Patrons of Nails by Marla are greeted by “Buffy,” a four-pound poodle that is the first licensed therapy dog allowed in a Minnesota salon.
An atmosphere of calm and relaxation is essential for a salon and the owners say the highly social, slightly spoiled, fluffy ball of joy is in a place where a dog that likes attention can belong.
“He just prances out to visit everybody and makes everyone smile and laugh,” said Marla Lemieux, owner of Nails by Marla.
“We call him our welcoming committee,” said Loretta Ojala, owner of the adjoining Loretta’s Skin Care Plus.
Pet owners will tell you that having their companions around is good for health and well-being. Medical offices and nursing homes have long uses aquariums and birds to create an atmosphere of calm.
The idea of Buffy as a therapy pet came from Jean Anderson, a client of Marla’s who is also a mental health social worker with Koochiching County. She said animal contact is an emotional need that helps people stay healthy and productive in their daily activities.
“It’s a fairly new concept in the mental health field,” said Anderson. “A lot of people have animals and it is that unconditional love that makes them do better in everyday living and functioning.
“I go visit Marla every three weeks and I love being greeted by the dog,” Anderson added. “He doesn’t bark, and gives attention and affection, and is nice to have around.”
Where there is a special need there is an appropriate pet, according to www.animaltherapy.net. The goal of animal assisted therapy is to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional and cognitive functioning in a variety of individual and group settings.
Lemieux made a special request to the Minnesota Board of Barber and Cosmetologist Examiners in March 2007 to have Buffy in the shop. The board approved the request a few months later on the condition that the dog remains in good health and does not cause a disturbance.
The approval required Buffy to have a biannual health certification along with dental cleanings and vaccinations from Rainy River Veterinary Hospital. Lemieux also has him cleaned and manicured regularly.
But it isn’t just the humans who benefit from the experience. Lemieux said she was also thinking of Buffy, who she said needed people therapy. Buffy originally belonged to Mary Keenan, Lemieux’s grandmother, who lived with Lemieux. When Keenan passed away in October 2006, Lemieux said noticed that the dog was going through a prolonged depression from losing its owner.
“He was sitting on grandmothers lap since he was eight weeks,” she said. “He is a good lap dog.”
Buffy continued to sit in Keenan’s chair and Lemieux realized that being around people was the only thing that could lift the dog out of its melancholy. Having belonged to a senior citizen, she said the seven-year old Buffy is attracted to elderly clients.
“He relaxes people and makes them feel happy and good,” she added.
Lemieux has operated her nail salon at 1332 3rd St. in International Falls for five years. She said her clients are male and female, young and old. They come in for artificial nails, natural manicures and pedicures, and a lot of feet maintenance.
Loretta offers skin care, wrinkle eliminating LED facials, teenage acne care, hair removal and mineral makeup.
