During the course of a foot treatment, nail tech Ruth Windsor asked her client what type of work she did. “She responded with, ‘I own a doggie daycare facility.’ And I told her, ‘I want to come work with you.’” It was a few years later that Deb Watkins, owner of Canine College, hired Windsor as an administration specialist. Located in Farmington Hills, Mich., Canine College is a full-service facility offering daycare, grooming, boarding, and training. They take the college theme seriously. “Dogs are students, boarding rooms are dorm rooms, and we have an admissions test before students can go onto the fields,” says Windsor, the owner of Angelic Beauty Works in Dearborn Heights, Mich., and author of  Answering the Questions to Your Sole: Pedicure Treatments That Will Have Your Clients Begging for More

Her duties as administration specialist include signing up new clients, giving tours, checking dogs in and out for daycare, grooming, boarding, and checking on vaccination status. She says, “Being on the front desk you have to be on your toes. You need to know if dogs get meals throughout the day, need extra breaks, need meds, etc.”

The job is a dream come true for an ardent animal lover like Windsor. (She personally owns three dogs — Claire, Taker, and Padme). “We all share the same passion and love for the dogs, and that is what makes it so rewarding to work here,” she says.

“Since we have so many dogs I get to see a lot of different breeds and different personalities. I have found that the bigger the dog, the more I talk baby talk and just want to play with them. Minus the drool, I can do without that.

“Many of my nail tech friends also share the same love for animals. It seems that we are not only people persons, but also compassionate to all living things.”

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