Happy Dogs

05/31/2024

Two seniors and a rescue❤️

05/23/2024

04/25/2024

🐶🐾🦴💈🛁✂️😂

04/18/2024

The heartbreak continues at Happy Dogs💔 I received another one of those dreaded messages yesterday. Alex has been my buddy for years. He was the happiest boy and silly as well. When he would get out of the tub he’d run around on my drying table like a nut😂 He always came happy and was so good. A lovable little fluffball💙 He was quite animated and goofy but loved to be held and hugged. I’m tired of my dogs passing. I know there are more to come and as I’ve said before, I knew this is what the end years of my (approaching 38yrs)grooming would be like when I downsized to special needs and elderly dogs only. It never gets easier. I will certainly miss this little guy and I know his family is deeply heartbroken. Rest in peace little boy🙏🏻 You were loved and will not be forgotten😢

04/12/2024

I’ve been putting off doing this because as you know it makes me so sad. Within the span of a few weeks we said goodbye to these two tiny babies. The messages I receive from grieving dog moms are those I dread reading. Each of these little ones was unique. They both had reasons for me to keep grooming them. They both needed extra care and a gentleness that I wouldn’t be able to give as much of if I worked in a hectic environment. No dogs are the same and have individual personalities and needs. These two always made me smile even on their worst days. I will miss them both💔 Rest in peace Ella and Stitch🙏🏻 You were two very special little dogs🩷💙

04/09/2024

Behind with posting these cutie pie pups!!! 🐶🐾🦴🩷💙

02/29/2024

My cousin made these for me. I sent her a picture of a dog hat I saw and asked if she could make them. She’s really talented with her knitting and crocheting business and whipped them up right away. I have two for sale. If you’re interested in one please let me know. She is donating 100% of the profit to her local Humane Society❤️

02/23/2024

❤️🐾💙🦴🩷🛁💜💈

02/19/2024

A little late with the Valentine dogs! Here are the kids from last week🩷💙❤️🩷💙❤️🩷💙

02/08/2024

Have I ever said “I love my job”? Yep, many times. It just doesn’t get any better when you love what you do. Some days are hard emotionally & physically but it’s worth it. I find ways to do things for dogs to make it easier & less stressful for them. Sometimes that requires me to bend and contort into uncomfortable positions. Most often I don’t even realize I’m doing it until something begins to hurt😬For dogs who are very old and have difficulty standing for drying, I have been hopping on the table and putting them on my lap. The big dogs are comforted by laying their head on my shoulder or putting their forehead up to mine. Some just want me to hold their hand. (Yes, hand) I’m in my own little world while in my shop. I like people but working with dogs is way better😉 Once in a while I think I should’ve chosen a different career. One with benefits would’ve been nice! But that thought quickly goes away when I realize I’m doing exactly what I was made for. Not a single benefit ever but I don’t have other people’s drama, complaining, gossip or any other crap that goes with most jobs. I’m free to do what I enjoy on my time my way. No boss, no micro management, no HR, no BS, no one telling me to hurry up and do X amount of dogs because corporate is all about the money. I want no part of that world!

Sorry to those that escaped their photo shoot! I’ll get you next time.

02/04/2024

Finally had a couple hours to finish these blankets for dogs in a shelter. A dear friend who is the mom to Miss Stella donated all of the fleece. I had tags made so the dogs new owners will have a piece of Stella’s heart even long after she’s done on this earth. Miss Stella is an old sweet dog that I have groomed for many many years. I made cat toys out of the leftover pieces that I cut off the edges of the blankets. Thank you, Deborah Ann Evenson Wittenberg and Cassie Wilhelm!!! You’ve helped me be able to give some warm and snuggly blankets & toys to pets in need. I don’t always have extra money to gift to shelters but I can donate my time to make an animal’s day a little brighter. Thank you Cassie for telling me that your mom has a ton of fleece that I could use🩷🐶🐾🦴🐈‍⬛ I can’t wait to deliver them!!!

