Riley’s Retreat in Locust hosts grand opening Saturday

Becca Thompson is ready to show the world what she has been working on the last few years.
Her business Riley’s Retreat will have its grand opening at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at 112 S. Beverly Dr. in Locust.
“I have been rescuing senior dogs since I moved out of Mom and Dad’s house,” Thompson said. “I basically learned through that. Those were the dogs that nobody wanted so I pretty much took on the role of hospice and caretaker for them and realized that’s what I really loved doing.”
Riley’s Retreat, which employs 14 besides Thompson, offers daycare, boarding and grooming in the 4,000-square-foot facility. It also offers pet sitting. Prices begin at $35 for daycare and $45 for boarding per night.
“I’ve been working on this whole plan thought for about two and a half years. It’s been a long time in the works,” she said. “There’s nothing like this in the City of Locust.”
Thompson said she’s had “a ton of reaction” to her business so far.
“I’ve had people stop by while I’ve been here getting the building ready. They’re just blown away by what I’ve done,” she said. “It’s a brand new, state-of-the-art facility so I spared no expense.”
Thompson said the business can accommodate 40 dogs. She plans to add training classes and a possible addition next year.
“We also do something around here that nobody else does either,” she said. “I have a separate area for the senior dogs and also have a separate area for the post-operative dogs.”
Thompson began caring for senior dogs in 2017.
“They were all neglect cases. No one wanted them, they were set for euthanasia basically,” she said. “One of them was a cruelty case that the police got involved with. He was 17 when I took him in.”
She had three senior hound dogs at one time.
The name for the business came from Riley, her first rescue.
“She was a skinny, bred to death, mammary tumor covered, Bluetick hound dog that was deemed ‘unwanted.’ She was set for euthanasia and after seeing her picture on the Stanly County Animal Shelter’s Facebook page, I just couldn’t let that happen,” Thompson said.
She said she left work early and headed for the shelter.
“I laid my eyes on her and it was an instant connection. If you’ve ever had dogs you know what a ‘soul dog’ is, and she was mine. I never had children, but I swear up and down if I did, she was the epitome of mine. She absolutely ran the house; she was full of sass and let you know it with that big ol’ coondog bark. All the folks at Colonial Animal Hospital can confirm this, we very quickly became frequent fliers with all her medical issues. She passed away sadly from cancer back in 2021 and it about broke me. In the four years we were together we sure went through the ringer. I fought for her when no one else did and I’ve carried that philosophy with me ever since. During those four years I also took in a 17-year-old hound dog named Cowboy, and a 9-year-old hound dog named Ranger and did the exact same thing with them both. Every dog deserves that fighting chance, to live out the rest of their days spoiled rotten instead of being shoved aside.”
As for Riley’s Retreat, individuals wanting more information can visit www.rileysretreatnc.com or call 704-781-5058.

B.J. Drye is general manager/editor of The Stanly News & Press. Call 704-982-2123.

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