Happy Tails helps dogs look and feel their best

People go to great lengths to make sure their dogs are cared for and looking their best — but pursuit of that goal sometimes requires cutting some great lengths down to size with a haircut, bath and some grooming.

Dog groomer Katie Arnold opened Happy Tails earlier this month, and prior to that, she was grooming dogs under Alex Blake of Tuxedo Paws since last June.

“There’s a little bit more added chaos when you’re a business owner, but it’s great,” she said of her first few weeks grooming on her own.

Arnold is no stranger to the northeast Colorado region. After graduating from Akron High School in 2018, she attended Northeast Junior College in Sterling. Originally studying to be a dental hygienist, she said Blake provided her the opportunity to shadow her and see the life of a dog groomer in action, and something inside her clicked.

“I’ve always loved dogs, and it sounded like a good career path, so I switched to dog grooming,” she said.

She attended Dogs’ Own Grooming School in Loveland in the early spring of 2021 to make her goal a reality.

“I loved it,” she said of the switch to dog grooming. “I really love the environment of being around dogs, and when I came down here, the love grew more.”

Having grown up in Akron, she added that she enjoys living in Holyoke and the small-town lifestyle.

“I really like it,” she said. “It’s a nice homey feeling. Everyone knows each other, and everyone supports each other. I’m excited to be a part of the Holyoke community.”

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