About Us
THE BARKING BODEGA PARK RULES
Enter at your own risk.
Dog owners are liable for any injuries, bites, or damage. A liability waiver must be signed by each human before entering the park.
All dogs must be up-to-date on rabies shots, vaccines, and licenses as required by state law.
Dogs must be within visual and voice control of their owner at ALL times.
No more than 3 dogs per person.
No rawhide or other outside food/treats in the park.
Puppies under four months old are not allowed.
Female dogs in heat are not allowed.
All dogs over the age of one must be spayed or neutered.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times and enter at their own risk.
Dogs may run "off-leash" only in fenced areas. They must be leashed prior to entering and upon leaving the fenced area.
Dogs showing aggressive behavior must be removed from the area by the owner immediately. Dog owners agree to comply with park staff authority regarding the removal of dogs for any reason at any time.
Be nice, be courteous, and have fun.
The saga of the Barking Bodega.
The Barking Bodega is a place to create memories, build community, and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. The vision came to us when our founder, Francesca Zanzucchi, adopted her fur baby, Cash.
I remember it like it was yesterday... I was just toying around with the idea of getting a dog. I was searching on Craigslist and came across an ad for a 1-year-old Doberman/German Shepard. I reached out to set up a meet and greet, and the current owners told me that Cash had some trust issues. They mentioned she would likely bark at me when they arrived, so not to be alarmed, and assured me they would give me some treats first to ease the tension.
They got to my home, Cash jumped out of the car... she didn't bark...at all. The owners were shocked... "This is crazy, she barks at EVERYONE." She walked right up to me, sniffed my leg, and continued into the backyard to do some more sniffing. She scouted my property like she knew she was home.
From that moment on, my life changed. She became my everything... and here we are today.
I am sure you can relate to wanting to give your dog the best life possible. That's why I started this business, that is why we do what we do.
I wanted to build a park that was more than just an off-leash area, but a place for you to truly enjoy together. It hasn't been an easy road finding a space for our permanent location where The Barking Bodega would be born. It's been a 3-year-long road full of twists and turns, bumps and pot holes. Through all the sleepless nights and endless rejection, Cash was always there, giving me a reason to keep going.
My goal is that every time you and your dog come to The Barking Bodega, it feels like home for you too, and that it serves its purpose as being a place to give back to the animals that have given us so much.
The people behind the dogs.
Francesca Zanzucchi
CEO, founder
I was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona. I grew up in my family's restaurant and loved being there. When I was seven years old I begged my dad to allow me to start working. My grandma finally agreed to let me make apple pies. Shortly after I was hostessing, and by 12 I was waiting tables. From a young age, I knew I wanted to start my own concept but didn't know exactly what... until I got Cash.
A Craigslist post for a 1-year-old Doberman, German Shepard that "needed a lot of work" caught my eye and changed my life. I quit my career as a public accountant in 2017 when I realized I had discovered the concept I was meant to create. After 2 years of struggling to take this business to the next level, I ran into an old friend at a neighborhood bar that I hadn't seen since my college days at Arizona State. It turned out Dan had also just recently gotten a dog that changed his life and jumped on board to help me make The Barking Bodega a reality. We are very lucky to have both Virgil and Dan on this team.
I have big visions for this business and look forward to serving you and your pups along the way! If you see me or Dan around the Bodega, please come say hello and introduce yourself. We would love to meet you.
Dan Fleming
CFO, Partner
I am a constant explorer, someone who is not really capable of sitting still. As a lifelong Phoenician and graduate of ASU, I have always loved the valley of the sun and all it has to offer.
In years past, I spent most of my time away from my office day job traveling to new countries, coordinating and navigating epic backpacking trips, playing golf, and making memories with friends and family. Then I got Virgil…
Since adopting the big pup from Boxer Luv, I have devoted entirely too much time to raising my gentle giant of a Rottweiler named Virgil. With vacations limited in lieu of entertaining a giant dog, trips to the dog park became a constant routine.
Then Francesca reached out to me to be the financial professional on her advisory board. Suddenly, the idea of helping build the world’s best dog park was an easy sell.
What started off as a few casual reviews of financial models and potential locations has grown into one the most rewarding projects I’ve ever pursued. So here I am today, fully invested in this fantastic concept that I hope brings as much joy to you and your family as it does to me and Virgil :)
