It's a dog-gone good life at student-owned Countryside Kennels

What started out for Sarah Snyder as part-time high school job has gone to the dogs, literally.

The sophomore business major from Roeton, AL has created Countryside Kennels and was the winner of the IDEA Bank’s Student Entrepreneur Marketing Competition, which was open to IDEA Bank students during the spring semester.

Sarah Snyder, owner of Countryside Kennels in Roeton. (TROY photo/Clif Lusk)

Up for grabs was a marketing package worth $2,000. Students were required to set up a creative display to promote the business and provide visitors with a call to action, a one-page information sheet that detailed the business’ mission statement, marketing strategy and target audience, an original business card, and a promotional flier.

“The student-owned businesses were incredible,” said IDEA Bank Director Lynne George. “We wanted to motivate students to work on their business marketing strategies and give them a chance to win some extra advertising for their business.”

Synder’s Countryside Kennels was one of 14 student businesses to enter the competition, which was judged by 10 judges scoring each submission on communication, functionality, originality, emotional connectivity, and presentation. Final scores were calculated by taking an average of each judge’s score.

Some happy campers at Countryside Kennels in Roeton, owned by TROY student Sarah Snyder. (TROY photo/Clif Lusk)

“I was excited to learn that I had won the competition. Winning makes an important impact on getting the word out about Countryside Kennels,” Snyder said.

Synder developed a deep love of dogs early in life – largely thanks to her loved Jethro — and said it just seemed natural to get into dog care to earn extra money.

“I started out dog-sitting, and the whole business just started growing to the point where we needed to think about kennel space,” she said.

Enlisting the aid of her father (who was growing tired of canine guests in his house), Synder constructed a 20-plus dog kennel and exercise yard on the family’s property on County Road 3327, south of Brundidge.

Anticipation for fun and exercise literally drips from the temporary residents of Countryside Kennels near Roeton. (TROY photo/Clif Lusk)

Each kennel consists of an indoor and outdoor portion that opens into a fenced exercise and play yard. In addition to boarding, she also offers baths and nail clipping services. And, new this year, Doggy Daycare

“Our mission is to provide a safe, convenient, and loving environment for pups when they aren’t able to be with their owners,” Snyder said. “We cater to pet owners who love and treat their pups like family, because I treat my own animals that way.”