus, Tara made me feel comfortable. I dropped off my dog Saturday morning ( a HUGE plus, they open early on Saturday and daycare runs until about 7pm, then you have the option of boarding them). The staff that morning, a young lady (who's name I forgot) was very kind and immediately made my dog feel comfortable! I filled out all the necessary paperwork, paid, and told her some general information about my dog. She took him away, cheerfully and told me I could watch from the window as he was introduced to the dogs outside! Boy was I nervous! We're from out of town (NJ) and he was already SO anxious from being away from home I was nervous of how he'd react! Well, she lead him to the pack and stood by him to make sure all was well! I was so glad! He did great! I was able to leave in peace, knowing he was in great hands! I picked him up close to 7pm and Emily, their in house trainer was at the front desk when I arrived. I asked her a couple questions about how he behaved and general behavior inquiries I had and she was MORE than kind and helpful! She took the time to tell me her observations of him and to tell me about his interactions with the pack, as she had observed, during the day! After talking to me for several minutes, she went to get him from outside... He was so excited to see me and in ONE piece! I monitored him for the next couple of days, because I had heard about the horror stories of kennel cough or other doggie illnesses caught while being boarded or during daycare, and he's doing great! I have nothing but wonderful things to say about At Play With Sparky, and I felt compelled to write a review about my experience - because it was so positive! My dog was so pooped when he came home, I gave him a bath and he fell right asleep! That was the MOST sound sleep he had gotten in the 2 days we had been in Asheville! At Play With Sparky had kind and caring staff, a clean area for their dogs, and a nice pack of regulars for other dogs. The only thing I feel bad about? We don't live closer! I'd bring him back! read more

Yeah... it's pretty good. The staff is nice. They have great operating hours (open early close late). Two different play areas provide options for which social group your dog might fit into best. Kennel free boarding. Absolutely no concerns when I leave my dog there. He always seems happy and tired when I pick him up. read more

These guys are always friendly when you call to start, never had any issue and our dog throughly enjoys her time as she gets extremely excited every time we get out of the car at this place! read more

I took my sweet Maggie here two days in a row while visiting Asheville on vacation. Everyone was so helpful and seemed to really love Maggie. Each time I went to pick her up they knew exactly which one Maggie was and were very sweet even when she was super hyper and all over the place. You can tell the staff really loves animals. I was incredibly impressed and would recommend them to anyone! They also are open for doggie day care on the weekends, which I found most places in the area were not. read more

Um.. TERRIBLE. The experience we had in taking my dog for a TWO HOUR TRIAL was beyond a nightmare for us. To start, he was attacked by another dog and I picked him up with blood dripping down his face. Yes, I realize things like this do happen in places where there are multiple dogs, however I was very displeased considering NONE of the staff had even noticed or cared that it happened. What is the point in giving my dog a 2 hour TRIAL to watch him and see how he does if you aren't WATCHING him at all? Anyway I digress to the day AFTER his trial.. Our dog was unable to walk, unable to eat, unable to go to the restroom, ANYTHING. A trip to the vet, and about $150 later, we were told he was exposed to a CHEMICAL BURN as a result of the cleaning procedures at the daycare. In short, our dog suffered for over a week, endured antibiotics and pain medication all because of At Play with Sparky's NEGLIGENCE. It truly SICKENS me that these people are able to be in business if they can't handle an animal for TWO HOURS better than this. While I'm sure this doesn't happen to EVERY animal there, I'm never taking another chance on it. And I feel that the people should know about this before taking their animals considering I read great reviews from others prior to dropping my dog off. If you're looking for a safe, reliable place to board or take your dog for daycare, THIS IS NOT IT! I'd look elsewhere. read more

