When customers at Barkyard see the company’s electric “Pup Bus” pull up outside their homes, many reach for their phones.
“They’ll take their own phones out when I pull up to grab dogs,” said Barkyard co-owner Paul Shadel. “Parents will record their dog going up to the bus. It’s like the first day of school.”
The zero-emission vehicle has become a beloved part of the Savannah-area dog daycare and boarding business, but for Shadel and his wife Emily, the electric bus represents more than a fun way to transport pets. It’s an extension of the company’s broader commitment to sustainability and community-centered service.
Barkyard operates as a dog daycare, boarding, and pet care facility. Since taking over the business from a longtime boarding facility in July 2025, the couple has focused on building deeper relationships with customers while making environmentally conscious choices whenever possible.
“We are an extremely eco-friendly brand,” Shadel said. “I’ve always rooted my business decisions in eco-friendliness and just trying to have some sort of angle pointed towards that, whether it be the trash bags that we buy, the latex gloves that we buy, the soap that we use, or even our cleaners. We really try to get as granular as we can.”
That philosophy helped guide the decision to purchase an electric vehicle for the company’s transportation service.
The Pup Bus, a 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz purchased new in December 2025, was part of Barkyard’s vision from the beginning. The company wanted a convenient way to transport dogs to and from daycare, particularly for busy customers who struggle to fit pet care into demanding schedules.
“We were looking for something,” Shadel said. “It was a part of our business model for a very long time to have a bus, to have the ability to take our customers to our place and from our place.”
When he discovered an electric vehicle that fit the company’s needs, the choice felt obvious.
“It just fit the bill on so many levels,” he said. “It screams eco-friendliness while simultaneously screaming our name.”
The investment aligned with the couple’s personal commitment to cleaner transportation. Shadel and his wife have driven plug-in hybrid vehicles for six or seven years.
“We believe in this movement,” he said.
The electric bus can travel approximately 250 to 300 miles on a full charge and is plugged in regularly at Barkyard’s facility. Since arriving six months ago, it has accumulated roughly 4,500 miles while serving customers throughout the Savannah area.
“We use this thing all the time,” Shadel said.
The bus typically makes 30 to 40 trips each month, often traveling 30 to 50 miles on days it is in service. Barkyard regularly picks up and drops off dogs across Savannah and neighboring communities, including customers in Port Wentworth and on Skidaway Island.
For many customers, the service is about more than convenience. Nurses working long shifts, for example, can have their dogs picked up after they leave for work and returned home before they get back.
“We literally show up after they leave, and we drop their dogs off before they get home,” Shadel said. “Their dog’s taken care of for their entire day.”
The service has become another way Barkyard differentiates itself through customer care.
“We don’t make money off this thing,” Shadel said of the bus. “This is not a moneymaker for us. It just shows our customers that we’re willing to do this for you. We’re willing to go the extra mile.”
That willingness to go above and beyond reflects the company’s larger mission. Barkyard frequently helps customers with challenges that fall outside traditional daycare services, from transporting dogs to veterinary appointments to assisting with pet rehoming efforts.
“We really want everybody to know and to feel like we’ll do this for you,” Shadel said.
For him, sustainability and service are closely connected. Customers appreciate knowing that Barkyard’s environmental values extend beyond a single vehicle and influence decisions throughout the business.
“Our customers are willing to pay us money because they know that we make decisions that are also better for the environment,” he said. “It’s going to benefit us. It’s going to benefit our children and our children’s children.”
Barkyard also brings that message into the community. The company participates in local events like Savannah Earth Day, where the electric Pup Bus serves as a visible example of how small businesses can embrace clean transportation while strengthening customer relationships.
The dogs seem to enjoy it, too.
“It’s got really nice sunroofs for the dogs and big side windows,” Shadel said. “They love it. They just ride with their head out the window. It’s like the best marketing ever.”
