ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —

The old saying “what goes around comes around” is certainly true for Emily Fenster.

“This started for me when I was 13,” Fenster said standing in front of Central Bark on Saturday. “I started dog walking in my neighborhood.”

After a stint in the military, including a stop in Germany, Fenster and her wife Lisa, a speech therapist, came back to the United States with a plan.

“I wanted to get back to dogs,” said Emily Fenster, who was a paramedic for more than 10 years.

Although the business is a franchise, it is locally owned and operated.

“I knew what I wanted to do,” she said shaking her head. “But I needed help with the numbers. Dogs I can do. Numbers not so much.”

After more than 10 years as a paramedic, Emily Fenster decided to take a career path. She and her wife Lisa celebrated the grand opening of Central Bark on Saturday.
Central Bark celebrated its grand opening Saturday.
Emily Fenster says Central Bark was designed with indoor and outdoor play areas.
Central Bark celebrated its grand opening Saturday.
Emily Fenster and her wife Lisa celebrated the grand opening of their business, Central Bark, on Saturday.

Fenster and her team focus on whole dog care — boarding, grooming, enrichment, training and more.

“We’re here for the animals,” she said. “We may be boarding them, but we’re also working on skills. Let’s work on our sits. Let’s work on our stays.”

Fenster said the safety protocols are some of the most important parts of their new business. They are CPR-certified.

“As a former paramedic, that’s what spoke to me,” Fenster said. “We’re here for the animals. We want to do everything we can for them.”