Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Phillips.
Hi Mary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up in Loudoun County, I spent a good part of my childhood taking horseback riding lessons and working on farms for fun. In high school I moved on from stable work to pet sitting where I learned the many different lifestyles that pets can lead. Throughout my college career I worked at a therapeutic horseback riding facility as an Assistant Instructor and Director’s Assistant. Right after receiving my B.A. in English, I jumped in to Veterinary Technician School. With two years of school under my belt and a novel size list of experience, I began my journey to learn first-hand all I could in the animal industry. The list of different industries is vast: dog daycare, animal boarding, veterinary technician work in shelters/hospitals/mobile, pet-sitting, training, equine care, zoo internship, dog grooming and community outreach education programs. Through my experience over the years, I found that many businesses that claim to be pet friendly and loving were only referring to those pets that loved back easily. The fearful dogs, anxious dogs and full on aggressive dogs had no welcoming space to go without being judged (my dog included). With this realization it was time to do the only thing that made sense: open a business that offered a welcoming environment to all. Pawsh Dog Wash was born.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening a business is already a hard task, and somehow it became even harder for me. A month after signing the lease to my business space, Covid hit the US. It delayed my opening, ruined the construction process and made getting clientele hard the first year. Two months after opening, I was involved in a car accident that damaged my shoulder and neck limiting how the shop ran since I was basically a one woman show. A year after opening I developed an ovarian tumor and almost lost my life. From medical treatment for that and surgery, it pulled me from the shop during the start of the second year with my shop being run by friends and volunteers to keep the doors open. A few months after recovery I began experiencing other medical issues and began the long and arduous process of finding specialized treatment and searching for an accurate diagnosis. During this time, I was in and out of the shop for medical procedures and during one of my visits to John Hopkins was involved in a hit and run that totaled my car and left me damaged for several months. By the fourth year I had undergone 2 surgeries, over three dozen diagnostic treatments, dealt with 3 car accidents, cared for my dog who had been diagnosed with liver cancer, was bed ridden for two months with pneumonia and on the business side had dealt with over a dozen flooding instances, contractor fraud that damaged and ruined my shop space, multiple HVAC issues on top of regular small business struggles and maintenance. During year five I underwent residential medical treatment for my mental health after the passing of my dog. Norman was my biggest motivator in starting a business and had been my best friend for twelve years through all the hardship. Losing him and dealing with the hardships of the business became too much. My friends and team supported me though and held the shop together as best they could in my absence. Now, in our sixth year, I have had another surgery and still undergoing treatment for a spinal fluid disease, neurological issues and continued testing for other medical issues I have developed since opening a business. I have become more administrative in my shop but still put my heart and soul into it every day for the sake of the pets and my team. My determination to continue to give the care I set out to provide will never be wavered no matter the hurdle I face.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pawsh Dog Wash exists for the sole purpose of giving your pet the best hygienic care we can through means that are best suited for them. We do not believe in one single way to handle every pet. Some dogs require slow and steady during their visit while others need a more firm tone and hand. No two dogs were created equal and we understand that. At Pawsh we do not force things on your dog that we do not find necessary. Some places will try to sell Blueberry Facials, mud baths and specialized treatments- we don’t believe in that, and we don’t believe your pet should tolerate more than necessary for their health and hygiene. We understand you want your pet to look a certain way when they come in for grooming; however, we do not believe that the risk of lowering your pet’s health and well-being is worth the cost of looking the way you had in mind. Our ultimate goal will always be to have your dog leaving with a healthier coat than what they had upon arrival. If there are mats, we will be honest with you on what needs to be done. Unfortunately, in a lot of matting cases, shaving is the main option for fixing the problem. Some mats can be combed out, but the pain of tugging and pulling for several hours is not worth the agitation and stress it causes your pet. We are here for your pet. Grooming is a stressful process before adding anything else; we are not trying to make it worse for them. At no point do we question that you love your pet. We give our clients the honest transparency they would expect from friends and those who care. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: healthy and happy pets.
Norman’s story is highly recommended if you haven’t read it yet on our website. He is our motivator and mascot for all that we do at Pawsh. For a good portion of his life he was turned away from grooming salons, daycares and pet gatherings because he was a bit more fearful than other dogs. Being a rescue, he had gone through a lot of abuse prior to being rescued by me. Having gone through many rejections, we here at Pawsh are determined to make every pet feel welcomed no matter their personality or background or breed. All dogs deserve a chance to feel clean and healthy. With this in mind, we have created a safe space for fearful dogs, dog-aggressive dogs, people-aggressive dogs and anything in between so that we can do everything possible to achieve the best outcome for your pet. From multiple entry points into our business to tubs that have their own area where your pet doesn’t have to walk by people or dogs, we have tried our best to give all sorts of pets the opportunity to get the care they need. No pet deserves to be discriminated against.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Sharing on social media is always appreciated. We also love doing partnerships with educational purpose or community aide.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pawshdw.com
- Instagram: pawshdw