(9 big dog blankets 6 little dog and 10 cat toys)

01/29/2024

Winnie and her boyfriend, Bentley🩷 This is what they do every time he comes😂

01/24/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wEowmLWPe3t8VcAu/?mibextid=WC7FNe

** Update: Kali is safe!!

Kali is a newly adopted, extremely skittish mini Aussie missing in the White Bear Lake, MN area. She was last seen on the borders of Grant/Hugo/WBL. She was out on a potty break with her new canine siblings when she wriggled out of her sliplead and ran. This beautiful girl is very friendly but really scared. Please keep an eye on any security cameras you may have and quietly check your properties for signs of her. Please do not go out searching for her. We need her to feel safe and not threatened wherever she is hiding. Please DO NOT CHASE, FOLLOW, or YELL OUT TO HER! Please call or text iimmediately with sightings.
__________________________________________

Dog's Name: Kali
Date Lost: January 23, 2024
Date Retrieved: January 24, 2024
Case Manager: Courtney Raney
First Responder: Cris Lovelace
_________________________________________

01/23/2024

🐶🐾🦴🛁✂️💈🩷💙

01/02/2024

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ-Good morning Happy Dog mom’s & dad’s. Recently I have been letting some of you know that I will be hanging it all up this spring. I just got another cortisone injection but this time not my hands but rather my elbow🙄 My body has taken a beating for almost 38yrs of grooming. I must tell you that my heart is just not ready to close my shop yet. So if you’re all willing to just hang with me until I make that final decision I’d very much appreciate it. The day will come when my door never opens again and right now I just don’t know when that will be. You may end up with a shorter notice than I wanted to give. For now I’ll continue grooming until for one reason or another I can’t. I have very few dogs left and I can’t bring myself to move them to a new groomer if I don’t have to. Please bear with me. The decision to hang it up is a difficult one. If I was a person who didn’t care about my dogs it would be easier to close the door. Dang it! Why am I so softhearted with animals???

12/20/2023

More fur babies ready for Christmas. It’s hard to believe that these dogs let me do silly things let alone go along with it😂 After I finish a dog is the best part! I get to put whatever I want on them and then start snapping pics, LOTS of pics! It takes a while to sort through and choose my favorites. Of course there has to be a little play time too😉

12/14/2023

I have been holding off on writing this. It’s gotten to the point where it’s too sad for me to pour my heart out about all the dogs who pass. I just can’t do it anymore. These kind of posts are coming far too often which I expected when I chose to take only the elderly and special needs dogs for the remainder of my career. From now on there will be a simple post to honor these dogs but I want all of you to know that I truly do love my grooming dogs. Some I’ve had their entire life and others came because they heard about me from another customer. I build relationships with your dogs that you will never understand. It really hurts when they’re gone. Yes, even the not so easy to work with dogs. This little guy is Milo. I’ve groomed him for many many years including his two sisters who passed away awhile back. Milo was a funny, lovable, cuddly dog and oh so good for grooming! I’ll miss him in the same way I still miss his sisters. RIP little one🙏🏻 I’ll see you again some day💔

12/14/2023

🎄⛄️🎁🐶🐾🦴🎄⛄️🎁🐶

12/06/2023

🎄✝️🎅🏼🎁⛄️❄️❤️💚

11/11/2023

Another little girl gone💔 Lilly was 15 yrs old and had a wonderful life with a family who adored her. She was a gentle little dog. Not long ago she got Cushing’s disease😢 Her mom did all she could for her but recently it got worse so the difficult decision had to be made. Every 5 weeks she came through my door to get all prettied up! Grooming was not her favorite thing to do but she was good for it. When she was done she would wait by the gate for her mom to come back and as much as I tried to get her to crawl into the compfy bed she would sit on the cold floor. Silly girl! RIP Lilly🙏🏻 You will be missed 💔

10/31/2023

🎃🦁🐷🧙‍♀️🕷️💩🎃🦁🐷🧙‍♀️🕷️💩

10/11/2023

Winnie loves her school and just completed her 3rd beginner agility class. I said I wouldn’t get another dog after Mr. Tooty until I had time to train a dog. Life certainly hasn’t slowed down but somehow I find the time to work with her. She’s good for me and I love seeing her do the things she thrives on. We have work to do but I’m just going to enjoy one day at a time with her.

10/11/2023

🎃 🕷️🎃🕷️🎃🕷️🎃🕷️🎃🕷️🎃🕷️