PV Bark Brings Premium, Enrichment-Based Dog Care to the Quad Cities with the Support of JEBCO Construction Company

Luxury boarding, structured daycare, and low-fragrance grooming set to open January

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BY JEBCO CONSTRUCTION CO. PHOTO BY DONNA WERKING, NORTHERN AZ SOCIAL, LLC

Prescott Valley, AZ — January 8, 2026 - Mike Gust and Elaine O’Connor didn’t plan to start a premium dog care facility when they relocated from Houston, Texas, to the Prescott area in August 2020. What they did plan was a lifestyle change—trading humidity for mountain air, and big-city pace for a close-knit community they quickly came to love.

 After first discovering Prescott through a January 2020 visit, Mike and Elaine spent the entire month of June living in an Airbnb near downtown. By the time they returned to Texas, they had already made an offer on a home. Two months later, they arrived in the Quad Cities with their dogs, Bran and Coco, officially calling Northern Arizona home.

That first Prescott summer brought an unexpected challenge. Upgrading their home to central air required a full week of electrical and HVAC work—leaving Mike and Elaine scrambling to find care for their dogs. Every local facility they contacted was booked solid, some for as long as twelve weeks. 

“What followed was a frantic patchwork of favors from neighbors and friends,” said Elaine O’Connor. “It was also our first real introduction to the limited availability of quality pet care in the area.” A simple question from Mike’s mother changed everything: Why don’t you meet that need? That idea grew into PV Bark, a premium, enrichment-based dog boarding, daycare, and grooming facility designed to meet the growing needs of Quad Cities pet parents. Through a strategic partnership with JEBCO Construction Company, their vision has been brought to life. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Elaine for a couple of years, and she is the kind of client every professional hopes for. She is deeply dedicated to her business, has a clear vision, and came exceptionally prepared throughout the entire process.” shares Jeb Johnson, JEBCO Construction owner. 

PV Bark offers a thoughtfully designed experience centered on canine wellness and comfort, including:

Luxury Boarding Suites — 41 private, tempered-glass-front suites assigned to each guest for the duration of their stay. Most suites measure a spacious 4’ x 8’, custom manufactured for PV Bark. VIP Suites (5’ x 10’) and a Presidential Suite (5’ x 16’) offer bedroom-style accommodations complete with TVs and webcam access. All suites feature elevated orthopedic Kuranda beds for maximum comfort. The facility is a total of 11,560 square feet indoors and also features a 5,900 square foot outdoor space for their guests. 

Enrichment-Based Daycare — A structured rotation of high-energy small-group play, individual activities, low-energy socialization, mentally stimulating toys, and high-quality rest periods to engage dogs physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Low-Fragrance Grooming — A spa-like grooming environment designed to leave pets clean and refreshed without overwhelming their highly sensitive sense of smell.

Highly Trained Staff — A professional team committed to ongoing education and the highest standards of care and customer service.

“Our mission is to enrich the lives of dogs so that they may bring happiness to their humans,” said O’Connor. “This means that we work to ensure that dogs leave us physically, mentally, and emotionally better off than when they arrived.”

PV Bark addresses one of the most common challenges voiced by local pet owners: lack of availability when care is needed most. To meet that demand, PV Bark will introduce an exclusive Members Club, offering priority boarding, exclusive access, valuable perks, educational resources, and invitations to members-only events.

“The level of detail and care Elaine has put into gathering information for each product made our work together efficient and seamless—and I could only imagine that same dedication and attentiveness clearly extend to the way she cares for the dogs entrusted to her,” said Jeb Johnson.  PV Bark’s soft opening is officially underway as construction wraps up and team members complete training. The facility will be fully operational in late January, with a Grand Opening celebration is scheduled Wednesday, January 28th 2026 from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

“We moved here not knowing anyone,” said Elaine. “Prescott welcomed us, and PV Bark is our way of giving back—by providing the high quality of care that local pet parents and their dogs deserve.” Elaine and Mike are deeply committed to the local pet community. Elaine has volunteered as a dog walker with both United Animal Friends and the Yavapai Humane Society, and PV Bark has actively built relationships with area veterinarians. PV Bark is a proud member of the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, and the International Boarding & Pet Services Association (IBPSA).

PV Bark is located at 6689 E 1st St, Prescott Valley, AZ, 86314. For more information about PV Bark, membership opportunities, or upcoming events, visit www.PVBark.com, follow them on social media or call (928) 641-BARK or (928) 641-2275. Appointments may be made by phone, online or by downloading their mobile app. 

