Fur-Baby Boutique — pampering pets while helping the community [video + photos]

Sherry Shupe didn’t love her job, she loved to volunteer in animal shelters and she decided to turn what she loved into her job.

Sherry Shupe doesn’t have any kids, at least not the two legged kind, all of her kids have four legs, and she calls them her ‘fur-babies’.

“A lot of our parents who come in say they feel the same way. Whether they have two legged children or not,” Sherry said.

When Sherry realized she was spending more time volunteering in animal shelters than at her day job, she decided to turn that love of helping animals into her job, and Fur-Baby Boutique was born.

“I just kind of sat down and thought there has got to be a way for me to make what I love my career,” Sherry said.

It’s clear from the moment you walk into the store that Fur-Baby cares about your pet. There are bowls of water on the floor for your pet, as well as treats at the ready.

The staff takes great care to get to know you and your pet, to help find the right product or service to meet their needs.

If you stop into the daycare section, the dogs are playing together, interacting and having a good time.

Dogs are separated by size and temperament, and the day we were there, they all generally were having fun together. They were playing and wrestling and chasing each other, like children at the playground after school.

The same goes for the spa. The dogs we saw the day we were there were regulars, they actually seemed to enjoy the attention and were very relaxed. Sherry says some of their regular customers report the dogs actually get excited when they realize they are going to Fur-Baby.

Starting a new business can be scary. Sherry said she wasn’t sure if the community would share in her vision. Luckily, Sherry says, the local community has been very welcoming to Fur-Baby.

“There is a great need for people to have a source that cares about their pet’s well being as much as they do,” Sherry said.

Sherry still helps out local animal shelters by getting pets cleaned up and ready for their new home at the Fur-Baby spa. The store also hosts fundraising events for the shelters; monthly adoption days in the store; as well as discount vaccination days, and events are open to the public.

If you have ever worked in a retail environment, you know the hours can be tough, you are normally on your feet all day, but it can also be fulfilling.

When Fur-Baby’s doors open every day, the dogs are ready to come in, and they show it.

“They [the dogs] are waiting at the door and they’re wagging their tails and they are ready to play, so the mom’s happy, the dad’s happy, the dog’s happy and it’s really fulfilling.”

You can get more information on Fur-Baby and events going on at the store when you visit them on the web