Twin Cities Pride 2014

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Pampered Pooch Playground and Bubbly Paws Dog Wash are excited to take part in the 2014 Twin Cities Pride Festival. Make sure to stop over to our booth for lots of pride related fun including some cool decorating of your pooch (details very soon)!

Pampered Pooch Playground is one of the founding members of the Twin Cities Dog Daycare Association who will be sponsoring the Doggy Drag Show which is hosted by Falen from the Dave Ryan Morning Show on 101.3 KDWB.

The entire Twin Cities Dog Daycare Association (Downtown Dogs, Dog Days, Dog Day Getaway, Camp Bow Wow - Burnsville and Pampered Pooch Playground) will be collaborating with Twin Cities Pride for this outrageously fun event!

The Doggy Drag Show takes place in the Pet Central Section, conveniently located across from the Beer Garden. Come join the fun at 3:00 PM on Saturday, June 29th. Registration is day of and will open at 10:00 AM. Entries limited to first 20 registrants.

All participants get a ribbon. For Best in Show, Best Male Cross Dresser, Best Female Cross Dresser there will be amazing prize baskets for the winners!

Just go to a thrift store and let your fun and creativity flow! Thrift stores have wigs, neck ties, nighties and more.

The show is in the Pet Central Green Space. Look for the table and the sign.

Toxic Treats

Keenser and Frank are happy to know that our treats are safe (and delicious)!

There have been reports of toxic dog treats making dogs sick for quite a while. The FDA reports that more than 1,000 dog deaths have been linked to jerky treats made in China. Here at Bubbly Paws we want everyone to be safe and NEVER carry any treats made in China. We try and source all our treats from companies that make them in the USA. We take the time to try all the treats to make sure our pups love them before they hit the shelves. We do have a few bully treats made from grass-fed beef that are produced in South America but we are always vigilant to provide the best and safest (and yummiest!) treats we can find.

If you have questions or concerns about any of our treats please send me an email at lill@bubblypaws.com.

WCCO-TV at Bubbly Paws

WCCO-TV stopped out to Bubbly Paws Dog Wash and Dog Spa to talk about the self-service dog wash business. 5am Segment

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The right time to start grooming your puppy

Coco has been a regular at Bubbly Paws since she was a tiny puppy. When she was ready for her first big grooming she was calm and comfortable allowing Mallory to give her a great cut!

Every dog needs to be groomed, at least a little. We love seeing new puppies (who doesn't?) but it is even better to see young dogs get regular nail trims and baths so they start a lifetime of grooming on the right paw. I often get asked when you should first get your dog groomed and the simplest answer is soon after they have their vaccinations up to date enough to make other trips in public, usually around 10 weeks old. Many dogs do not require regular grooming so as long as bath time and nail trims are done in a positive way a few times during their puppyhood they grow up being calm and comfortable with normal healthy grooming chores. However, if you have a breed that requires grooming it takes a little more planning to make sure your puppy has the best chance at being positively accustomed to grooming.

Breeds that require grooming are anything non-shed, hypoallergenic breeds from Bichons to the biggest doodles. These breeds need to be groomed on a regular schedule for their whole lives. Bubbly Paws offers a great deal with our Puppy Package, for puppies' first groom before they are 6 months old. We offer such a great deal because we believe grooming should be a low stress and fun activity for your dog and the best way to do that is to start early and make the first grooming a good one. In the Puppy Package we get all the good healthy necessities done, like a bath and nail trim and hope to get some more trimming done but we play it by ear. If the puppy is doing great maybe we'll get an all-over haircut done but if the puppy is stressed or too wiggly we focus on using positive reinforcement on calm behaviors and offer breaks for play time and to let out some energy before getting back to business.

Puppy coat is so soft and lovely, it's hard to see it go when they start growing up. You may want to keep your Wheaten terrier's puppy coat until they are 9 months old but it might not be the best thing for your dog. Unless you are brushing your dog thoroughly everyday that puppy coat will matt when the adult coat starts coming in. Nothing is more stressful for your dog and our groomers then having to shave down a matted dog that has never been groomed before and that has all the energy a 9 month to year old dog might have. It's much better to plan regular grooming (even just a bath and brush out or a little trim) every month or two and part of everyday to brush your dog. By preventing tangled fur you can prevent your dog from having to be shaved and keep that soft puppy fluff as long as possible.

