A Word from Amy
Happy St. Patrick's Day and welcome to the March issue of the Happy Tails Dog Spa™ newsletter!
It doesn't take a leprechaun to notice how lucky the staff and management team have been this year. Between our very generous customers who keep us well-fed and our enthusiastic franchisees, we couldn't ask for more!
Last weekend I was proud to be at the Grand Opening celebration of our Houston franchise, and last month we sold our seventh franchise to be located in Chicago, IL.
In just a few weeks we will be opening our second corporate location in North Bethesda, MD. With all of this activity, including moving our corporate office to North Bethesda, our newsletter will be going on hiatus until early summer. In the meantime we hope you will check out the archives where we have all of our previous issues.
Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful and safe St. Patrick's Day.
Cheers,
Amy Nichols
President and CEO
Happy Tails Dog Spa™, LLC
Happy To Be Here, Inc
PS - If you haven't already done so, make sure you check-out our LIVE webcams!
Houston, TX Grand Opening
Congratulations to Don Puryear, who opened the first Happy Tails Dog Spa™ franchise location in Houston on Saturday, March 11!
Area business leaders, political dignitaries, company officials and dozens of local families and dog enthusiasts were on hand for the ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, grand opening entertainment included a caricaturist, games for kids and dogs and ongoing tours of the facility.
Puryear, a franchise broker, attorney and entrepreneur, first learned about Happy Tails Dog Spa(tm) franchise opportunities when he was researching dog day care services in Harris County, TX to send his two dogs.
Julie Dow, previously an employee at Puryear's court reporting agency, has been named the franchise's
general manager and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the
spa. Dow has been in the industry for almost 20 years as a pet health product representative, a veterinary assistant, a dog-sitter and a groomer. Needless to say, she's quite qualified to run a Happy Tails Dog Spa™.
Puryear lives in Houston with his two-year-old Yorkshire Terriers, Spike and Daisy. Dow also lives in Houston with her three dogs: Flash, a 13-year-old mixed Bullmastiff, Putney, an 11-year-old Rat Terrier; and Zasha, a two-year-old Great Pyrenees mix.
Happy Tails Dog Spa™ to Open In Chicago
Congratulations to Peter Zammer of Plainfield, Ill., who plans to open his own Happy Tails Dog Spa™ this summer in the suburbs of Chicago!
After living in the area for a number of years and sampling different pet services, Zammer decided in January to leave his sales career and commit his time to starting his new business.
He plans to oversee the day-to-day operations of the center, supervising the dog day care, spa and other guest services. His wife, Colleen, plans to support the business at night and on weekends as she continues her career as a technical director at Diageo, an international beverage manufacturer.
The Zammer's reside in Plainfield, Ill. with their two Shiba Inus: a four-year-old male, Sake, and a three-year-old female, Mika.
Unique Health Benefits of Owning a Dog
Don't take the love your dog gives you for granted, his companionship can be one of the best things for you.
A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that pet owners were more likely to survive a heart attack than those without pets. Pet owners also have lower blood pressure, lower levels of stress and reduced occurrences of physical aches and pains than non-pet owners.
 Part of the reason is the amount of extra exercise pet owners receive. Most owners don't realize that walking along side a four-legged friend, or engaging in a playful game of catch, burns many calories and counts toward their recommended dose of daily exercise.
Even if you aren't running around the yard with your dog, the most simple and enjoyable activity, such as sitting on the couch petting your dog, can alleviate stress levels and help lower blood pressure. Because of this natural reaction, many therapy pets are used in nursing homes as well as during situations where adults and children have been involved in traumatic events. So, the next time your dog gives you extra love and affection be sure to thank him.
Spring Leash Safety and Walking Tips
Even though your dog may look uncomfortable tugging ahead of you, leashes ultimately protect your dog while he's eagerly exploring the world. In fact, when used properly, most dogs do not mind wearing a leash at all!
 A leash prohibits your dog from chasing other animals, cars and people and in the case of an emergency, it also keeps the dog close to you. Most counties and cities have "leash laws" to promote the safety and comfort for dog owners, their dogs and pedestrians. Compliance with these laws allows owners and their dogs to enjoy the outdoors while addressing community concerns of dogs running loose.
Keep the following tips in mind when using a leash:
If the leash fits. Use smaller leashes for smaller dogs and larger leashes for larger dogs.
Don't yank or pull. This might cause serious injury to your dog.
Be patient. If your pet refuses to obey your commands, remain patient and use a friendly voice to attract his attention.
Watch for entanglement. Do not allow your dog to get tangled with people while on leash, as injuries may result from this behavior.
Leash maintenance: If you notice that the leash is unstable, loose or broken, it is paramount that you replace it immediately.
It is important to practice safe leash etiquette and always remain attentive to your dog's behavior when he is on a leash. It will keep you on friendlier terms with your neighbors, and could save your dog's life!
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