###

About JEBCO Construction Companies, LLC

JEBCO Construction is a family-owned general contracting firm based in Arizona, specializing in commercial building projects that make a difference. From healthcare and education to retail and office developments, JEBCO is known for delivering high-quality, on-time, and on-budget projects while building lasting partnerships in the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.jebcocc.com.

PRESS BY NORTHERN AZ SOCIAL

NORTHERNAZSOCIAL@GMAIL.COM

Prescott Frontier Days®, Inc. – World’s Oldest Rodeo® Announce Pre-Sale Tickets Available Feb 14 - Feb 20, 2026

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

Prescott, AZ – January 8, 2026 – Prescott Frontier Days®, Inc. is pleased to announce that Prescott's Rodeo Pre-Sale Tickets available February 14–20, 2026. In-person only ticket sales will be held at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds located at 840 Rodeo Drive, Prescott, AZ 86305. Prescott Frontier Days® launches its signature year, “Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom.” This pre-sale opportunity allows for the general public to place in-person orders before the sales go live online in March 2026.

Secure your preferred seats while they're available! Important Rules & Guidelines: In-Person Ticket Sales: February 14–20, 2026

Two non-perishable food items are required per order at the time of purchase

In-person ticket sales only; no online or phone sales during the pre-sale period Pre-sale hours: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. daily at the Rodeo Grounds, including weekends and President’s Day (Monday). See details below for locations.

Limit of eight (8) tickets per order

Special Location Notice:

Saturday, February 14 only, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Presale ticket sales will be held at the Mackin Building, 840 Rodeo Drive Prescott, AZ 86305

Sunday, Feb 15th - Friday, Feb 20th, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Presale tickets will be available at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds Ticket Box Office. Additional terms and conditions may apply; please consult ticket representatives for special requests. We look forward to welcoming you as we kick off this historic celebration.

Prescott Frontier Days®, Inc. - World’s Oldest Rodeo® 840 Rodeo Drive Prescott, AZ  86305  Office: (928) 445-3103 E: info@worldsoldestrodeo.com, For Rodeo Press or Media Inquiries, Contact Donna Werking at NorthernAZsocial@gmail.com

From Bootstraps to Boot Drop, Donna Werking shares how she created a New Year’s Eve community tradition

By Bonnie Stevens, Quad Cities Business News, December 2025

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography, contracted by Northern AZ Social. Photo on Stage at the 2022 Boot Drop: (Left to Right) Ben Flowers and friend, (Middle) NYE Boot Drop Cofounder Donna Werking, Danita and Mike Napier

When Donna Werking experienced the Weatherford Hotel’s Great Pinecone Drop in Flagstaff as a student at Northern Arizona University in the mid-2000s, she thought her hometown needed a New Year’s celebration of its own. That inspiration would later ignite one of Prescott’s most beloved NYE events, the Whiskey Row Boot Drop, now heading into its 15th year with two drops on December 31st on downtown Whiskey Row. 

After NAU, Donna joined the Arizona Sundogs Hockey Club organization in Prescott Valley, managing corporate sponsorships, events and arena promotions designed to elevate the fan experience. “Those years unknowingly became my entrepreneurial incubator,” she said. “I had the opportunity to lead multiple aspects of the hockey club and generate promotional ideas to bring people together, not just for hockey, but to create an atmosphere the community would proudly gather.” When the team sold during the Great Recession, Werking, then a young mother, launched DW Consulting in late 2009, later transitioning into Prescott’s first social media and digital marketing agency, Northern AZ Social. 

November 2010, her client, Tracey Horn, was courting a relationship with the City of Prescott’s Tourism Department. They discussed a need to increase bed tax dollars during the slower winter months. Werking and Horn casually floated the idea of a New Year’s Eve celebration. While the city wasn’t interested in organizing events, nor a part of their marketing plan, the City’s Tourism department expressed full support for organizers bringing new events to the area. 

“That little bit of encouragement and a lot of time on my hands was all I needed. I wanted to create something that would fill the event gap and serve our small businesses, but more than that – leave a legacy behind with a new event tradition.”

Armed with experience from sports marketing and event planning, Werking began sketching out plans for a New Year’s countdown celebration in her spare time. “I researched what other cities dropped on New Year’s Eve,” she said. “Key West dropped a drag queen in a high heel shoe, Atlanta had a peach, but no one had ever dropped a boot. It just felt right for Prescott—the cowboy boot represents our western heritage.”