As I said in my tip. I would never bring my dog back there. He got worms from being exposed to other dogs who had them. When asked to go on a tour I saw broken cages, chewed up wood, loose dogs around the inside, cats right next to the dogs yard, no air conditioning and a warm smell of dog and cat feces. From what I could tell it was a very disorganized and unsanitary environment for that many of dogs. The owner was also very rude when able to get in contact with. If you baby your dog like I do and expect someone that you are paying good money to, to do the same I would not recommend this place. It is a poor example of how to treat dogs and customers. Not to mention that after I had boarded my dog there which I fully regret I got him home and he threw up something that was not his food but had apparently either been given a mix of food or had gotten into different foods during his weekend stay. read more

Five years after our first review, we still use and trust Sparky's. Our dog always comes out happy and relaxed. An older facility than some but well maintained with excellent staffing. Great place. read more

I am going to write in all caps why I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking your beloved best friend to "At Play With Sparky" in Asheville, NC . SHELBY IS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN YOUR PET'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING! I have been a rescue mom/foster home for many years and an animal lover/advocate my entire life. This has put me in the company of pet groomers/vets across the nation for decades now. When I find a kindred spirit, a true helper of animals, someone caring and attentive to the needs of both the pet and owner, I give a huge shout out and thumbs up on the web. All of the above mentioned should be reason enough to check out "At Play With Sparky". If you are hesitant for any reason about taking your baby here I will encourage you to call them. Have a convo with Shellby. Pay attention as she speaks with you and you will find that she is not just working for a paycheck nor trying to hustle you in to booking an appt. When I called today I was greeted by a warm voice that made proper introductions and then began asking me questions about my pets. I cannot tell you how crucial this step is in determining if the services they provide will be appropriate for your pet. This gathering of data is the first necessary step to ensure that you and your BFF are on the right track regarding care. I am sad to report that many groomers do not take the time to do this, BUT SHELBY DID! In all my years of working with groomers/vets this has only happened a handful of times. I was so used to the SOP in the grooming industry of my pet's/rescue's needs being handled like "just another appt." that when I found my first groomer who considered their job not just a way to earn a paycheck, but rather a true career, calling and craft that I was instantly educated in how to choose a good groomer for our rescues that are sometimes in need of special services due to neglect and /or abuse. If you are like me, you want only the best for the ones you love that CANNOT CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES AND DEPEND SOLELY ON YOU AND YOUR GOOD CHOICES IN ORDER TO THRIVE AND FLOURISH IN THEIR LIFETIME. Please be diligent and choose wisely. My choices in the past through ignorance have at times had devastating consequences for both my family and the animals we love, save, foster and find forever homes for. Please don't let this be you. I can say through personal experience who you take your pet to for care MATTERS. Forgive me for stating what I have learned through education is the obvious to those who innately know.This review is more for pet owners who do not know that there are bad groomers in this world that can hurt your pet AND YOUR WALLET! And speaking of wallet, I was quoted a very reasonable price for bath, nail trimming, and undercoat furmination by Shelby At Sparky For Play. They only up-charged a few dollars more to furminate. If you have never used a furminator before let me tell you, IT IS INCREDIBLY LABOR INTENSIVE!!!!! You get a caring and "tuned in to your pet" staff with affordability. You can give your BFF the very best care in return for the ONLY TRULY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE you will ever receive in your lifetime. Such a small price to pay for the priceless gift of love, loyalty and devotion that only your pet can give you. Please remember to spay/neuter your pets and rescue when possible. Make a difference every chance you can. "I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being (or creature); let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." ~Etienne de Grellet, Quaker Missionary~ read more

Love At Play With Sparky! We had to board our puppy for a few days while we were on vacation -- they took such good care of her AND her nervous new parents! The facilities are great, and the staff really cares about their charges. Our little girl was nervous when we left her, but came home happy and tired. We wouldn't hesitate to keep her here again, or recommend the facility to others. read more

