New Isle of Wight business set to be first indoor doggy day care

Poppy’s Presents will open on the Riverbank Estate, owned by Islanders Ryan Bennett and Alanna Norman.

Ryan served 12 years in the army, six of which he was with the Royal Veterinary Corp as a dog handler in Afghanistan.

He is a qualified trainer and behaviourist practitioner and has since created his own style of dog training, Ry’s Dog Centre in Northwood, which has become successful on the Island.

Ry's Dog Centre in Northwood.

Poppy, his German Shepherd, is his inspiration and everything behind Ry's.

Alanna, the Co-Founder for Poppy’s Presents, has helped in a lot of the behind-the-scenes operations and is also the doggy day care manager and health and nutrition specialist.

She said: “We are so excited to be taking the business to the next level and creating a much-needed all-year-round, council-licenced commercial doggy day care.

“It is also somewhere people can walk to when they have dog-related issues and worries.

“Our new project will create jobs and is currently being renovated by us and our friendly contractors.”

Alanna, Ryan and Poppy.

The new business will also become the HQ for Ry’s, which is currently an outdoors licenced centre built during Covid.

“We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shop for the Island's dog needs”, Alanna said.

Poppy’s Presents will open in September.