Shadow had his puppy's first groom at 4 months old and was so well-behaved Jessica was able to give him an all over trim!

We work hard everyday to make grooming fun and we (and your puppy) hope you do too!  Grooming is offered daily at both our locations.

We're Turning 3!

Minneapolis Dog Wash

We want to thank all of our wonderful customers for 3 years of business and voting us "Best Groomer" and "Best Customer Service" at our Excelsior and Grand location in St Louis Park.  Join us this Saturday from 10-6 for a special celebration! We will have refreshments, custom cupcakes from Sweet Retreat (while they last), and treats for our 4 legged friends!  Anyone that stops in will be entered to win a $50 gift card to Bubbly Paws (if you can't make it in, make sure to visit our Facebook Page on Saturday for another chance to win).

All our retail items will be 15% off this Saturday!

Thanks for helping us to become the premier dog spa in the Twin Cities, we could never have achieved this without our great customers!!

(This event is only taking place at our St Louis Park location!  We will do something special for our 1 year anniversary for our St Paul store in August).

Muddy Mutt Contest

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Now through Sunday, April 20th, we are searching for the muddiest dogs in the Twin Cities.  Simply upload a picture of your dirty dog to our Facebook fan page, or use #bubblypaws on Instagram.  We will pick one lucky dog to win the grand prize: a free self service bath at Bubbly Paws and a photo shoot with Eva Noth Photography!  This prize package has a value of $250! And now... The rules

- The Bubbly Paws staff will be judging the pictures and looking for the dirtiest dogs in the Twin Cities.  Have fun and get creative, we know there are lots of dirty dogs out there!  Extra points are given if your dog is at Bubbly Paws, heck we will even take the picture for you on your phone!

- Photos must be uploaded to the Bubbly Paws Facebook Page or use #bubblypaws on Instagram.

- The photo has to have been taken this spring.

- You must be a resident of the Twin Cities.

- One entry per person.

- We might re-post the entries that have been submitted, or your pooch might be used for promotional purposes by Bubbly Paws or Eva Noth Photography.

- Decision of the Bubbly Paws judges is final.

Flea and Tick Season is Coming

Don't let these creeps make a meal out of your pooch!

It's no secret I'm not a fan of winter. I don't like the cold, snow, ice or any of it except that we get a break from the pesky insects Minnesota is known for. It may not feel like spring is really here yet, but the temperatures have warmed up enough that it is time to prepare for flea and tick season. The increased temperatures mean all the creepy crawlies are coming back and it's better to be ahead of the game. Fleas can cause skin irritation, flea dermatitis and spread tapeworms in addition to being a major discomfort to you and your pet.   Ticks can spread over a dozen diseases and can also cause infection at the bite site. Like most health and wellness concerns for our pets (and us) prevention is the best medicine. There are so many great preventatives on the market. Talk to your vet to find the best option for your dog and start it when they recommend (usually April or May in Minnesota though some vets recommend using a parasite preventative year round).

These are the types of ticks you may find on your dog.

Once your dog is on flea and tick preventative medicine check regularly as your pet can pick up pests before they are killed. Fleas can be caught from wild animals or eggs laid in the environment (even your backyard). Ticks are often found in long grass and wooded areas, although I know many dogs that have picked them up at local dog parks. Regular bathing and grooming your dog is a great way to get a look through their coat for any unwelcome pests.

The life cycle of the common dog and cat flea.

Bubbly Paws is a flea and tick free zone so make sure you are covered before coming in. If we find fleas on your dog we will ask that you take your dog home ASAP. If there is a tick on your dog let us know and a Bubbly Paws team member can remove it, dispose of it properly and clean the bite area. Stay protected with good prevention and enjoy a summer free of worry about pests on your pet!

Top 5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of your Dog in the Tub

A special guest blog post from Eva Noth Photography.  For more pictures from this photo shoot, you can visit our Facebook Page! Towels?  Check.  Shampoo?  Check.  Camera?  Wait, what's that for?

