News from the Land o'Paws
03-14-10
We tore down the shop this week
and here are some photos. It is very
strange to see an empty space where the shop used to be. But progress is good!
03-05-10
We are making progress. We did
get some insurance money, so we have people working now, and we will begin the
tear-down next week. Still waiting on
permits, but hopefully it won’t be too much longer before construction begins. The contractor estimates the shop will be
complete 90 days from the start of construction, so that puts us into June at
the earliest.
I am back to work now, both at
the veterinary clinic and the mobile grooming van. As before, I can only do a few cats and small dogs (under 30
pounds) a day, because of time and space restraints. If you have been wanting an appointment, now is the time to
contact me, as the busy Spring season is almost upon us! Call
530-343-4729 or email me for your
reservation.
02-01-10
Things are progressing with the
shop rebuild, but slowly. There is always a lot of red tape when dealing with
insurance companies and county permits.
We think it will be April or May before the rebuild is complete, but of
course it will depend on a lot of factors.
Thank you to everyone who has been hanging in there with me, I really
appreciate your support, understanding and generosity.
Also a big thanks goes out to
Greg of Aussie Pet Mobile, who has kindly given me the use of a mobile grooming
van three days a week. This has allowed
me to take some appointments at the Midway location as well as the vet clinic.
However, I am recovering from surgery at the moment so I will not be able to
work for a few weeks. I do have some
appointments available beginning in mid-March, for cats/small dogs only (under
30 lbs).
01-06-10
Happy New Year! I am looking forward to this year being a
better one. I have found a space in
which to work temporarily. It is
located at a Chico vet clinic (call me at 343-4729 or email for more info—I don’t want their
staff inundated with calls!). The space
is very small, I am limited to three days a week, and I can only groom a few
small dogs (30 lb and under) a day. If
I haven’t contacted you yet, please call me and I will try to get you an
appointment as soon as I can.
12-22-09
We think it may be a little while
before we can set up a temporary space, as businesses are tied up for the
holidays, everyone is going on vacation, and insurance companies, etc are
grinding to a halt until after the new year.
This is all complicated by the fact that I am scheduled for surgery in
January, and won’t be physically able to groom for a few weeks afterward. In
the meantime, I am recommending Denise at
“Dreadful Dog”, 530-894-7297 or
Terri at Acacia Veterinary Hospital, 530-345-1338. Most likely they will have
openings available after the new year.
12-18-09
Photos of the fire damages are here, if you want to see them. The contractors say it will be a
tear-down. As bad as it looks, they
indicated that the rebuild should be pretty straightforward and could be finished
by spring (barring any complications that may occur). In the meantime we will keep working on finding a temporary
space.
12-17-09
According to the fire
investigator, the cause of the fire appears to be a short in an exterior
lighting fixture. They said it was something that may have been smoldering for
hours, days, or even weeks and we never could have known. We are working with the insurance and are
trying to get an advance so that we can purchase new equipment and set up a
temporary grooming space, possibly a temporary office trailer or similar, as
soon as possible. I will keep updating
as things move forward.
12-16-09
I am in awe of the benevolence
extended by friends, clients, and total strangers after the devastating fire. I
have to consult a thesaurus to find the words. Many have asked where to send
donations, but I have been blessed with tremendous generosity and my immediate
needs are met. Thank you to everyone,
from the bottom of my heart.
12-15-09
Since the fire was put out we
have retrieved some client data, and we are now able to receive messages via
our landline at 530-343-4729. I will
keep working on contacting everyone personally but it will take some time as we
have a lot of calls to make. Thanks
again for your patience and understanding.
We have been meeting with
insurance adjusters and contractors and it’s a bit overwhelming to try to sort
out everything that was lost and figure out a game plan. We are working on finding a temporary
solution to operate the grooming business.
I don’t yet know how long all this will take; bear with us as we are
doing everything we can to get something set up as soon as possible.
I want to extend a tremendous and
sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support we have received. Everyone has been so wonderful and willing
to help. We are humbled to receive such
an outpouring of kindness and generosity in this difficult time.
12-11-09
FIRE!!
For those of you who came for
your appointment and found us closed, I apologize as the shop caught fire early
this morning. NO
ONE WAS HURT AND ALL ANIMALS ARE SAFE, that
is the most important thing. However,
there has been extensive damage. It will take some time to rebuild and much
client information was lost; we are trying to retrieve the data so that I can
contact everyone personally. In the
meantime you can email landopaws@aol.com
. Our power and phone is currently out
and we are relying on generators for internet access, so it may take some time
to connect, but I will try to keep you updated. I appreciate everyone’s patience and support and I will be in
contact as soon as possible.
9-15-09
Back from vacation and ready to
groom! People think I am crazy because
I actually miss work when I’m away for very long. I guess that’s what happens when you love what you do!
8-12-09
Whew, it’s been quite a
summer! We’re taking off for vacation
from September 1 – September 14, so Land of Paws will be closed during these
dates. We do have appointments available beginning in October.
