Our latest Rockstar Doggy Momma feature is Nikki Grote! Nikki has a passion for animals and is the owner of Block Party Pet Care in Des Moines, Iowa. Read her story of how she became a Rockstar Doggy Momma!
Tell us the story of how you became a doggy momma! Did something in your life happen that influenced you to get your doggy? My story begins with a long history of having dogs and animals in my life since 6 months of age. My family originally had an Irish Setter that ended up having 10 puppies and I think my parents would agree that I couldn’t have been more excited to always have puppies, dogs and any kind of animals around me at all times.How I ended up initially becoming a doggy momma was when I was originally living in Chicago and attending Post-Baccalaureate studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. I ended up coming back home for the day to finding a 6-month old dog tied up in a parking lot in the rain nearby my home at the time. I immediately walked up to him and untied him and brought him back to my home. I think the poor guy spent the entire night crouched in a corner with a blanket I gave him to sit on and some food. I woke up the next morning to him staring at me and then he licked my face.
Needless to say, 150 flyers and asking around later, he was with me for 15 years after that incident. Twiggy would become my first of 10 dogs I’ve personally rescued through different circumstances. And one of five that became my part of “personal pack.” I began living and working in Atlanta for about 20 years of my life and during that time I opened my own pet portraiture business, and worked for 10 years with a local doggy daycare and garnered about 10 personal pet care clients of my own. Since my relocation in 2014 back to my hometown of Des Moines, IA, I have fostered and worked with three different rescue groups and also own and operate my own petcare business which I love more every day. The opportunity to be able to help daily professionals and enjoy the company of daily dogs, cats, lizards, and birds, keeps my life busy and happy!
What is the #1 thing you love about being a doggy momma? My #1 thing about being a doggy momma is how every day is a great new adventure with my pack of house guys. Every day I get to wake up to some sunshine and happy tails ready to take on the day with me.
Let’s talk momma/doggy health! What do you do together to stay happy and healthy (how you de-stress together, exercise together, cook, etc.)? My “Housepack Boys” and I do daily yoga/stretching and meditation to help destress. They also get to be the lucky recipients of getting to go on weekly client walks with me and the other dogs I regularly help take care of for their owners. Everyone gets some good playtime and exercise in weekly. Happy dogs, happy life!
What is the biggest gift you have experienced being a doggy momma? Joy! While I’ve provided a loving and safe home for them, they are always there to return the same amount of joy back to me.
What are your favorite health and/or pet products that you cannot live without? My favorites would be the Chicken/Beef Dog Jerky and the Zoom Groom Bathing Brush – simple and easy.