Bath days at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash and Grooming can be fun and fresh smelling days around our house.  After all, who doesn't love a sudsy pup - and all while not having to break your back or do all the clean up?  Which leads me to the camera - none of us can resist taking a cute picture of a dog especially at bath time, and with portable cameras on our smart phones, we never have to miss an opportunity, even at the dog wash!  Want a little help to avoid the drowned rat look with green demon eyes in your next photos?  Here are my top 5 tips for taking better pictures of your dog in the tub:

Tip 1.  Treats and Toys

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Bath time can be a scary or unhappy time for some dogs, no matter how cutely miserable they look!  Using treats and toys to bring out that happy pup smile can really make a difference in your pictures.  Bubbly Paws has an amazing selection of delicious and fun treats and toys that can make bath time a reward and get those ears to perk up in the tub - and only an arm's stretch away!

Tip 2.  Get Down on their Level

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Nothing is more interesting than seeing the world the way your pet does.  Try crouching down or putting the camera near their face on the edge of the tub to capture them from a new or silly angle.  You will be amazed how different the world and bath time looks from down there!

Tip 3.  Avoid the Drowned Rat

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Some dogs just don't look good soaking wet, in fact, they resemble that "drowned rat" rather than a dog (What happened to that cute fluffy dog I brought in???).  If you want to do some photos in the bright and fun colored tubs at Bubbly Paws, try to take your pictures while your dog is sudsy but not soaking wet.  Another tip, leave its head dry until you are done with photos - nothing says adorable like a big fluffy head and sudsy skinny body!

Tip 4.  Turn Off Your Flash

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The auto function on our cameras makes taking pictures easy, but it also can cause some pretty freaky looking pet pictures.  By turning off your flash, you avoid the notorious "demon green eyes" that make your photos turn out wrong.  A bonus to this technique: many pets are scared by flashes so this makes having a picture taken less stressful!

Tip 5.  Have Fun!

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Animals pick up on our moods much better than other humans and can sense when we are angry, stressed, sad, or frustrated.  Don't try to force your animal to be what they aren't (ex. If your dog hates bath time, don't get mad when they perpetually express their stress by panting when you wanted a closed mouth picture) as you will both become stressed and frustrated.  Allow you and your pet to relax and have fun instead.  Dance to the fun music at the shop and enjoy your fresh smelling pooch!  After all, bath time with your pet should make you happy, not frustrated.

I hope you enjoyed the tips and will be trying some photos in the tub next time you visit Bubbly Paws!  If you have any more questions or want to book a pet photography session please contact me at info@evanothphotography.com or check out my website at www.evanothphotography.com.

Spring Forward Special

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Every year when daylight savings ends we have a fun day of walk-in trims and savings on nail treatments. I am especially excited to have our St Paul store get in on the action this year! It's always a blast and we get to see so many of our friends get tidied up just in time for the weather to warm up. It's really nice to have your dog's feet in particular cleaned up this time of year; whether it's just a nail grind or your pup needs a paw trim and winter paw treatment, these little things go a long way to help your dog's feet stay clean and comfortable.

Stop in to either store Sunday March 9th between 10am and 4pm and get sanitary, foot and face trims for $5 each. Nail trims and nail grinds are 50% off ($5 nail trims and $7.50 nail grinds). Winter paw treatment is still available too! No appointments needed but give yourself a little time as there can be a wait. Self-service baths are available as usual until 5pm. We hope to see you and your best buddy there!

Dog Shower Gifts

Goodies before getting wrapped up in a gift bag!

Here at Bubbly Paws we consider our dogs a part of our family and we know our customers feel the same way. We go above and beyond to give your pooch the best possible care during the self- or full-service grooming because family members deserve to be treated as such. I know a lot of my friends are dog people and a lot of the dog people I have met through Bubbly Paws have become friends. When my friends adopt a new dog I feel like my family grows a little and like a baby shower I like to give my friends new dog gifts. A close friend recently adopted a puppy and since it is her first dog I wanted to make an extra special gift bag for her. Here are a few of the essentials for a new puppy I got together for her:

Poop Bags! If you work with dogs you see a good deal of dog poop and learn the best way to clean it up. Of all the baggies I've come across these are the best! They are biodegradable, easy to open, plenty big and strong. I have never had one rip or fail and I really like the ones with handles for easy tying.

