Extraordinary Women Paving the Way in the Pet Industry

March is a monumental month in Women’s History. 

In March 1923, women gathered to march in Washington, D.C. for their right to vote. 

In March 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed in the Senate. 

And now, every March, we celebrate Women’s History Month and shine a light on the fearless women who have paved and continue to pave the way for others.

Just 100 years ago, women did NOT have the right to vote… 

And now, at Pet Boss Nation®, we get to watch countless women leaders within the pet industry make brand new history and set the stage for so many women to come. 

And we’re taking the opportunity to showcase some of those amazing women!

The Women of The Pup Relief Tour

The Pup Relief Tour is an initiative that was launched by Brian Taylor, the owner of Harlem Doggie Day Spa. The Pup Relief Tour’s mission is to offer assistance to struggling pets and their owners, and in February 2023, they took their mission all the way to Nigeria on a partnership trip with the Paragon School of Pet Grooming. 

Three amazing and talented women Pup Relief Tour ambassadors went on the trip and taught Nigerian locals various grooming skills so they could better care for their pets’ long-term wellness. The women who donated their time to this trip were LaBree Blaxon, owner of Fluffy By Nature Pet Grooming, Latonya Smith, owner of LC’s Detroit Salon, and Gianna Richardson, owner of Gia Styles Grooming. 

They are all shining examples of women-owned businesses that are making a difference in their local communities, across the world, AND for future generations.  

This video highlights the reasons why these women strive to be an example of a minority-owned business in the pet industry. The work they are doing is paving the way for more people of color to step into a career in the pet industry with confidence as they lead the way! 

Callie Shackelford of Fluffy Mutt Grooming Spa 

Callie Shackelford, the owner of Fluffy Mutt Grooming Spa, Pet Boss Club® Member, and recent winner of the Pets+ Magazine’s America’s Coolest contest has so much to be proud of (and we’re proud of her too!) 

Callie’s story was featured on Pets+ Magazine’s website as inspiration for others to chase after their crazy pet industry dreams. Callie’s initial struggle started with pregnancy at just 17 years old, but that didn’t crush her drive. In fact, it gave her more motivation! You can read Callie’s full feature Pets+ Magazine article here. 

Using tax refund money, Callie started her own grooming business with less-than-ideal supplies and just 500 square feet of space to work in. Her artistic abilities and entrepreneurial spirit took her the distance, and Callie went from working solo seven days a week to growing a team that needed more and more space each year. 

Being a very successful business owner still has its struggles– including losing money to a contractor in an attempt to expand her space further in August 2022. But Callie has built a lasting and responsible team that can keep the business running smoothly while she handles the business-owner side of things, which she does with grace and confidence! 

Fluffy Mutt is known for its creativity and fun add-on services, including seasonal backdrops so they can snap some model-worthy shots of your pup post-groom. In fact, many of Callie’s ideas are featured inside our Pet Boss Club® membership (members, you can find this under “Spa Packages” inside the portal!)

Fluffy Mutt Grooming Spa now has a roster of 3,000-plus clients, with 95% booked as repeat business, and they only continue to grow more from here!

More women just like YOU. 

In a recent email, we asked some women in the pet industry to reply and BRAG on themselves… because they deserve to acknowledge their accomplishments, and we love reading about them! 

We had such an overwhelming response, which we ADORED. We got to read about so many women making huge moves in the pet industry, and we’re so proud of what you’re doing and honored that you were willing to share your story with us! 

Here are a few highlight responses from some of our Pet Boss Club® Members: 

“Doggie Sweets is a woman-owned business. I am the owner, and my 3 daughters are the queen of our social media, bakers/events, and food truck for dog operations. This business keeps evolving and just gets more enjoyable as we progress.  Seeing the customers enjoy and appreciate the products I hand-pick is the most rewarding part of my business.” -Patty Dill, Doggie Sweets

“I have been in business for 6 years, and I must say PROUD that I was able to keep my business afloat during the pandemic. I retired from the Veterinary World and started my business. I’m not a typical Pet Sitter, Dog Walker & Pet Hospice business. I understand the importance of having and communicating to the Veterinary Staff. I pride myself on bridging that gap and host webinars, newsletters, and events to help educate my clients.” – Charan Favazza of Rusty’s Furry Companions

“I had a lot of people saying I had to choose something different, I should move because I am based no were near a big city and so on. A lot of people also said this could be a hobby but never a business. And today we grew to a team of 3 females (and also 2 trainers) for our dog training and dog shop.” -Kathleen den Dekker, The Dog Company

“I own the Milwaukee Dog Club, we are Wisconsin’s first Latina-owned pet supply business, specializing in natural dog foods, treats, and toys. We work hard to center the canine experience by promoting dog health, enrichment, sustainability, and community.”– Daniela Perez, Milwaukee Dog Club

We’d love to hear more stories from women in the pet industry! Be sure to join our free Facebook group for pet industry professionals here and introduce yourself and your journey! 

Learn more with us!

• Need 1:1 support to make massive action now? Book a discovery call with us to see if working 1:1 with Candace is the right fit for you.

• Get on the waitlist! You’re passionate about pets. It’s time to have a business that supports the life you want, too! Learn the specific techniques to find new customers, to increase sales and to build a better team for ANY kind of pet business by joining the Pet Boss Club! Get on the waitlist here.