News from the Land o'Paws
1-17-2012
It's a new year and
my resolution is that I'm going to try to remember to update the news section
once a month! Land of Paws is happy to
announce that we are a distributor for Thundershirts. If you're not familiar with the Thundershirt, it's a soft fabric
jacket that fits snugly on the dog and helps reduce anxiety due to
thunderstorms, vet visits, fireworks, travel, etc. IT WORKS! I have a dog
who is afraid of loud noises; I got him a Thundershirt and it has helped him
tremendously. All sizes are $39.95 and
shipping is free if you need it. Give
me a call at 530-343-4729 or email me at landopaws@aol.com if you would
like a Thundershirt for your dog; we can make an appointment for a personal
fitting if you like! For more information
on the Thundershirt, click on the photo below.
12-10-2011
Just realized I
haven't updated the site in a while; ever since I got started on Facebook and making daily updates, I've
let the news page fall by the wayside!
The holidays are upon us, but I still have some appointments available
before Christmas, so call me soon for a pretty, fresh-smelling family member
for those holiday get-togethers! As a
holiday gift to my loyal year-round clients, you may bring a shopping bag and
help yourself to the lemon and orange trees in front of the shop!
7-26-2011
We've put together a
new links page for some of our
favorite places on the web. We're also
on Facebook, so you can check
for regular status updates, photos, and more!
6-29-2011
We'll be closed from
Thursday, June 30 until Tuesday, July 5.
We're letting the goats in to do some eco-friendly landscaping up front!
6-16-2011
If you have an
appointment coming up, be aware that they have been doing roadwork on the
corner of Midway and Hegan Lane, and there have been delays of up to 20
minutes. You can take the freeway to
Entler Ave to bypass this mess.
5-19-2011
Great news! Our credit card terminal is FINALLY up and
running. I can't believe how long it took to straighten that out. We are now
able to accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover as payment methods; we also
accept Paypal. For details on using
Paypal, email us. And, as always, cash and personal checks are
welcome!
The weather's warming
up and everybody wants to put away their winter coats! If your pet has been thinking about a trip to
Land of Paws for a thorough de-shedding or a spring haircut, now is the time to
call, as our books are filling up quickly.
We are now on Facebook!
Like us today!
2-28-11
Starting to look like
Spring! Everything is going great in
the new shop. We have a new foster
puppy, her name is Vinca and she is a German Shepherd. This one might be a keeper!
On a less happy note,
my work computer finally gave up the ghost after about ten years of faithful
service. This means I have lost about
six weeks' worth of appointments and data--so bear with me!
1-13-2011
The new digs are
going great. The re-design, ergonomics,
and state-of-the-art equipment are a great improvement. If anyone needs a general contractor, I have
nothing but good things to say about Tim McGrath. He has done beautiful, quality work here and is the most honest,
dependable, and ethical person you could hope to work with. He can be reached at 530-321-8080.
I want to extend a
big THANK YOU to my loyal clients who have stood by Land of Paws through the
past year. Your support and patience is
greatly appreciated and I look forward to bringing you clean, fresh, happy pets
for years to come!
12-26-2010
THE MIDWAY SHOP IS NOW
OPEN!
We got our final inspection,
moved in all our equipment, and everything is running smoothly. We're still fine-tuning a few things and
there are some minor construction details to clean up, but we are fully functional
and ready to go. See you there!
12-11-10
Today is the anniversary of the
fire, and I bathed the first dog in the new shop—my own filthy German
Shepherd! We are getting close--we have
power and running water, just need to put in some more equipment and get our
final inspection.
11-28-10
Looking good, ready to put
fixtures in and get the final coat of stucco, and then I can get to work in the
new salon. If you’ve heard my
announcement on KCHO, they jumped the gun a little on the timing… we’re not
quite open yet!
Rounded corners make it easy to
clean.
11-1-10
The rebuild is progressing
well. Hoping we’ll re-open by
Christmas, keep your fingers crossed!
10-10-10
Coming along…
9-26-2010
Hooray for progress! So far, construction of the new salon is
progressing smoothly and on schedule.
08-26-10
At last, the building permits
have been approved!! Construction has
finally begun, and if everything goes according to schedule, we should have a spanking
new grooming facility in December.
06-13-10
Unfortunately I don’t have much
news to report. Still waiting on
permits. Apparently the county has laid
off some people, so everything is going very slowly. Frustrating, but all we can do is be patient, I guess.
04-24-10
We are ready to start building,
just waiting on county permits. They
are requiring the building to be ADA compliant, so that has created additional
delays… and will require additional funds that insurance will not cover. But it will get done. My contractor has gone above and beyond the
call and has been so great in spite of all the red tape with insurance, the
mortgage company and the county. If anyone
needs a contractor I cannot say enough good things about Tim McGrath (he’s in
the phone book).
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.