Treats! New additions of the four legged kind can always use some training to get used to being in a new family, even when adopting an older dog. I love small wet treats for training that are easy to eat and the right size that you don't feel bad giving them a handful during a training session.

Chew toys! Puppies in particular need to keep their mouths busy with appropriate toys so they don't destroy shoes or other things. I love toys that are tough and have a place to stuff in a treat. This provides excellent entertainment for a dog while teaching them what they are supposed to chew on.

Antler chews! These have gained a ton of popularity recently. Antler chews are good for sensitive stomachs, last a long time and great for dental health. I think they can be used to help crate train a dog by giving them something safe and engaging to enjoy while kenneled.

My friend happens to be a fan of micro-brewed beer so I made this gift beer themed with some treats and a bottle of dog beer. A nice Bubbly Paws gift card is the final touch for a perfect new puppy gift! I hope she and the puppy enjoy all their goodies!

What You Learn On Vacation

Marley Bear is one of the many dogs we got to meet while on vacation!

The past few days, Trycia and I were on vacation enjoying some warm weather and taking a few days to de-stress. I love going away because I feel it really gives me time to get away from both of our businesses, but also lets me focus more on how to improve what we are already doing and re-focus on things that we can improve on.  I guess some of your best work can be done on the beach, drinking a cocktail while using an iPad (can you tell it is hard for me to disconnect).  Anyway.... Many of our customers know how much we try to have our employees provide an amazing experience each time someone walks through the door.... Well, for once we were on the other side of it.  Trycia wrote a Tripadvisor review of the hotel we were staying at, which was a very honest review. She gave the hotel 4 out of 5 stars and mentioned that not all of the hotel staff we extra friendly, but just were going through the motions of their job (nothing bad, nothing good, they were just there).  She posted this review the day before we left.  Our last morning at the hotel, 3 members of management (at different times) came up to us to make sure everything was ok.  They mentioned they saw the review and wanted to know how they could improve.  Each person we talked to really did care about the review, and they were not just going through the motions to make us happy.  They comped our lunch and just wanted to make sure we left with a smile on our face, which we were already going to do before they talked to us!   This was a great lesson in customer service for us, and made us think about how we would handle the same situation of we were running the hotel.  All this being said, we had a great vacation, and would recommend this hotel to friends even before they reacted to the review we wrote.

I mention all of this because we always want to go above what is expected at Bubbly Paws, and 99% of the time we do! If there is ever an issue, please feel free to reach out to myself, or Lill (our general manager).  We always want everyone to be happy when they leave (including the dogs).  This blog post is not me asking people to go on Yelp, Facebook or Foursquare to write a review (Personal note, I am not a fan of review sites, and always take the reviews with a grain of salt, we can go into more detail about that another time), but let us know how we can make things better!

Have a great day, and we are so excited to be back in the snow!

Cold Weather Pet Safety

Shop dog Dolly loves playing in the snow!

We Minnesotans are used to the cold winters but over the next few days we are going to have record cold temperatures. This extreme weather can pose a risk to our pets, just like high heat in the summer. While dogs have fur coats to keep them warm most inside dogs do not have thick enough coats to keep them warm outside for long periods. The most important thing to do in this weather is keep your pets indoors as much as possible. Some health conditions can be aggravated by the cold like arthritis so keep a close watch on your pet and if they are shivering, seems anxious or weak contact your vet right away. The salt and ice can be hard on your dog's paws so protect them with our Winter Paw Treatment or booties and make sure ice does not accumulate on your dogs paws. Also be sure to wipe off their feet when you come in from a walk to remove the salt so they don't lick it off. Antifreeze and de-icers can be deadly for pets so keep them away from common winter chemicals. Trimming the hair on your dogs' legs and feet can also help prevent them tracking in snow and ice (may we recommend a professional to do it :). If you'd like more information about keeping your pet safe this guide from the American Veterinary Medical Association is great.

Frank is fine with the cold but Lois has to wear a jacket!

When coming in for self-service baths please make sure to leave extra time for drying, we want our customers to be clean and safe! Stay warm out there from all of us at Bubbly Paws!

