News | Published on January 16, 2024 at 4:03pm EST | Author: frazeevergas
By Robert Williams
Editor
Michelle and Wes Nelson have a serene farm just west of Vergas and have recently opened Unleashed Dog Grooming on their property near Hook Lake.
Michelle is taking appointments and running her new dog salon full-time after a three-year test run. Nelson has been grooming part-time since April of 2020. She started working with friends’ and family dogs.
“I really enjoyed it, so I decided to do it full-time,” she said.
That decision came recently, just this last December, and it did not take long to realize that was the right decision to make.
“I’m happy all the time; it’s just lovely,” she said.
Michelle is still working as a nurse, something she has done for 34 years. She graduated from North Dakota State University and earned her Nursing license in 1990. She has worked as a surgical nurse, a psych nurse, and in intensive care units and long-term care.
“I tried all different kinds,” she said.
Nelson currently works at Perham Living and noted there are a few similarities between nursing and grooming.
“You learn to be patient and I think that’s a really big deal,” Nelson said. “Plus, I like caring for people and I like caring for dogs. I provide personal one-on-one care. I take my time and I think the dogs have a really good experience too. It’s not a rush-rush deal.”
Unlike many busy retail dog salons in town, the Nelson’s property provides a calming environment from the two elderly family dogs that sit quietly in the corner of the shop to the tranquil work area from the tub to the grooming table.
The decision to work out of the family residence came after a search for a potential storefront.
“I was looking for a space that would be a little more retail, but I was having a hard time finding a place,” she said. “So, my husband Wes just suggested I do it out of the shop and it worked.”
Wes’ suggestion to use the shop also came with a couple personal concessions.
“I stay out of her way. She gets the shop from 8-5 and I get it from 5-9 and on weekends,” Wes laughed.
Located five miles from downtown Vergas, Unleashed Dog Grooming also has a central location to surrounding towns. Pet owners are willing to drive for grooming appointments. Last summer, area groomers were backed up six weeks to two months at times between Detroit Lakes and Perham groomers.
The Nelsons provide a currently open schedule ready for appointments and a completely different experience for dogs hopping out of the car into the quiet of the woods rather than heading straight to a crate in a noisy salon.
“I like it here too, because we’re 15 minutes from Pelican Rapids, 15 minutes to Detroit Lakes and 20 minutes on good roads from Perham,” Michelle said. “It’s really centrally located, which I dig.”
Michelle’s plans are to continue nursing part-time and grooming full-time as retirement time approaches.
“You have to work so many hours to keep your nursing license, so I’d just like to keep my foot in the door because you really never know what’s going to happen,” she said. “Hopefully, my business is successful and I can continue this until I retire.”
Grooming is included in that “retirement” plan.
“It just makes me happy and it’s art, in a way, so I get that creative release too, which is fun,” said Nelson. “Every day, I get to wake up and walk to my shop and play with dogs.”
Nelson’s enthusiasm in caring for dogs is infectious and growing since she announced that she is now open full-time.
“I have openings because I’m just getting going,” she said.
Nelson provides full grooming, bathing, hair cuts and nails and her equipment is adjustable to handle dogs of all sizes and temperaments.
“I also take geriatric dogs, for sure,” said Nelson.
This time of year, many dog owners are battling fur shedding as the temperatures fluctuate, something that Nelson says is easy to combat.
“This past week, I’ve done a lot of labs and dogs that shed,” she said. “By bringing them to a groomer I can give them a good bath and brush them out. I would really suggest to people who have to deal with shedding, and it’s usually twice a year, just bring them in. It doesn’t cost a whole lot to take care of the problem when you start seeing them shed.”
Appointments can be made via Facebook by searching Unleashed Dog Grooming or by phone call or text to (218) 979-2003. The grooming shop is located at 48647 Leek Lake Drive in Vergas.
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