She modified an old sponsorship proposal from her Sundogs days and shared the proposal to her client, Horn. Met with indifference, Werking continued to work on the concept for months and created the first mockup website in early 2011 to better share her vision. In May 2011, Horn invited Werking to meet with radio executives Patrick Gallagher and Patti Ezel of Magic 99.1 FM. “To my surprise, the meeting was to discuss the New Year’s Eve event I had been working on since November,” Werking said.

Shortly after, cofounders Werking and Horn, along with Gallagher and Ezel, formed the first New Year’s Eve Boot Drop committee. With no guarantee of success or profitability, their goal was simple: to bring the first-ever New Year’s Eve celebration to downtown Prescott.

Werking continued her efforts over the next six months as a bare bones operation. She collected signatures from Whiskey Row businesses, managed traffic plans, budgeting, sponsorships, signing contracts and negotiating trade deals, ordering promotional giveaways, organizing trash and sanitation, securing the use of the Courthouse Plaza with the Prescott Downtown Partnership, creating infrastructure maps, orchestrated meetings and more, all while pregnant with her first son. Horn secured a non-profit to manage the sponsorship dollars raised under a 501 (c), aided sponsorships, managed marketing obligations and partnered with Morgan Signs to create the design of the boot. Gallagher worked the PR circuit and Ezel helped raise sponsorship dollars and secured the talent. The first-year committee raised roughly $21,000 in sponsorship sales and trades, just enough to cover the costs of the first year New Year’s Eve Boot Drop. 

December 31, 2011, Werking remained hands-on throughout the execution while seven months pregnant. “We had no idea how the event would turn out, but we were determined to see it through,” Werking said. “It was a risky endeavor on a shoestring budget.” Werking’s family and friends stepped in to help with infrastructure. Her husband donated equipment for the Prescott Area Young Professionals vendor booth, while community volunteers helped transform downtown Prescott’s Whiskey Row into a festive venue.

At midnight, the six-foot illuminated cowboy boot, crafted by Morgan Signs, was lowered from a 40-foot flagpole. More than 2,000 people filled Whiskey Row and counted down to the New Year in the glow of the giant boot. “Seeing the crowd gather that night made it all worth my time,” she said. 

Six weeks later, Werking gave birth to her son on Valentine’s Day. She moved behind the scenes to manage the digital presence to focus on her growing family. Donna remained heavily involved with the Boot Drop until 2021, as the event grew from a fledgling community effort into a signature Northern Arizona attraction. Werking invested her own time, skillset and money into the event to assure its continued success. 

Despite unexpected challenges through the years—such as a city stage malfunction that forced a quick improvisation using the sound technician Ted Leonard’s box truck as a stage, or the 2018 snowstorm that nearly shut the event down—the Whiskey Row New Year’s Eve Boot Drop stands as a hallmark of Prescott’s holiday season.

“Today, I bring friends and family members to the Boot Drop now to enjoy what started as an ambitious dream,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have my kids experience it—my daughter, now 25 and my son, now 13. “My friends and family were behind me on this venture from the beginning, and now we share this experience together as attendees.”

Reflecting on its legacy, Werking says she is proud of the efforts of Matt Brassard, event organizer for more than a decade. The event now features live bands, food trucks, carnival rides and two drops capped with fireworks. “It’s incredible to see how the Boot Drop has grown and how much our city embraces it as a signature event,” she said. Through the years, the Boot Drop has had many nonprofit supporters—the Prescott Chamber, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Prescott Area Independents (PAI), M & M Entertainment, and now Arizona’s Christmas City under Whiskey Row Boot Drop, LLC. 

“For everyone who believed in the vision and dedicated their time, our efforts have truly paid off. I hope to see our event around for many more years to come,” Werking said. “It started as a simple idea, but it became something lasting—one that continues to light up Prescott each New Year’s Eve.” Werking shares, “I have archived the original documents, emails and original meeting notes from its inception. In 30 years from now, if the event still lives, I hope to look back on this little part of Prescott history to reminisce upon its origin.”

________________

Photo caption: With the illuminated cowboy boot suspended in the darkness, visionary cofounder of the New Year's Eve Boot Drop, Donna Werking (third from left) enjoys the annual New Year’s Eve tradition with friends and thousands of revelers in downtown Prescott.