5-12-2009
Ah, spring. The time of year when fur flies and hairy
beasties come out hibernation to get their spring ‘do. If you are a hairy beastie, we can help—but
there sure are a lot of you and there are only so many hours in a day! Currently we are booked about 3-4 weeks in
advance so if you are thinking about having a spring makeover, procrastination
is not recommended! Email us or call 530-343-4729 to reserve
your spot!
2-28-09
Look at that face. It belongs to Bigfoot, my current
foster child. Update: Biggie has found his new forever home! Congratulations to Biggie and Tony!
01-18-09
Happy New Year! I am looking forward to my second year at
the new digs. A few
people have asked whether the grooming rates will be going up. I admit I’m due for a raise, as I haven’t
raised rates for several years now, and as we all know the cost of everything
has gone up. But in an economy where
everyone is struggling, I am postponing raising rates as long as I can. I realize it takes everyone a bit more time
and gas to get to Land of Paws, and I appreciate your business!
09-06-08
Back from vacation and we’re
ready to watch the fur fly again! My
books are pretty full, as there’s always the post-vacation buildup of dirty
dogs, but I do have openings in about 3-4 weeks.
8-23-08
As of today I am on an official 2
week vacation. Whew! We’ve been going strong since the opening of
the new shop in February, and it’s time to come up for air! My books are full until about October 1, but
I’ll be back from vacation on September 6 so I’ll be available to talk with you
at that time. See you soon!
6-25-08
Summertime’s here! Everyone’s getting a refreshing summer ‘do
at the Land of Paws. I am happy to
report that the new boarding services have been working out very well for our
grooming clients. Our boarders are
enjoying spacious outdoor spaces to romp in, and fresh kiddie pools to cool
off. For added safety, I’ve been
closing the front gates when I’m not expecting appointments. So if you’re thinking about stopping by
early to drop off or pick up your pet, please call first! Otherwise you may be confronted with the
Freestep Fortress!
3-16-08
Thanks to all of you who have
made our new location a smashing success.
I’m absolutely loving it here, and the dogs and cats are too. It’s spring and the appointment book is
filling up quickly! Appointments are
available in 3-4 weeks. As the weather
gets warmer, I expect the books to be full for 6 weeks or more, so if you
anticipate a summer haircut for your pet, the time to book is NOW! Call 343-4729 or email for your reservation. We are open by appointment only.
Check out Bowie. He came to my shop via rescue from a
high-kill shelter. We didn’t know what
breed he was, or even if he was a boy or a girl! Turns out he’s a neutered male cocker mix, and cute as can
be. He is now in foster care.
3-02-08
Now
that I’ve moved to the new shop, one of the resident kittens has decided to
“help”. Click here for photos of Cracker, the
Shopcat!
2-17-08
The
big move to the new Midway location is finally complete. We still have a few cosmetic details to polish,
but the grooming facility is fully functional and I’m itching to get back to
work! Call 530-343-4729 or email me to reserve your appointment
now. My books are currently full until
March and continue to fill up quickly, so don’t hesitate! Click here for more info on the new
location.
11-22-07
Big
news--I will be moving to the new location on February
15, 2008! It’s exciting to
finally announce a date. Click here for more information on my new
grooming facility!
9-06-07
How time flies. Still some work to do on the new grooming facility, but we’ve gotten a lot done. It’s really shaping up to be fabulous, I think you’ll all be very pleased. Many of you have been asking about the new location, so I’ve put together a webpage with more information. Feel free to email me if you have questions.
3-31-07
Spring
is here, and I’m happy to announce that construction for the new grooming
facility is finally underway! There
have been lots of surprises along the way, both challenging and rewarding. I hope to begin taking appointments at the
new facility while also working at the existing Cohasset road location, to help
ease the transition.
1-13-07
Happy
New Year!
2006
was a busy year for me personally, with a lot of changes, both planned and
unplanned. I look forward to 2007 being
a bit more under control! Construction
for the new grooming facility is anticipated this spring. However, one thing I learned in 2006 is that
everything takes three times longer than you think it will! The home-business permit has been secured,
so that is one major hurdle cleared, and the next goal is to secure
financing. While I am eager to get the
new facility up and running, I also want to take the time to ensure things are
done right, so that my clients and their pets can enjoy a top-notch, state of
the art grooming experience. I will
keep everyone updated in the months to come.
9-22-06
Lots
of folks have been asking about the new property and when I’ll be moving the
shop… and the quick answer is, I don’t know!
But it WILL happen, it’s just a matter of time. I moved my household to the property in
June, and I’m loving it out here. I am
currently going through the permit process with the county, so that will be in
place when I am ready to start building.
I can’t wait to get the project underway, and I know many of you are
looking forward to it as well. Rest
assured that you all will receive plenty of notice when the move is imminent.
3-2-06
Land
of Paws has some exciting news: I have acquired property on which to build a
new, state-of-the-art grooming shop!
The property is located on the Midway between Chico and Durham, and is
situated on an acre of land surrounded by almond orchard. It’s just beautiful, and I’m very
excited. Big plans are in store and
hopefully construction can begin very soon.
For more information click here.
1-15-06
2006: Year of the Dog
Happy New Year!
10-6-05
Thanks
to all of you who have filled out my location survey. As many of you know, I am currently investigating the possibility
of purchasing land to construct a new shop.
