Erica Swanger

Review of Happy Dog Cafe Boutique & Spa,...

I ve been shopping here for four or five years now...

I ve been shopping here for four or five years now. I remember the first time I walked in, I'd been searching for a groomer for a few months since I had just gotten a dog again for the first time since moving into the gaston county area. We'd tried a few places around town and not really been happy with anything we'd found. I think we got a flyer for Happy Dog from our vet but one way or another we found them and scheduled a bath. When I walked in a small pack of dogs came to say hello which I thought was just the coolest thing. After distrubuting pets to the pack I spoke to the nice young man behind the register who directed me very happily back to grooming. I think I made a comment to my husband about how happy that guy seemed at just being there. Found our way to grooming in the back and met with a lovely young lady that took her time to figure out everything we wanted and very expertly took my neurotic little one from my arms and wisked her away to bath time. I went back out to the store to check out the dog food selection which I was absolutely impressed by on first glance. Nearly all the best brands were here right in front of me! I didn t have to order them anymore and I was so excited to just dig in and see what they had. That happy young man from behind the register was right there ready to answer any questions I had. Of course I m so used to employees in the big box stores really having no idea what they re even selling I sort of dismissed him but he was persistent and piqued my intrest with a couple comments that demonstrated an at least passable knowledge of dog nutrition so I did quiz him a little with my little chihuahua who was allergic to absolutely EVERYTHING jfc that dog gave me gray hair trying to find her a food she could tolerate. Much to my surprise Brian (as I soon learned was the name of this happy young man) knew exactly what he was talking about and I could not trip him up and we settled on a new food I d try. In due time my baby was returned to me smelling wonderful, with an adorable little bandana and for the first time with any groomer ever not completely traumatized and shivering (did I mention she was a bit neurotic) I was blown away again. So needless to say I knew I d found my new dog place. I went home and posted a review immediately on facebook which led to Brian who it turns out is actually the co-owner of the store sent me a friend request on facebook. The very next time I was in the store maybe a month or two later Brian was there (does he ever leave?) and I was greeted BY NAME on walking in. Amazed and floored yet again! He remembered me, and he remembered my dog s name and her allergies and which food we had bought. Its been years now and we finally lost that dog last year and even through that Brian and Happy Dog have always been there for us. One of the groomers was kind enough to petsit for me for several days when I had a family emergency out of state.
Brian, his mother Teresa and all their staff are some of the most amazing people I ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I will never shop anywhere else for my fur children. These people have my undying loyalty for life.
They ve won best of Gaston in the pet categories for several years running and I can promise you you ll understand why the moment you walk in the door.