Business notebook: Owners can take dogs to new day camp

Busy puppy parents have a new place to take their dogs for day care.

Stacy Busch-Heisserer of recently opened Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp on Cape Lacroix Road in Cape Girardeau.

But you won't find kennels at Deer Creek. The facility has a kitchen, a living-room setup and a large yard out back.

"We have a program that we follow," Busch-Heisserer said. "And it varies from day to day, and it varies from counselor to counselor, but they rotate between doing things inside and going outside to the playground, too."

Manager Randi Spiker said they work with puppies on things such as basic obedience and familiarizing them with noises and situations, such as bathtime and vacuuming.

Annie looks over her shoulder at Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"The counselors here, if there's a certain issue ... that we need to address, then we can help you with that," Busch-Heisserer said. "Otherwise, it's just a good place for them to come and socialize and interact and be tired and happy when they go home."

Deer Creek accepts any breed and does compatibility trials to determine where a particular dog will best fit in.

After dog owners fill an application and waiver online, the dog is given a compatibility test, then a half-day trial.

"We kind of test out what their play style is like, what their temperament is like -- are they more laid-back, are they super high-energy? -- so they can get put into the appropriate play group," Spiker said.

Once the appropriate play group is established, dogs are brought in free of charge for a half day to ensure they don't exhibit aggressive behaviors.

Randi Spiker, manager at Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp in Cape Girardeau, takes her furry campers outside to play. (Laura Simon)

Spiker said the facility will turn down dogs that are too aggressive, although it hasn't done so yet.

"Not every dog is great for day camp," Spiker said. "There are certain dogs that just don't have the personality and the temperament to play well in free-play groups."

She added, however, counselors will do one-on-one work with a dog that needs attention during the day in hopes of getting it to a point at which it can join a play group.

Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $25 per day, or $15 for a half-day, Busch-Heisserer said. Reservations are needed.

For more information, visit deercreekdoggie.com or facebook.com/deercreekdoggie.

Isle reports finances in second quarter

Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. on Wednesday announced its second-quarter financial results for fiscal 2016.

The company's net revenue was $236.3 million, a 0.8 percent increase over the same period last year.

Isle's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization increased 9.3 percent to $48.4 million year over year. Isle's interest expense was $17 million, down from $21.1 million the same quarter in fiscal year 2015, as a result of lower overall debt balance and the refinancing of 7.75 percent Senior Notes due 2019, which was completed early in the first quarter of 2016.

Isle had a gain of $6.4 million on the sale of its hotel and non-gaming assets in Natchez, Mississippi, in October.

Isle Casino Cape Girardeau's adjusted EBITDA increased 34.6 percent through reductions in the cost of sales and other marketing and operating costs.

The local casino's results also include the effect of about $0.1 million in legal fees associated with a lawsuit and settlement related to original construction at the property.

Isle Casino Cape Girardeau's net revenue for the quarter was $15,028, up from $14,809 the same quarter last year.

Cape named a best city for pharmacists

Cape Girardeau has been named one of the best small cities for pharmacists by ValuePenguin.

The city ranked eighth among cities with populations under 100,000, and 11th overall.

The survey examined what pharmacists can earn, the cost of living and the concentration of pharmacists in an area as a percentage of all occupations, compared to the national average.

Humane Society hosts open house

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri is hosting an open house from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Tours of the facility will be given, and the public can learn more about plans for a new shelter.

For more information, email Holly Godwin at development@semopets.org.

Area banks complete merger

Reliable Community Bancshares Inc., parent company of The Bank of Missouri, headquartered in Perryville, Missouri, has completed a merger with Bank Star of the BootHeel, according to a Friday news release.

The Bank of Missouri purchased the assets and assumed the liabilities of the Steele and Caruthersville, Missouri, locations.

The transaction brings to 23 the number of locations operated by The Bank of Missouri in the state.

Raymond DePriest, who has been with Bank Star of the BootHeel 31 years, will serve as community bank president for the new locations. All Bank Star employees will join The Bank of Missouri team, the release stated.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3642