Winter Dog Safety Tips

Twin Cities Live stopped out to Bubbly Paws Dog wash in Saint Paul to get some tips on how to keep your pooch safe this holiday season!  

Twin Cities Live stopped out to Bubbly Paws Dog Wash in Saint Paul, MN to catch up on some cold weather dog tips!

Winter Dog Safety at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash from keithppp on Vimeo.

Feeling Thankful this Holiday Season

Franklin and I at the Pride festival representing Bubbly Paws.

I really like the holiday season. Not the cold or the snow or the icy chill but because it is a great time to reflect back on the year and spend time with the people (and dogs) that are most important. Franklin and I have so much to be thankful for this year. In addition to celebrating three years since I started being his caretaker we also had our two year anniversary of working at Bubbly Paws. It has been such a big year for Bubbly Paws! We were so happy to work in the opening of the new St Paul store and see it become a great success. We also started Give Back Week to take time every month to help local pet rescues. We have added two amazing groomers and many new staff to our team. We just found out we are again up for two awards in the Best of St Louis Park Magazine and we could not be more proud of the hard work that everyone put in to make it happen. Providing great service, gentle touch and low stress grooming to the twin cities makes us so happy!

Maybe you've noticed Frank hasn't been around much over the last month. He had a health crisis when we discovered an aggressive tumor on his hip. With help from family and friends, many Bubbly Paws related, we raised funds for his surgery and he is now on the road to recovery and has a great prognosis. It means so much to be part of a community that loves dogs and is ready to step up and help when the need arises. I know Franklin has been really wanting to be back at work but right now he needs rest to recover from surgery but we are both very hopeful that Frank will be back in action towards the end of December.

Here’s hoping you and your pooch have a very happy holiday season! We have all sorts of goodies here to let you show your dog how much you love them and even photo sessions if you need a cute picture for a holiday card. We are also sponsors of the Great Minnesota Pet Food Drive if you have extra pet food or to help get into the giving spirit. We are so thankful for our awesome customers and clients!

Holiday Photo Session and Grand Meander

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On Saturday, December 7th, make sure to check out the Grand Meander on Grand Ave in Saint Paul. Trolly Rides, Sales, and lots of entertainment will be available from the stores on Grand Ave.

Bubbly Paws has teamed up with Eva North Photography to offer a holiday themed photo shoot at our Grand Avenue location on Saturday, December 7th and raise money for The Pet Project.   For more information and to sign up, please click here to be re-directed to the Eva North Photography website.

Christmas Cards or Prints Sessions

$85 Session Fee (plus tax)

15 minute holiday themed studio session for 1-2 pets

8+ digitally enhanced and finished images in an online gallery

$15 donation to The Pet Project

25 Holiday Cards with envelopes (choose design below) or 2 5x7 archival quality prints

$5 coupon off a bath at Bubbly Paws

Digital Download Session

$50 Session Fee (plus tax)

15 minute holiday themed studio session for 1-2 pets

8+ digitally enhanced and finished images in an online gallery

$10 donation to The Pet Project

1 image file digital download

$5 coupon off a bath at Bubbly Paws

CLICK HERE FORM MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE.

Meet Lois, our (very special) featured adoptable

Lois' modeling debut at Bubbly Paws.

You may have seen her in our news feed over the last few weeks, Lois is living with Frank and I while she waits for her forever home to find her. Since I personally know Lois, her bio here will be a little more detailed than most of the featured adoptables we do.

Lois is about seven years old ended up at the pound as a stray this spring. She is about 35 pounds and is a pit bull mix. After sitting there for way too long for such a nice middle-aged girl she was rescued by Save-a-Bull Rescue and fostered by a veterinarian and animal behaviorist where she was put through basic obedience class and readjusted to living in a home. Her other foster needed somewhere for Lois to go in October and Frank and I stepped up to care for her.