Your response has been overwhelmingly positive. Here are the results so far:
1. How far from Land of Paws’ current location
would you be willing to drive?
Maybe
a mile or two: 6%
3-5
miles: 36%
6-10
miles: 34%
15
miles or more: 5%
I’d
follow you to the ends of the Earth!
18%
I go
to Land of Paws for its convenient location and wouldn’t want to drive to
another location: 1%
2.
Land of Paws is
considering offering a pickup and delivery service if the driving time/distance
is considerable. Would you take
advantage of this service?
Definitely:
17%
Maybe: 50%
Probably not:
28%
Definitely not:
5%
3.
What would
pickup/delivery service be worth to you, per grooming day?
$12-15: 8%
$6-10: 39%
$5: 24%
I wouldn’t want to pay extra for this service: 29%
4.
Land of Paws is
considering offering boarding services if the land is suitable. Would you take advantage of this service?
Definitely:
31%
Possibly:
52%
Probably not:
14%
Definitely not:
3%
Your input is appreciated!
8-19-05
Back
to School…. Summer is winding down and even though our weather is warm until
around October, I’ve seen some dogs growing in winter coat already! Remember that fall and winter grooming is
just as important as warm-weather grooming to keep your pet’s coat in top
condition. In fact, a longer coat
requires more maintenance than a short coat, so be sure to keep your grooming
on schedule.
I
will be away on vacation from Aug 29 – Sept 12. Don’t panic! There are
appointments available starting late September. Usually my schedule begins to open up around this time as the
summer rush is over.
7-1-05
Welcome
to summer!
Chico’s
hot temperatures are here and everyone’s trying to keep cool. The fur is flying at Land of Paws as the
cats and dogs get their summer haircuts and brush-outs! Appointments are filling up quickly as
always; there is currently a six week wait, but you can always get on the
cancellation/standby list to increase your chances of getting in sooner.
Land
of Paws is currently looking into the possibility of purchasing land to
construct a new shop. This is an
exciting idea as it will allow me to build a state of the art facility from the
ground up.
4/26/05
"Why is my dog so ITCHY?"
This spring I've been seeing an inordinate number of dogs
scratching and chewing themselves! While fleas are sometimes the culprit, many
of these dogs are already on flea control and there's not a bug to be seen.
Food changes can sometimes cause itching due to food allergies, though most of
these dogs have had no changes in their diet. What's going on??
I believe that the springtime allergy season around Chico
is worse than it has been in years. I myself have had terrible allergies this
year, as does almost every human I've talked to. Animals can suffer from springtime allergies too. My own dog, who does not generally suffer
from itchiness, has been wearing her hair down from scratching the last month
or so, and even her eyes are red and irritated.
Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done about the
pollen in the air, but we can make our furry kids more comfortable. A good bath
can help remove pollen and dust which clings to fur. Omega-3 fatty acids added
to the diet can help relieve the body's inflammatory response to allergens. The
best source of Omega-3 is fish oil, which can be found in capsule or liquid
form, in the vitamin section of the drugstore or supermarket. A bonus is that
dogs really like the taste of it! Also, Benadryl, an over-the-counter
antihistamine, can be given to dogs. Check with your veterinarian for your
dog's proper dose and safety precautions.
Appointments at Land of Paws are now available beginning in
June. Call or email now to reserve an appointment! Regular returning
clients do get preferential treatment!
4/3/05
Lots of updates to the website. Good news to those with a
slow internet connection, the Gallery and Cat Gallery pages are in a new, dialup-friendly format and some new pictures have
been added.
Spring has officially sprung and Land o'Paws is currently
booked until mid-May. But don't despair! Give me a call or an email to book your pet's warm-weather clip, and you may also sign in to the
cancellation list. Please remember that I can only take new dog clients that
are under 50 pounds. New cat clients are welcome!
2/23/05
Spring is just around the corner! If you will need a
warm-weather clip for your pet in the coming months, book it NOW! Space always
fills quickly March through September and Land o' Paws is often booked solid up
to 6 weeks in advance. So even if you don't want your pet's summer 'do until
May, call 530-343-4729 or email today to reserve your appointment.
Just for fun - 12/16/04
Ever wonder why your pet's haircut costs more than yours? Click here to find out!
News - 8/19/04
After twelve years of sharing the grooming operation with
several pairs of hands, Land o'Paws is now a one-groomer shop. I will
personally take your pet through every step of the grooming process, from the
bath and brush to the finishing touches. I will spend more time with each pet,
and this enables a better understanding of his or her needs, and a more
in-depth connection. In keeping with this new method, I am taking fewer clients
per day to maximize attention to each one.
Because of this change, my schedule has become booked
further in advance--currently about four to six weeks. Please take this into
consideration when making grooming plans for your pet. Booking your
appointments in advance is the best way to ensure your pet's needs are met in a
timely fashion.
In addition, I am unable to accept pets over 50 pounds at
this time. I am sorry for this, as I love the big dogs as much as the smaller
ones, but the physical limitations of a one-groomer operation dictate that I
must scale back. Should this situation change, I will update accordingly. Thank
you for your understanding.