Wags On Willow owner Mary Bowler.
It is a near universal fact that kids love pets. So what better way to spend the summer than learning how to care for pets from local veterinarians at the Wags On Willow’s Pet Care For Kids series?
“We thought for parents looking for an alternative activity for kids, it would be fun for them to see behind the scenes in a grooming and retail pet business,” Wags On Willow’s owner, Mary Bowler, told DailyNorthShore.
The pet grooming and retail shop will host three pet care mini-camps in June, July and August, where kids ages 8 to 13 will learn how to take care of the family dog (the first camp begins June 27). Kids will also have the opportunity to tour Wags On Willow, exploring the shop’s grooming tools and retail offerings.
The one-hour sessions will include a half hour presentation by three North Shore vets — Dr. Robert Liebman of Becker Animal Hospital in Northfield, Dr. Sarah Blose of Terry Animal Hospital in Wilmette, and Dr. Shaunita Sharpe of BluePearl Pet Hospital in Northfield — followed by a question and answer session.
Kids will learn about a range of topics that should come in handy at home, such as proper ways to walk a pet, home care and grooming tips, and things you should never do to a pet. Bowler said the camps are a great opportunity for kids to learn about what vets do and how to become one.
Campers will also be entertained by plenty of pets. The shop will be open for grooming, so the kids will get to meet the dogs getting cleaned up, as well as the shop’s house cat Lewis, a Maine Coon cat who spends its days at Wags On Willow.
Bowler decided to host the series as a way to connect with the community. She reached out to local veterinarians that she and her clients use. Participants will eat lunch at neighboring U Dawg U, and receive cookies from Three Tarts, also in Northfield. At the end of each session campers will receive a certificate of attendance and a goody bag full of treats for their own pets.
Bowler opened Wags On Willow six years ago in Northbrook, primarily as a retail shop, expanding into grooming about a year later.
“I had a light bulb moment as I walked in the park, there were no independent retail stores for pets in the area at that time,” she said. Her timing was good and as her grooming business grew she moved Wags On Willow to its present location in Northfield in December 2016.
Bowler described Wags On Willow as a shop that focuses on quality both in its retail offerings and grooming services. She doesn’t sell food products made in China and tries to sell toys primarily from the United States. In her new location, Bowler plans to continue to hold events like Pet Care for Kids, that engage the community.
Wags On Willow is located at 300 Happ Road in Northfield. Each session is $20 and limited to 15 participants between the ages of 8 and 13. To register visit Wags On Willow or call 847-272-2918.