There are so many good things to say about Lois I will start with the bad: Lois should not live with cats. That's about it. She has a big bark but does not use it much, she loves food and should not be left unattended in the kitchen but shows great restraint when supervised. Lois has wonderful house manners, she won't make a mess or eat your shoes (or anything else she shouldn't). She is fine in a kennel but will bark for the first few minutes after being kenneled. While working at Bubbly Paws she has shown that she loves people of all ages and even mail carriers, delivery people and uniformed police officers. She is also good with dogs of all sizes and attitudes. Lois walks very nicely on a leash and will politely greet dogs or walk on by, whatever you feel like doing is fine with her.

Lois taking a walk on a pretty fall day.

Lois does love food! She gets very excited for treats and bounces around but when you go to give her one she takes it so very gently. She knows most basic commands. Lois really wanted to help herself to all the goodies we have at Bubbly Paws when she first started but quickly learned "leave it" which also works at home. She snores, even when awake, and is happy to sleep on her bed but wouldn't say no if you invited her up to sleep with you. She also knows not to go on the couch but if you are relaxing there she may want to snuggle up and join you. Lois is great because she can take long walks and be quite active but is also happy to hang out at home and is perfectly calm (until it's treat time!).

What Lois loves most (even more than treats) is attention from her people. She wants to be in the room you are and nicely follows her favorite person. She is happy to get pats, praise, even being picked up or bathed just so she is getting attention. I think Lois' perfect home would be an only dog home or have one other mellow dog. She likes to cuddle up to Frank so the dog she lives with will have to be ok with that. But she would be happy with a single person or a big family, living in a house or an apartment, she could fit in anywhere. Most important is someone to give her all the love she deserves (which is a ton since she is such a nice and well behaved dog)!

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If you are looking for a ready made family dog, consider Lois. Here bio is here where you can read more about her and submit an adoption application.

Chicken Jerky Treat Warning

As you know at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash, we always put the health and safety of your pooch first.  The past few days, there has been lets of news about Chicken Jerky Treats that are imported from China.  We do sell chicken jerky treats, but the chicken is sourced from local farms outside of Boston.  They are 100% manufactured in the United States of America.  I just contacted the company where we get our bulk treats, and they re-confirmed everything I stated above.   As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the products we sell, please ask.  You can read more about the imported Chicken Jerky treats here, or watch the NBC News story below.  

From The AP:

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration is asking dog and cat owners to report any problems their pets have had after eating jerky pet treats.

In a notice to consumers and veterinarians published Tuesday, the agency said it has linked illnesses from jerky treats to 3,600 dogs and 10 cats since 2007. About 580 of those pets have died.

The FDA says its Center for Veterinary Medicine has run more than 1,200 tests, visited pet treat manufacturing plants in China and worked with researchers, state labs and foreign governments but still hasn't determined the cause of the pet illness.

The FDA says pets can suffer from a decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting and diarrhea among other symptoms within hours of eating the jerky treats.

Low Cost Vaccine Clinic

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Just because Give Back Week is over it doesn't mean we are taking time off from helping our community. This low cost vaccine clinic helps people in Minneapolis get affordable vaccines and microchips for their pets. Bubbly Paws is giving volunteers $5 off coupons for self-service baths for their help. Spread the word to help dogs and cats get the preventative care they need and if you can, volunteer! Don't forget that Woof n' Treat  is a fundraiser for Homeward Bound Rescue, we hope to see you and your pooch out in your best costumes for lots of treats (and maybe you can show us some of your dog's tricks)! 

Give Back Week for MN Boxer Rescue

September sure flew by and now it's time for give back week again! When we asked for suggestions of rescues to sponsor we got many people asking for Minnesota Boxer Rescue. We love these intelligent and gregarious dogs and the people dedicated to getting needy dogs proper vet care and loving foster homes until they find their forever homes. MNBR is excellent at finding the right homes for each dog based on their disposition and needs. MNBR takes many unwanted or abandoned dogs and is sworn to their rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing. Stop in through October 7th, do a self-service bath and say you want to give back at the register and we will donate $5 from your bath to MNBR. It's easy and free to you, we hope to see you!

Twin Cities Live in Saint Paul

Our good friend Emily Engberg from Twin Cities Live stopped out to our new Grand Avenue location to see how much fun it is!  Check out how much fun it is!  

Twin Cities Live at Bubbly Paws in Saint Paul from keithppp on Vimeo.