Check Out Candie Kemp’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candie Kemp. Them and their team share their story with us below:

It all started back in 2004 with a potato. Well, not an actual potato but a furry little corgi potato who would come to be known as Lilo: The Most Precious Boy There Ever Was. Lilo would be founder Candie Kemp’s first dog as an adult; she remembers when her family brought home a corgi puppy when she was in high school. She had no idea that that would give birth to a life dedicated to the breed.

After growing up with Kyra, her family’s dog, she learned just how special life was with a corgi. When one of her customers at the mobile phone shop she was working at asked, “what kind of dog do you have?” a conversation about corgis would ensue, resulting in the information that the customer coincidentally bred corgis! Imagine Candie’s excitement at that moment, knowing she could have a corgi of her own – her first dog as a “grown-up!” When the puppies were old enough to be in public, that customer brought in the litter so she could choose her new baby. Different colored ribbons identified them. Instructed to choose one and a “backup,” Candie chose purple and blue. This breeder ran the show circuit and wanted to wait until their colors came in to see which one she would keep for the show. A few weeks later, the ‘potato’ with the blue ribbon (Lilo) was ready to come home. As Lilo grew, Candie needed him to have a friend. Her aunt had located a rescue near where she lived in another state. This little girl came to her on a plane. Her name was Zelda. Being a rescue, she was not well cared for at the beginning of her life; she had been abused and neglected. Sweet, sassy, and playful, she became the perfect companion for Lilo. A few years later, Hammer, another rescue, found Candie.

Life with three corgis included a lot of vacuuming! Zelda would succumb to kidney disease very unexpectedly and quickly, at only eight years of age. Heartbroken, Candie missed having a little girl accompany Hammer and Lilo. Yet again, her aunt found another girl nearby and took her on a plane to join Candie’s pack. This rescue was named Cheyenne; she was in even worse shape than Zelda when she came to Candie. Poor little Cheyenne was neglected, underweight, infested with fleas, and had black teeth, but she was full of sweetness and love. After a few dentals, a hearty flea dip, lots of training, and, of course, tender loving care, “Cheyenne” would become better known as Booger.

Over the years, Candie worked in hotels with various audio-visual departments. She would later travel frequently to meet clients and check in on productions. It was discovered that poor little Booger had intense separation anxiety. Whenever Booger was left with a dog sitter, she would get sick. This troubled Candie enough that she decided she would bring her along on all the business trips!

After a few years of adventures with Booger, The Traveling Corgi, Candie saw the need for a truly pet-friendly hotel. Finding a place that offered the accommodations needed for things like convenient space and location for adequate potty breaks was a challenge. A place to secure Booger in case of a meeting or a need to run out quickly, and a place for Booger to enjoy herself should Candie not be able to be present. Thus, the idea for Corgi Town USA was born! Envisioned as a place with sturdy materials so that pets can be on the furniture if needed with little concern of damage (“pets cannot be on furniture” sounds familiar?). Attached personal yard space for those frequent and urgent potty breaks that can come up (no more finding the elevator and having to leash up at 2 AM to find the 3×3 rock space. It’s ok to “go on” while being sure the potty bag made it on the quick trip so that clean up can occur). How about a play place? Including an indoor/outdoor dog park, traveling pets like Booger can come and play with the other dogs of Corgi Town while pawrents can tend to their business worry free. Tired of those extra cleaning fees when a “pet-friendly” lodge is finally located? Not at Corgi Town – the rooming charge includes the normal cleanup (we are pet people, after all, and anticipate that extra vacuuming)!

Lilo crossed the bridge at nearly 15 years old in 2019. Before that time came, in 2018, Candie decided it was time for another pup to join the pack so he could learn from the best dog in the world. This would be Chuckles: who is now our SpokesCorg on our podcast! Later Mortimer Barnibus would come to join the pack as well. Now it’s 2022, and so much that was to happen in the last two years couldn’t, and some that we didn’t want happening. With all of the traveling Candie does, she still needs accommodations for herself and her whole pack when she chooses to bring everyone along and knows many others enjoy this traveling corgi lifestyle like her. So, stay tuned for a local Corgi Town coming to your neighborhood in the future!

Corgi Town is indeed a resort for pets and their people. We understand this is your child! Your corgi (or honorary corgi) will be treated like the royalty they know they are! Do you need to run to a client meeting or go somewhere that is not-so-pet friendly? You can leave your beloved fur child with us, and we will feed them on instructed schedule, give medication accordingly if necessary, and play with and love on, as desired, in your absence. With the choice of playing in the park with the other corgis or staying in the cabin with a Corgi Service Representative frequently checking on, playing with, and tending to your beloved companion, you: dear pawrent have the freedom to come and go as you please!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing about it has been smooth: pandemic and all of its complications, supply chain shortages, inflation, impending recession. We are still in the process, but the bumps make us more experienced and prepared! It’s almost like navigating an obstacle course in a beaten-up vehicle with no fuel.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of our podcast. Not just for the content, but the creators we interview in our creator series, our experts such as trainers, groomers, and emergency response workers we have come to know and love throughout our 3 seasons in the show. We have made connections within an amazing, passionate, and gracious community!

What do you think about happiness?
My corgis make me so happy. They taught me so much about life: not to sweat the small stuff, demand change when needed, nap often, and always make time for rest and play!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.corgitownusa.com
• Instagram: corgi_town_usa
• Facebook: corgiTwnUSA
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4KMrd53mFCsFBODBM2rbyw

Image Credits
Hatton Pet Portrait Studio – Jennifer Hatton Good Vibes Dogtography – Kimberly Ann Casten Victoria Macaluso