10:50 PM PST on Friday, February 13, 2004

By ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Every weekday morning, some lucky dogs in Seattle start wagging their tails when they hear the bus coming up the hill.

"From our house it sounds like a school bus is coming to pick up kids," said dog owner Sydney Calvo.

Murray and Mazy are among dozens of dogs heading off for daycare at Super Fun Happy Dog in Ravensdale, south of Seattle.

KING The dogs can't wait to arrive at their daycare.

"They're just so pumped, they just want to get on the bus,” said Michael Cole.

"We picked the bus because we could fit more dogs on to it, plus it's great advertising obviously,” said Robert Berry. “We have a 32-foot billboard driving around town.”

Throughout West Seattle, the bus goes house to house. At each stop an eager and anxious passenger jumps on board. Some protective parents get on the bus to say goodbye.

Berry said the service pleases both owners and dogs.

"Gives you peace of mind that your dog isn't stuck in the house all day long or locked in a kennel or a crate in the back yard,” said Berry.

Once all 40 dogs are on board, the bus leaves Seattle and heads for doggie dreamland almost an hour out of town, catching a few stares along the way. Closer to the destination, the barking begins.

"That last half mile before we get to the property they know it, they can smell it, they're just going nuts,” said Cole.

KING It's a dog's life!

Once there, dogs have access to 7-1/2 acres of fenced-in property, all the dog toys they could want and complete run of the place.

The property is like a huge off-leash park, allowing the dogs to run free, socialize and even learn to share.

If it’s too cold outside, they just chill out in the dog house.

"We've taken what used to be an old barn and converted the different stalls and converted it into a mini living room,” said Berry.

They can even watch some trashy TV shows. Sometimes they might get a little snappy over a favorite spot on the couch, but no matter what they do, you can tell they're really digging the joint.

Finally it's time to clean up and get the kids ready to go home.

Some just don't want to leave, but on the way home, it's the sweet sound of exhaustion.

"We have a little quote: A tired dog is a happy owner," said Berry.

But is it worth $23 a day?

"We are spending money, it is a lot every month, but you know that's the commitment we made when we got our dogs,” said Cole.

You can call Super Fun Happy Dog at 888-277-1202 or e-mail them at superfunhappydog@comcast.net.