This was our first time boarding any of our animals. We normally have friends/family members help with the care when we are away. But we never had an 11 month old lab mix named Winnie either that has almost endless energy to burn in a day's time; A little too much for those same friends/family members. My husband had a conference in the Asheville area so when doing our research on the Internet, we came upon "Sparky". Each time we called to ask about their boarding facility including what a typical day would be like for our Winnie, description of the facility, where she would play, vaccinations needed, etc., they were always SO helpful and pleasant. We were nervous at the idea of leaving her there but it did seem to cater to her need of lots of interaction and her love for "hanging out" with other pups. Finally, the day came. When we arrived, Ann was so very cordial and patient and so sweet to Winnie. We did call a few times to just inquire how she was doing. Ann knew that we had called and she took the time to send us an amazing video of when Winnie was playing in the pool with other dogs; she was having a FABULOUS time. We thought that was just so sweet for Ann to do that. That took care of any further concerns, for sure. When we came to pick Winnie up on the third day, she was glad to say hello to us but she just turned around and went to the door where she had come from; we think she just wanted to go back where she could play with her new found friends. What a wonderful experience for everyone! Wish we lived in the area; we would bring Winnie often to have a dog's day out. PS Winnie slept for two days after getting home, Proof to us that she had a wonderful time!!! Great job "At play with Sparky." read more

Great care, great hours, great staff who clearly love the dogs and are friendly and professional with the people too. Good accountability as well. We're on our 3rd Sparky's dog, and all have been very happy there, whether days or boarding. Thanks, Tara & crew!! read more

My little siberian husky Lucy had an incredible time here today. We're from out of town and needed a place to keep her for a few hours. The staff was super nice and made my husband and I feel super comfortable leaving her there. She seemed almost sad to leave when we picked her up (but happy to see mommy and daddy of course)! Don't believe the negative reviews. I'm sure accidents happen, but the staff here is great. Some dogs aren't socialized properly and their owners should know better than to put them in this kind of environment! read more

My dog seems to really love coming here for boarding. Whenever I pick her up or drop her off she is in great spirits. The staff is very friendly and knows my dog by name. Most convenient hours I have found anywhere. Great place for doggie day care and boarding! read more

We needed a place to leave our dog while visiting the Biltmore mansion. This place is close to the Biltmore mansion and is convenient. Our dog was there about 7 hours. The weather was rainy all day and when we picked up our dog he was drenched and shivering from being cold. The caretaker said he needed to go out and pee and got wet. Our dog hates the rain and will not go out when it's raining. read more

My dog was returned after an overnight stay SOAKING WET from head to tail with a limp in his front leg, which he had never had before. However, I can't say what caused it. Unfortunately, the staff claimed they didn't know why he was wet or limping either. Avoid this place like the plague. It looks like a run down prison, inside and out. There are such better options in the area that are newer with much better facilities. read more

Wondeful staff! It is obvious they really love and care for the dogs that go there! Plus this is the only daycare place I could find in Asheville where my pup would actually play in a group of dogs and not just have to be alone all day! Thumbs up!!! read more

Wow! I don't even want to give one star to this business. Be very careful if you purchase a day care package. It is absolutely non-refundable (my issue for not reading the fine print). My biggest issues were with the way my blind standard poodle was handled. There is a flight of stairs that the dogs need to come down when you pick them up and even though I repeatedly had to remind them that she is blind, they would leave her at the top of the stairs to fend for herself coming down. She fell twice before I could get to her. She is blind but has been going to daycare in Colorado since she was born and she is now 4 years old. We never had a problem in our other daycare. Several times the poodles (I have two) came home smelling like poop and often covered in mud. Mostly though it was the way I was spoken to that I take issue with. I would have understood the policy had it been presented to me when I asked for a refund, but the owner Tara was very unprofessional and argumentative. One thing she said was "Your dogs loved it here, I don't understand what your problem is". Even though she was unwilling to return my money she offered to "gift" it to a friend of ours. So, in the end our friends will receive 8 days of camp and I am grateful for that small concession. My advice would be to check around before you choose At Play With Sparky. We have found a much cleaner place to go with a caring compassionate owner. read more