Dogs
Man Becomes the ‘Dogfather of Harlem’ and Helps Pets in Need
He quit his job in finance to follow his heart.
Emma Shallcross
06.24.20

The coronavirus lockdown has affected us all in different ways, and it’s safe to say that small businesses have been struggling the most. With many of us being furloughed or given pay cuts, we simply can’t afford the luxuries that we used to take for granted, such as a trip to the beauty salon – or in the case of our pets, groomers. Sadly, a lot of these services are offered by small businesses, and their lack of clientele can result in a serious loss of money.

But one dog groomer from New York wasn’t going to let the lockdown put a damper on his spirits. Instead of fretting about the money that he was missing out on, he decided to raise money to be able to offer his services for free to those who were desperately in need of them.

His story soon went viral and he ended up raising much more money than he could have ever dreamed of – but every last penny went to helping others out.

Brian Taylor from Harlem, New York, had such a passion for animals that he quit his job in finance to become a full-time dog groomer at Harlem Doggie Day Spa. He also offered daycare, cage-free boarding, and dog walking services.

When the New York State government ordered “non-essential” businesses to temporarily close more than two months ago, Brian was forced to focus on just the grooming side of things. We have to admit that giving adorable pooches washes and blow-dries every day sounds like a dream job, but with Brian being self-employed, it was a tricky time for him financially when lockdown hit.

“I lost 80 percent of my businesses. I went from seeing 400 to 500 dogs a month now down to about less than half of that,” Brian told CNN.

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💚Thank you for booking a pup grooming service. I am doing my best to fit as many client as I can. Keep in mind we are working with limited staff and I love to take my time and groom your pup the right way. I am currently working 7 days a week and working off hours to rebuild my business. Please be patient and understanding during these difficult time. 💚🙏🏿 Please Note -All our appointments request are book online. In order to get an approval for grooming service please upload current vaccine records which includes updated Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella without these vaccine we can not groom your pup. 🎊Use Link in Bio to register or book a pup grooming 🎊

A post shared by Harlem Doggie Day Spa – HDDS (@harlemdoggiedayspa) on

The problem was, people just didn’t have the money to be visiting the groomers anymore.

Luckily for Brian, he had a few loyal clients who would do whatever it takes to keep his business up and running. Brian had the idea to create a pup relief fund, and when he shared his thoughts on social media, people instantly began buying gift cards to help keep his business open – and to help those who can’t afford grooming services.

“They’ll say, ‘I know other people who can’t afford it – here’s $50,'” Brian said.

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Boost of Confidence after a Grooming Session💫 Old Me vs the New Me #dogsofharlem #dogsofinstagram #dogsofnyc

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Apparently, the cost is $75 for regular grooming. But because most of the dogs’ coats are very badly matted after a couple of months without grooming, the fees could be up to $200 for a proper cleaning.

“Owners want their dog to smell good,” Brian said. “Dogs are such a big part of our life. Especially when you can’t find happiness from people.”

With the support of generous strangers, Brian raised over $2,000, enabling him to groom 12 dogs free of charge!

It’s no wonder that he’s nicknamed “The Dogfather of Harlem,” as it’s clear to see that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep as many dogs as possible happy and healthy.

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During these difficult times, pups can sense our despair. I’m hoping that this tour will offer a bit of happiness to pups and their parents experiencing hardships all over our country. I also hope that this tour will help connect Americans of all backgrounds through their love of pups. Check Out our GoFundMe Page and DONATE- The Pandemic Pup Relief Tour by Brian Taylor – Link in Bio🤩🌸🌈 We plan to start in NYC. Tour Stop : DC-NC-ATL-Dallas-LA The Pandemic Pup Relief Tour will partner with a local Black Pet Grooming Salon, local Pet Groomers and local shelters in each city to build a team. Our team will service pups from the community whose parents have been impacted by the pandemic.

A post shared by Harlem Doggie Day Spa – HDDS (@harlemdoggiedayspa) on

Although his shop is closed, Brian has been able to continue caring for dogs in his mobile grooming van.

After the success of his local funding, the selfless groomer plans to take an eight-day cross-country road trip from New York City to Los Angeles in July. His goal is to offer free grooming and supplies in every major city – though with safe social distancing, of course.

“Everyone must wear masks and gloves when they come in.” Brian said. “I take the dog right into the tub and use a shampoo that kills anything on contact.”

Thanks to the selflessness of Brian and the generous strangers, dogs all over the US are going to be looking and smelling gorgeous! You can keep up to date with the groomer at harlemdoggiedayspa.

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