Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1461153
48 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org What type of company is Happy Tails Lodge? Happy Tails Lodge is a family owned, full-service pet care business. We offer boarding, day-care, grooming, pet transportation, a retail store, grooming school and coming soon, a self-service dog wash. What are the company values? Goals? Ours is a business of trust. We are entrusted to care for the four-legged members of someone's family which is a major responsibility. Our goal is to earn the trust of each client and their human by providing a safe, secure enjoyable experience every time they come for a visit. We also place high value on our staff, knowing without them, we would be unable to deliver the level of care our clients have come to expect. As a company, our responsibility is to develop the skills of leadership, dependability and professionalism in our staff so they can fulfill the expectations of our clientele. HAPPY TAILS LODGE F E AT U R E D Q & A How long has your business been in Great Falls? The forerunner to Happy Tails Lodge was Rocky Mountain Animal Medical Center which was opened at our present location as a Veterinary Hospital by Dr. Bruce MacDonald and his wife Katy in 1985. Dr. MacDonald passed away in 1998. In 2002, Katy re-focused and re-named the business Happy Tails Lodge offering pet boarding and grooming. The following year she began to offer day-care and Happy Tails Lodge was on its way. What brought you to or why did you choose Great Falls? Dr. Bruce and Katy were both from Great Falls, so it was home. They had a host of friends and family in the area, so after college and vet school, they were ready to come home start their business and their family. Why did you start your business? Dr. MacDonald's veterinary practice specialized in horses and companion animals. Because a section of the building had been designed to house dogs and cats, it seemed a logical transition to re-focus on boarding, grooming and daycare. How many employees do you have? Our staff varies between 15 and 18 depending on the time of year. What is unique about your business? Happy Tails Lodge is unique due to the size of the property, the facilities we have, and the training and ability of our staff. With 5 play and exercise yards, each about one-half acre in size, a 6000 sq ft main building, and a 3140 sq ft daycare area, Photo by Photo Solutions Photo by Photo Solutions