Essential Tips for First-Time Cat Owners

In Honor of the Journey

...for the ones without a voice

One of my favorite aspects, by far, of having a career in the pet-care sector is the joy that comes with it. I catch myself smiling on the regular. Whether I’m putting together a movie for a guest’s pick-up the next day, or sending photo updates to pet parents, or just sitting with the pack at meal time…it all brings me undeniable joy; brings me peace. I know many of you feel the same about your pets and also have a deep understanding of the spiritual fulfillment they can add to our lives. This is why we put so much effort into caring for them as we do. We want to give them the best of everything so they can stay with us for as long as the laws of nature will allow. It’s why we want them to feel comfortable, even in our absence, especially with nervous rescues and anxious pups. And it’s why we want to choose a groomer who’s knowledgeable beyond just the skill it requires to do such a job. We want a groomer who’s compassionate to the individual needs of each animal. Don’t we? I sure do. So, you can imagine my excitement to learn of the grand opening of our new local pet-care business, K-Nine Pet Grooming. I had the pleasure of visiting the new space, right in the heart of Fennville, for their ribbon cutting. It’s warm and welcoming, with an authentic energy, a rustic feel, and an open receiving area…plenty of room for guests to sniff around and get comfy when they arrive. The groom room is spacious and equipped with 2 comfortable work spaces - a welcome upgrade for the humans in charge of the operation, who previously shared a smaller, home-based grooming space. I couldn’t visit a new business that serves the pups in our community without making new friends with humans too. I was eager to introduce myself and schedule a groom. Tammy Moeller and Olivia Reynolds are the resident groomers, and both are excited to be bringing their expertise to our community in the new storefront space downtown. I had the opportunity to sit and chat with Liv for a while - she did the groom for our Miss Maggie May. We hit it off right away as we shared stories and found similarities in our separate journeys. She has a calm demeanor and a gentle energy around the dogs she works with. Maggie gets VERY nervous with new humans and Liv had her calm in no time. So much so that Maggie May allowed me to exit the building without assaulting the ears of every human within a five mile radius. She just…let me leave. Amazing. While Liv is a native Michigander, she spent some time living in NY, and trained to be a professional groomer for several months in Albany. She had been crafting her beginnings at various grooming establishments and recently found herself back here on her SW MI stomping ground. Upon her return, it just so happened (I love this part of the story) that Liv’s mother’s best friend from high school, Tammy, had an in-home grooming business and needed some help. Well, isn’t that just meant to be? While in Albany, Olivia learned everything from grooming, to pet health, to pet behavior, and is eager for this opportunity to work with Tammy at K-Nine. She works 1 on 1 with each dog, taking only 1 client at a time - no running back and forth between grooming tables. Each client gets her undivided attention for as long as they are with her, which I LOVE…I know Mags would get nervous if her groomer had to walk away for too long. Liv also loves to share her knowledge of any tips and habits that can improve the overall health of your dog. Maggie May enjoyed a blueberry facial and we learned about all the benefits of such a fancy ordeal. Canine tested, Maggie approved. I was grateful to be able to chat with Tammy over the phone and am excited to get to know her as well. She also brings a wealth of knowledge to the field, with 23 years of experience, and has been serving our local pet community from the very start, bathing pups back in the ‘90s in the Douglas area. Eventually, she started grooming on her own, and her home-business evolved while she spent her days driving a school bus for Fennville Public - she’s served our community in more ways than one! Since she said goodbye to the kids at school, Tammy has spent the years growing the grooming business and eventually needed help. Enter Olivia! Perfect timing. When Liv returned to Michigan and started working with Tammy, the need for more space became apparent. As is the way when things are meant to be, everything fell into place, and here we are. Throughout each of these conversations, besides our shared love and compassion for animals, the common thread we kept coming back to was community. For Tammy, it’s about providing for the community she’s called home since the age of 4. For Liv, it’s about returning to her roots and finding a new place for herself in the first town she ever called home. For me, as a Michigander transplant, it’s about settling my roots. All three of us are excited to make more community connections as we begin our respective journeys in the local industry. And I’m grateful Maggie May officially has a stylist…as any Princess ought. Check them out! Get your pups a groom! To schedule directly with Olivia, call 269.270.7066. To schedule directly with Tammy, visit the booking site or call 616.212.4824. Follow their facebook page , and you'll get to see their work - lots of cute photos. :) Speaking of photos...fun stuff coming up! Iva’s Place is excited to be a part of The South Haven Tribune & Herald Palladium’s pet photo contest, “Most Pawpular Smile”. There will be prizes from Iva’s Place, Decadent Dogs, and Fluff ‘N Suds. You'll be able to enter your photos for the running here from March 27 through April 2, voting begins April 3, and the winners will be chosen April 10. We hope you're able to participate! Might want to try and squeeze in a groom before you start taking those photos. ;) ‘Til next time, take care, friends… 🐾 TL

