Gunner was a high-energy puppy who needed an outlet. Eric Simpson adopted Gunner when one of his friends could no longer take care of him. To help with his socialization skills, Eric occasionally enrolled Gunner in dog daycare. The improved results were almost instantaneous, and Eric's idea of starting his own dog daycare/boarding facility became a passion. With tremendous support from his parents, this dream became a reality in August 2003 with the opening of the BarkZone.