Help Paws on Main Get Legs

Paws on Main is a pet grooming business that we dreamed up as a couple. We fell in love by bonding over dogs. When M's dachshund, Harvey, first met Tucker and forbade her from leaving, it began one of the best changes of our lives. Then we adopted Artie (a Yorkipoo!) into our family, which began our exploration into the pet care world. This, in turn, led us to realize how important it is to ensure that everyone's pets receive the best quality care. Paws on Main is our way of sharing our love with the world and the pets that enrich all our lives. It would mean so much to us to be able to take care of other people's furry family members.

Unfortunately, it hasn't been easy going, even with all the care we took when we set out on this endeavor. Originally, we tried to pay for this project entirely by ourselves: we scrimped, we saved, I cashed in my retirement fund, she did the same with savings bonds left to her by her grandfather. We reached out to family to ask for loans.  But for as careful and frugal as we have been and as independent as we have tried to be, circumstances beyond our control have kept pushing our budget to the breaking point. Now, as weeks have become months, we've realized that our last option is to reach out to our community for that last little bit we need to get us to the finish line. 

Some of the unexpected issues we have run into:
*The bank rezoned the property AFTER we had committed to purchasing it. This rezone would have made it impossible for us to use the property as a business. We had to fight to revert back to the original zoning, which included hiring architects, civil engineers, and surveyors.

*The rezoning also triggered a change to the codes and regulations the building was liable for and required extensive renovations, above and beyond the ones we'd already planned to make. Even though we reverted back to the original zone, we are still liable for those renovations - some of which included hidden swathes of cloth wiring, which is expensive to replace safely.

*Multiple contractor delays, including some so egregious that we needed to fire the contractors involved. We are pursuing damages, but that requires more time (and frankly, more money). We also need to hire another architect in order to get our modifications approved by the town.

*Unexpected damages, like our newly installed water pipes loosening and costing hundreds of dollars in clean up - hot water that we were also liable for.  An infestation of squirrels from the previous owner's neglect. Damage to plaster and lathing which more than doubled our waste disposal fees.

We are so close to being able to open our doors this summer, to having our dream business become a reality. We would be so grateful if we could have help to cover the completion of the business space and purchase equipment to provide quality care to the pets that come into our shop. We're hoping to pull together the final ten thousand dollars that should clear away the last of these hurdles, of which this three thousand dollar fundraiser would be part. All funds raised, including those in excess of the asked-for three thousand dollars, will go towards that ultimate ten thousand dollar goal.

Furthermore, in gratitude, any named donation over 35 dollars will receive a free dog bath once Paws on Main finally opens its doors.