Posted on 07/18/2013 7:17:15 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Dog Tired Dogs cage-free setting offers owner new beginning
Glendale Downsized and downtrodden, Susan Taylor was in life's doghouse.
Decades ago, she had been in the prosperous business of supplying ingredients to Milwaukee's brewers. As that business began to taper off in the 80s and 90s, Taylor was one of many shown the door when her employer was snapped up by a larger company.
Suddenly outside an industry for which she had cultivated a particular skill set, Taylor went on a 15-year "journey to find out what to do with my life" a long and difficult journey that cost her a marriage. As time wore on, she bounced between trades, at times working as a micro-lender, recruiter and eventually a fast food worker and a maid.
"I ended up going down the food chain as the years went along," Taylor said. "I did whatever it took to pay the bills."
New opportunity
About a year-and-a-half ago, Taylor was down to her last nickel, she said, on her knees and praying to God, when an opportunity presented itself. The owner of Glendale-based Dog Tired Dogs, a cage-free kennel, was looking to sell.
Taylor took a chance, gambling the balance of her retirement account on the venture after she was denied bank financing.
"It was the only way I could fund it," Taylor said.
But why risk her last shred of financial security on dogs? Simply put, she loves them.
"They're funny," Taylor said. "They're not judgmental. They care about you. They're everything you want a person to be."
Area demand didn't hurt either. Dog Tired's clientele, Taylor said, is largely composed of successful business people who commute to downtown Milwaukee every day and frequently travel.
(Excerpt) Read more at glendalenow.com ...
A curious Bubba peers over a fence at Dog Tired Dogs
Good Luck and God Bless to her.
woof!
Woof ping.
Great story
and inspirational
thanks
Wisconsin entrepreneur riskes all on dog business
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
LOL!
My Rufus, driving to The Big City today for a Play Date!
There's one of these Doggy Daycare Centers up the road from my garden center. Man, Oh, MAN is it popular! Looks really fun, too. The dogs have a great play area with pools and stuff to climb on, etc. It's also a Vet's Office and a Boarding Kennel. The woman who built it is a freakin' GENIUS, I tells ya!
I've often thought of converting my pole barn into either a bigger chicken coop, or a number of luxurious kennels to board other people's dogs. I still may do that one day; loves me my Multiple Streams of Income!
I know two people who bought a dog kennel in Orange County (CA)last week.
I can understand totally why someone, while searching for the meaning of life, would find the answer in dogs.
I can tell you what I have learned from dogs during my time on this earth.
Love is the only thing that matters. When we reach the end of our time here, love is the only thing we ever had, and the only thing we can take with us when we go. Nothing else matters at all.
The love between man and dog and dog and man is true and honest. Speaking for myself, I value it more anything than else.
“A tired dog is a good dog”.
Good for her.
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