There are many reasons why I've grown to have an infinite well of love and gratitude for animals. Least among them, the pure joy they add to our lives. I try my best to live in the now, and animals keep me grounded in that way. They keep my mind from dwelling on uncontrollable issues outside of the present moment, and keep it, instead, focused on the simpler things in life. There's a lot going on in the world. It can be overwhelming, and that stress reaches its tentacles into our bodies, minds, and hearts…even our DNA, arguably. The more I evolve, the more I realize how much healing there is in a single moment. Listening to a chirping bird. Decoding the pupil dilation of a cautious cat. Breathing in rhythm with a sleeping dog. Observing a friendly hen, her not-so-friendly rooster observing me. Here. Now. Peace. Communing with other animals, human or otherwise…it’s our lifeline. Making connections ensures we stay authentic and honest in who we are and in the energy we contribute to the world. In the process of figuring out what has become Iva’s Place, I was led back to some introspective questions regarding the pursuit of a fulfilling livelihood. I read it somewhere years ago, and it's always stuck with me: What brings you the most joy in life? How can you share that in service to your community? I didn’t need to encourage myself to think on this. The answers were the simplest to ever surface. Iva’s Place is a direct result of my gut responses to those questions and the journey has been nothing short of amazing. I’m a bit of a hermit, so, initially, I thought this would be a perfect way to hide in my cozy little nest, caring for all these animals. Turns out, though, starting a business requires getting to know LOTS of other humans and I’m getting to know some pretty wonderful ones. Community has been unfolding around Iva's Place since day 1, and we are 100% here for it. It's in the heart of our mission statement: “We aim to inspire community and well-being through compassion for animals.” There are many ways in which I believe we can foster this mission and I look forward to learning how to implement, build, and evolve. 2023 is our first official full year in business and there is so much possibility in front of us. We look forward to continuing to share our growth with you as we make our place here in Southwest Michigan. Thank you for being here with us! Oh, hey, since we’re talking about community(😉)...there are dog parades coming to South Haven. Have you heard? Yes. Dog parades. Because life is too short to go without dog parades. Laurel Oaks of South Haven, a new Senior Living and Memory Care Center, has a whole bunch of folks who are excited to meet dogs. They will be hosting monthly dog parades starting THIS TUESDAY, January 31 at 10:30am. What a wonderful idea they're giving life to! You can find out more about how and when you can participate here . Much gratitude to Decadent Dogs for keeping us informed of such wonderful events! If you have not stopped in yet, check out their new space at 523 Phoenix street in South Haven - it's amazing! Congratulations to Roxanne and the wonderful team at Decadent Dogs...your new home is beautiful. Lastly, on community...a big thank you to those of you who have taken a moment to give us a google review. It’s a huge help when people have input from other community members’ experiences to give them a sense for what we do here. People don’t know until they know! That being said, please help us spread the word as we continue our journey. If your dogs and cats have vacationed with us but you have not yet had an opportunity to review us, please feel free to do so here . Help us let our community know! :) That’s all for now folks. Remember: when the world seems overwhelming, let them show us the way. 🐾 TL

