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‘The true spirit of giving is doing for others’
By Danielle Ray | dray@sentinelandenterprise.com | Sentinel & Enterprise
PUBLISHED: December 14, 2025 at 5:20 AM EST
{original article at Sentinel & Enterprise}
DEVENS — Each winter for many years now one local businesswoman embraces the spirit of giving back, the reason behind the holiday season.
Manilow’s Canine Playground owner Barbara Drury offers photos with Santa for her doggie daycare clients and the general public, the paw-fect way to capture holiday memories. Proceeds from the sitting fee are donated to local and New England based organizations such as Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in town, ColdSprings Healing Paws Foundation in New Hampshire, Vermont’s Dog Mountain, and canine epilepsy research, to name just a few.
“Whatever money is raised we donate to several different organizations who we feel best use the money,” Drury said of the yearly effort that has been taking place for well over a decade. “I have always believed in helping others whenever you can. Our small business has been supported by so many of our local communities and the true spirit of giving is doing for others, which creates pure joy and happiness for both the giver and receiver.”
The longtime Westminster resident grew up in North Leominster and graduated from Leominster High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Unity College in Maine and opened Manilow’s Canine Playground on June 2, 2003, in her hometown.
“I was inspired to open my own doggie daycare thanks to my special yellow Labrador Retriever named Manilow, who was named after my favorite entertainer Barry Manilow.,” Drury shared. “It was my dog Manilow who gave me the strength and courage to go after my dreams of opening my own doggie daycare. Even though he passed away in 2005, his incredible spirit is all around our doggie daycare and that is the reason why I named my daycare business after my special dog.”
After moving her business to Devens six years ago following it being in Leominster for 16 years, she continued the dog photos with Santa for her customers and community members.
“We always invite the general public to come to our Santa photos and we usually get a few, but mostly it is our loyal customers that come out for our Santa photos year after year,” Drury said. “Each year some of our new customers join in too which is always fun.”
One of her longtime customers, Matt Smith, is the photographer and he captures lots of adorable photos of dogs and their humans, including Drury’s own pups, golden retrievers Boston and Brooklyn. The money collected from the sittings is donated to charities such as Loaves & Fishes, which is located not too far away from her 253 Barnum Rd. business, and special dog organizations near and dear to Drury’s heart.
Two years ago, funds raised from the photos helped purchase a bullet and stab proof dog vest through Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog for Blitz, a K-9 police dog in Winchendon. The Mendon based all-volunteer, independent nonprofit is dedicated to helping support Massachusetts police dogs by providing bulletproof vests, their primary goal, as well as essential equipment, funding for training, and the purchase of dogs for police and law enforcement K-9 programs.
Drury shared that she appreciates people supporting her annual endeavor that enables her to give back to organizations that help both humans and dogs.
“Animal lovers are some of the most generous, fun, loving, supportive folks who always step up, even in the toughest of times,” she said. “Our dogs live such short lives and provide the incredible gifts of love, being so very loyal, and always being there for us no matter what.
“It never ceases to amaze me how our incredible community of customers, family, and friends are always there to help with whatever cause we are asking for their help,” Drury continued. “Our Santa photos each year is a fun event for the whole family. They receive great photos of their pups and family, which they have made into their annual Christmas cards, and the small cost of the photos is a way to help others.”
Manilow's Canine Playground
http://www.manilowsdoggiedaycare.com
