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Lured in by a blackboard sign on the street in Davia\\u2019s neighborhood announcing \\u201cSpotlight on Black Entrepreneurs,\\u201d we enter the creative and growing world of Black-Owned Pet Businesses.

Lick You Silly\\xa0dog treats,\\xa0Trill Paws\\xa0enamel ID Tags,\\xa0The Dog Father of Harlem's Doggie Day Spa, gorgeous rainbow beaded Dog Collars from\\xa0The Kenya Collection,\\xa0Sir Dogwood\\xa0luxurious modern dog-wear.

\\u201cThe dog training world\\u2014it\\u2019s a white dominated space. It\\u2019s kind of male dominated, too,\\u201d\\xa0says\\xa0Taylor Barconey\\xa0of\\xa0Smart Bitch Dog Training in New Orleans.\\xa0\\xa0\\u201cOn our profile on Instagram we have Black Lives Matter, it\\u2019s been there for a year now. Before 2020, we would have not felt comfortable putting that up at risk of losing our business because people would have blacklisted us. But now, we feel like we can finally breathe and be open about things that really matter to us\\u2014speaking out against racism and not feeling shy about it.\\u201d

Chaz Olajide of Sir Dogwood\\xa0wasn\\u2019t finding communities of pet owners or pet businesses owned by people of color.\\xa0\\u201cI did a deep dive into the statistics \\u2014I just wanted to see if maybe I was an outlier, like maybe the reason why I\\u2019m not seeing more diversity in these companies is because maybe the demand isn\\u2019t out there. Actually, you know, that\\u2019s not really the case.\\u201d

Brian Taylor, owner of Harlem\\u2019s Doggy Day Care lost both his uncle and long time mentor to Covid. During the pandemic his business slumped by 80%. So with some help from his pet parents and supporters he decided to hit the road with \\u201cThe Pup Relief Tour\\xa0offering grooming services to anyone going through rough times and in need.\\xa0\\u201cAll together we had about 63 African American dog groomers that went on tour with us across the country and we groomed over 829 dogs.\\u201d

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Black-owned pet business entrepreneurs. There are tons more across America and you can support their businesses and services.\\xa0House Dogge\\xa0in LA \\u2014 artisanal\\xa0dog tees, hoodies, toys \\u2014 committed to helping unwanted, neglected and abused dogs.\\xa0Dr. Kwane Stewart, an African American veterinarian who walks skid row in downtown LA tending the unhoused dogs of unhoused people.\\xa0Fresh Paws Grooming\\xa0in Brooklyn. The animal advocates at\\xa0Iconic Paws, a customized pet portrait gallery with flare.\\xa0Pardo Paws\\xa0in Georgia, an all natural company with a lotion bar in the shape of a dog paw for dogs with dry\\xa0noses and paws made of cocoa butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, calendula.\\xa0Precious Paws Dog Grooming\\xa0in Bloomfield, New Jersey.\\xa0
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\\nLittle L\\u2019s Pet Bakery and Boutique\\xa0in Brooklyn.\\xa0Scotch and Tea\\xa0\\u2014 stylish and durable dog accessories. Bark and Tumble, a luxury and contemporary brand of hand made dog garments in Britain.\\xa0Pets in Mind a Holistic Pet Supply Store\\xa0in Coconut Creek, Florida.\\xa0Beaux & Paws\\xa0in Newark,\\xa0Pet Plate\\xa0\\u2014 an online black owned pet food delivery service. Duke the Groomer in Chicago,\\xa0Ava\\u2019s Pet Palace\\xa0started by Ava Dorsey, age\\xa013.\\xa0
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\\nMost all of these businesses are giving back in some way to their communities working with at-risk youth, taking them in with mentorships and internships that hopefully lead to jobs, and donating generously to shelters and rescues and neighborhood food banks.