The Dogfather of Harlem heads to Chicago, Cincinnati and Detroit in summer 2022
Dog groomer's quest to complete free grooming for 10,000 dogs
Writer’s note: While this 12-day tour is complete, the Dogfather of Harlem is heading to Nigeria in February 2023 to offer free dog grooming training in Lagos.
Brian Taylor, the owner of Harlem Doggie Day Spa, is at it again. This summer, “the Dogfather of Harlem” and his team will travel to Cincinnati on July 25-26, Detroit on July 29-30, and Chicago on August 2-3 for free dog grooming services courtesy of the Pup Relief Tour.
With 50 volunteer dog groomers in tow, the pet grooming team will help pet parents in financial distress. While 78% of new pet owners got a four-legged roommate during the pandemic, some found out the hard way that pet expenses can be tough—and Taylor is using his expertise to assist where needed (and too often overlooked).
Recommended Read: “Job negotiations: Health and pet benefits ~ Are pet insurance benefits rivaling human insurance perks for 2022 job seekers?”
“If someone can save $75 for grooming services and use that toward an important bill or food, it gives people a break and their pet is healthier,” said Taylor in a one-on-one interview with Shamontiel, the creator of Black Girl In a Doggone World.
Dog owners would be required to fill out an application, pre-book an appointment online and then fill out a questionnaire in person to help the team understand their financial need for the grooming.
“After 15 tours, I have learned that when these dogs come to us, we can see the shape they are in — and a high percentage are not in good shape,” said Taylor. “For other attendees, they come to simply support us and we have accepted walk-ups so no one feels left out if we can accommodate them.”
The Pup Relief Tour isn’t stopping until they groom 500 dogs during this third-time tour — with an end goal of eventually visiting all 50 states (plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico) by 2028. The first 300 dogs will be serviced in Cincinnati followed by 100 free dog grooming services in Detroit and Chicago.
As a Chicago native, the Black Girl In a Doggone World had to ask about whether this would be his first trip to the Windy City.
“I have never traveled to Chicago and am really looking forward to meeting the pet parents there,” he continued. “I'm really passionate about bringing people together and uplifting pet professionals through these tours. My goal is to groom 10,000 dogs.”
Recommended Read: “No, professional dog walkers aren't just teens ~ Being an African-American dog walker is rare but lucrative”
ADVERTISEMENT ~ Paw
While the immediate goal is to make the dogs even cuter than they already are, this three-city tour is also Taylor’s opportunity to network with local rescues, shelters and black-owned pet businesses (BOPBs).
“I’m hoping to continuously find people who love animals and are interested in seeking a career path as a groomer,” he said. “Because it is a very cool profession that gives back. We focus on providing advice and tips to pet parents about the importance of maintaining their pet's grooming for optimum health and well-being.”
Other dog lovers (and dog owners) who want to support the initiative can assist in a few different ways:
Donate to the nonprofit 501(c) via GoFundMe
Physical donations:
Food and/or water bottles for the grooming team
Pet supplies as giveaways to the pet parents
Donations will be accepted on site at the grooming locations: Wesley Chapel Mission Center in Cincinnati (Community Center), Canine to Five in Detroit and Porche Paws Parlor in Chicago. Passersby may catch a glimpse of the tables, tents, signs and balloons in the parking lots, or hear the music near the mobile grooming vans. There will also be a before-and-after photo booth so dog owners can show off their dogs’ new ‘dos.
For more information on this tour and other upcoming events, visit DogfatherOfHarlem.com or PupReliefTour.com.
Shamontiel is a dog lover to her core: 500 completed walks with 84 dogs, eight dog-housesittings and six dog boardings at the time of this publication.
Did you enjoy this post? You’re also welcome to check out my Substack columns “Black Girl In a Doggone World,” “BlackTechLogy,” “Homegrown Tales,” “I Do See Color,” “One Black Woman’s Vote,” “Tickled,” “We Need To Talk” and “Window Shopping” too. Subscribe to this newsletter for the weekly posts every Wednesday.
If you’re not ready to subscribe but want to support my writing, you’re welcome to tip me for this post! I’ll buy a dark hot chocolate on you. Thanks for reading!