How Four Friends Built All Dogs: A Community Born From a Bulldog and a Pandemic

When people look back on the pandemic, they often remember isolation, uncertainty, and long stretches of quiet. But for the cofounders of All Dogs Mikey, Julio, Ethan, and Monica those strange years also sparked something unexpected: a community built on friendship, resilience, and the unconditional love of dogs. 🐶❤️

🐕 It All Started With Kimo

Like many people in 2020, Mikey was searching for connection and routine as the world shut down. What he didn’t expect was that it would come in the form of a beautiful English bulldog named Kimo, gifted to him by his doctor. Kimo’s wrinkly face and calm confidence quickly became the center of Mikey’s world and the reason he stepped outside again.

At his local dog park in Tempe, Mikey began to form a small, tight-knit community of dog lovers. Even in the most isolated months of COVID, the dog park became a place where people could safely talk, laugh, and let their dogs burn off pent-up energy. It was more than a park it was an escape.

But then June arrived. 🌞

In Phoenix, summer doesn’t just heat up, it shuts down outdoor life. As temperatures soared, the dog park emptied overnight. The lively little community Mikey had helped build seemed to disappear. And that’s when a powerful idea hit him:

❓ Why should dogs and humans be forced to disband every summer? Why should community end when the heat begins?

From this simple but urgent problem, All Dogs was born.

👥 Childhood Friends Turned Cofounders

Mikey knew exactly who could help bring the idea to life: his childhood friends Ethan and Julio.

🐾 Ethan & Michael: The Goldens With the Golden Hearts

Ethan, who owns a fun, lovable golden retriever named Michael (a name that always gets a smile 😊), understood instantly how essential dog parks had become. He’d seen firsthand how Michael lit up around people humans and dogs alike and how those interactions helped Michael stay active, social, and happy. Ethan brought structure, creativity, and a deep sense of purpose to the early days of All Dogs.

🎉 Julio: The Community Magnet

Then came Julio, a friend Mikey had known since they were kids. Anyone who meets Julio knows he has a gregarious personality and an almost magnetic ability to build connections. He thrives on creating spaces where people feel welcome and energized. It didn’t take long for the team to realize that Julio wasn’t just a good addition to the mission — he was essential to it. He understood community on a gut level.

💡 Enter Monica: The Spark of New Ideas

The final piece of the puzzle was Monica, whom the team met through Julio. Though she was the newest member, she quickly became a driving force. Monica contributed fresh ideas, thoughtful strategy, and a unique perspective that helped shape All Dogs into more than just a solution for summer, it became a vision for year-round community and well-being.

🌟 Why All Dogs Matters

All Dogs isn’t just a business idea. It’s a response to an emotional truth the pandemic made impossible to ignore: people need people, and dogs need dogs. Community matters and when the Phoenix heat pushes everyone indoors, that community shouldn’t disappear.

The founders of All Dogs believe that dogs and their humans deserve consistent connection, activity, and support, no matter the season. What began with one bulldog, one empty dog park, and one determined owner has grown into a mission shared by four friends who believe in creating something lasting. 🐾