My pet is part of my family.
I had a memory of my childhood when I was sick with a nasty case of the flu. One day, my dad came home from work and gifted me this tiny, adorable kitten that he rescued from the shelter. I feel like from that moment on; I ultimately felt better. It is incredible what the power of animals has on our souls and well-being.
For many, animals are part of their families. Besides caring for them, their pets enjoy family activities like snuggling and watching tv, going on vacation, or participating in a wedding. Pets bring us so much joy and enrichment, and they can cheer us up when we are feeling down, make us laugh at their crazy antics, and cause immense heartache when their time with us comes to an end.
This month's Tail Talk focuses on local small businesses that I think can bring value to you and your pet during and after their time with your family. I've tried presenting these businesses in an order that aligns with a point in time in their life.
1) BlueDog
This dog training facility offers private lessons, group classes, and dog walking using positive reinforcement training methods. Located at 160 Winthrop Ave., Lawrence, MA, with ten years of experience, Kim provides fantastic knowledge in training. Her love of dogs and community brings an extra special kind of adventure for you and your pup. Kim and I met when Finn started her Scent Work training, and she has also allowed me to photograph her cat, Figaro.
2) One of A Kind Dog Walking LLC
Finn and I met Jackie while doing many Obedience and Rally classes at American K9 Country. Finn adored Jackie, and Jackie always made Finn feel extra special when we saw her. Located in Concord, NH, Jackie provides dog walking, hiking, away visits, pet sitting (for both dogs and cats), and nail trimming services. I know that if I needed someone to care for my dog, I would trust Jackie if I were going to be away for an extended time. She might be newly venturing into the Small Business world. Still, her ten years of professional experience working with dogs and cats is why she would be someone I would trust.
3) SpotOn GPS Fence
As an owner of a high-energy and high prey-driven dog and someone who is always concerned that their dog could get lost, I have tried my fair share of tracking devices, and none met my requirements. I found SpotOn back in 2019 by stumbling on an advertisement about their GPS fence system for dogs. Located at 7 Perimeter Road in Manchester, NH, this company has proven to me to care about their customers and their dogs. The business employs dog owners and dog lovers; I have experienced this in real life when visiting their office (seeing all the four-legged employees). Their mission continues to be to use the best wireless technology to give dogs freedom to be dogs but, most importantly, give owners the peace of mind to let them.
4) Journey's End
Honoring the bond between people and their animal companions by helping them say goodbye in the most peaceful way possible (in their home) is the mission of Dr. Sharon Sernik, owner of Journey's End. I met Dr. Sernik after a good friend of mine had to say goodbye to her boy George. I could tell just how important it was to my friend to have this kind of experience for her and her dog on such an emotional day. Our pets are our family. When this time comes, it is, in my opinion, the hardest decision one must make. Journey's End helped my friend with the day through caring and compassion. While I am not saying your Vet does not offer a caring and compassionate experience (I adore my Vet, and I know she feels the same about my animals), Journey's End offers an alternative for you to consider.
5) Terrapin Glassblowing Studio
Another dog friend of mine introduced me to this business when she showed me a beautiful piece of glass art created in memory of her beloved pets. Located at 79 Hadley Road in Jaffrey, NH, this women-owned and operated private glassblowing studio specializes in thoughtfully handcrafted Glass Memorials created by infusing cremains into glass pieces. After more than ten years of doing business, they still love being able to give their clients a little peace in their time of grief.
I am sorry this journey took us on such a glum path, a thought none of us like to think about. But I hope I have shared some things with you that you can find helpful or potentially share with others depending on their needs.
Happy March and Happy Saint Patrick's Day
Toni and Finn