In the morning I sit, Freckle nestled beside me in the big ol’ comfy corner chair. He needs a little extra care this stay - he’s got an injured paw. He's a cuddle bug of love and I can't help but be comforted with him laying by my side. Bernie is snoring on the couch, Tex is lying on the dog bed next to my chair, Chuy is in the Papazan, and Maggie May…she’s here somewhere. Sleeping. It’s the wee hours, Thanksgiving morning. There is so much to be grateful for. I hear Kidd, our cat guest, talking to me from his penthouse suite. He gets his own room until he feels safe and comfortable enough to come out and join the rest of the pack. I think he’s almost ready. I rouse Freckle so I can go give Kidd some love and see if he wants to join us… … ... He’s not ready. He will be tomorrow. By the time I return to the living room, Bernie’s up - he and Freckle are having a full blown party. It’s 5:15 am. They make me smile and my heart fills completely. What a wonderful way to start the day. I don’t want to wake Chad, so I open the front door, turn on the porch light, and ask them to take it outside. They willfully oblige. When I come back to my comfy corner chair, I hear a little bell.. tink,tink,tink… tink,tink,tink… tinktink… There she is on the floor beside my chair. Maggie May, scratching at her ear. She’s in her safe spot - for when the big dogs are too much for her - she tucks herself away against the wall between the armchair and the side table. She’s so darned cute. I get lost in staring at her and wonder how I get anything done with that Ewok face staring up at me all day long. I reach down, fluff up her red plush blanket, and ease her back to sleep so I can keep working. Hours pass, report cards are done, movies are made, morning photo updates complete… Chuy might like a walk. Chuy is a 13-year-old Havanese and he’s a little overwhelmed by all the bigs. He’s most comfortable when I carry him to the door myself so he can bypass the ever-moving maze of dog legs. I carry him gently to the back door and ease him out into the cold. We take a stroll, just he and I, to the back of the property. Chuy prefers his outside time to be peaceful and quiet. I got you, Chuy. I got you. Whether it’s Thanksgiving day or just plain old today…every day is Gratitude Day at Iva’s Place. Throughout my life, in times of need, trouble, or sadness…an animal has been there to comfort me. In times when I have been alone, but full of joy with something to celebrate, an animal has been there to celebrate with me. When I have needed a cuddle, a moment of peace, or a minute of healing…there has been a pet to help me through. If I’m feeling overwhelmed and I just need to center myself, all I have to do is spend two minutes with Maggie. Even my chickens give me this sense of peace. Nothing makes me happier than fulfilling this debt of gratitude I have for all the pets who bring us peace and who trust us with their love and with their lives. I simply can’t go wrong. Gratitude. Every day. Some things I know: When Jack is tired he takes himself to bed and requires the pillow on the left side, right next to mine. Minnie is very nervous and is most comfortable in the safety of the bedroom closet. She’s not the only guest with this preference. I understand. The world can be a scary place. I clear my shoes out and replace them with a dog bed, a blanket, a bone, a pillow, and a toy. She is content. Merri is like a teenager with a tablet when it comes to any ball. I must collect and hide every ball in the house or Merri will not play with others. Those darned teenpuppers and their tennis balls. Tex needs to be inside when I go down to feed the chickens as he does NOT like it when I’m on the other side of the fence giving my attention to the chickens. Freckle is allergic to chicken and Polly loves eggs. Dude needs wrinkle wipes for his squishy little face, but he hates it, so you’ve got to pretend you are about to do anything in the world besides use a wrinkle wipe on his face or he will run away. Kidd is afraid of dogs but only for the first couple of days, then he’s ready to come out of the feline penthouse and play. Necco gets 10 seafood temptation treats each night, but her sister, Pixie, only gets 5. Necco has a thyroid issue and needs a little extra food. Loli is a bit deaf, a little bit blind, and needs a lot of extra guidance around the house to feel at ease. Loli gets all the attention she wants when she's at Iva's Place. These are the bits of knowing that bring me joy. This is the level of care I promise to give your pets because these are the things I am grateful for every day. As we head into the close of 2022, I look forward to reflecting on the year behind us and all the ways I can continue to be of service to our community and to your pets. Thank you for being on this journey with us. Thank you for trusting us to care for your pets as we do our own. Our first Thanksgiving at Iva’s Place was wonderful: a house full of love, gratitude, and joy...and food. Looking forward to many years to come, full of the same.. ‘Til next time… 🐾 TL

SoHa happenings and Iva's Place updates...

Also...we're officially official!

You know how, when something is meant to be, it just…unfolds? Well, friends, that’s exactly how this last month has felt. With very little marketing under way, we are already off to a great start. We have opened up our daycare services and are excited to be inviting a few more guests to our daily dog parties. If you think your dog might need a mini-vaycay for the day - bring ‘em on by! Book a stay! We have a lot of fun over here but if your dog just wants a little quiet company while you're away for the day, we’re here for that too. Our boy, Harley, is the resident President of The Loner’s Club - he’s always accepting new members when we have guests who prefer a calmer environment. Either way - we’ve got a place for your pup! As far as getting our name out there, we’ve been visiting local communities’ pet hubs and asking small business owners to help us spread the word. A big thanks to those who let us leave our cards for their clientele; we really appreciate it. In South Haven, we visited the folks at Decadent Dogs - I’ve been frequenting their establishment since I moved to Michigan in 2011 and have been a fan ever since. You can check them out here . There's a wonderful group of people running the store as well - always a bonus. Thank you for your dedication and service to the community, Decadent Dogs! We’re big fans. We took a trip to Kalamazoo to visit Marissa and Luke at Barks 5th Avenue. Lovely humans! Loved their dog boutique! Check it out here . This cute little spot has a great selection of everything you might need for your pup. Marissa and Luke shared that they followed their hearts and took over the store this past spring - yay for local small business owners who are taking the leap! It’s a scary ride but it sure is worth it. They’re very knowledgeable about the products they offer and they’re just plain old good vibes - I encourage you to stop by and visit. (BONUS: awesome bookstore next door) The coffee world loves us too! Shout out to Café Julia’s for helping us spread the word. This is a great place to stop by for a latte and a sandwich while your dog is on vacation at Iva’s Place. ;) You can peruse their menu here . They offer baked goods to die for as well if you find yourself with a bit of a sweet tooth...irresistible stuff over there. Our greatest marketing tool has been simple: being present and authentic in the community while we spread the word about who we are and what we do. Our mission, after all, is “to inspire community and well-being through compassion for animals”. That being said, please help us spread the word! We are relying 100% on good-old-fashioned community support. I firmly believe that true community - the people we run into every day, the people we talk to every day - that’s where our roots are. That’s where home is. Community is where stories are shared and hearts are opened…authentically and in real time. Helping one another in service to our communities is why we are all here. My love for animals informs my service to the community. I hope you’ll consider sharing the news of Iva’s Place with family and friends. We’re excited to add to the pack as we grow. Lastly, I'd like to give a huge thanks to Mike Kiefer, owner of Great Lakes Signs in South Haven. As you can see from each of the photos, his artistry is superb! We highly recommend working with him if you have a need for his area of expertise. In our efforts to make our home more suitable for this business venture, we’ll be making additional upgrades as we go. We’re currently working on fencing in another acre for an additional doggie playground - ain’t nothin’ wrong with a little more runnin’ room! Thanks again to all the local business owners who are helping to spread the word. And thank YOU, friends of Iva’s Place, for the same. Until next time… Be well, 🐾 tl P.S. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to fill out our new client registration form here . This is helpful for our records. Whether you’ve already visited us or are just joining us, we want to have as much information as we can about you and your pups. This will better serve you and us in the future, as we hope to add more human animals to our team. :) Thank you in advance!