Covered in hair, dripping in shampoo, and smiling from ear to ear is a dream come true for Brianna Harte, the owner of Golden Paws Grooming in Witless Bay on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland & Labrador.  

A true animal lover, with six dogs and two cats of her own, Harte always knew she wanted to work with animals. She pursued an education in animal grooming. 

“While completing the animal grooming course … I decided I would love to someday work for myself in my own salon, but didn’t think I had the means to do it yet,” she says, explaining that CBDC Celtic and its Youth Loan helped her to fund the start of her own business. 

Golden Paws launched in 2022 and recently opened a fully-renovated salon in Witless Bay - where Harte saw a real need for her services. 

“There are only a few other dog groomers in the area, most of whom are booked up, which means many dog owners end up having to drive to other areas to find grooming,” she explains. “Grooming can take a few hours … I have alot of clients tell me that they are glad I opened because they can drop their dog off and go back home for a few hours until pickup.” 

The salon offers baths, haircuts, nail trims, and other grooming services to dogs of all shapes and sizes.  

“My favorite part of running my own business is that I get to decide everything that happens,” she says. “I think being a small business owner helps me appreciate all the other small business owners in the area, and how much they do to keep things afloat. It’s definitely not easy, but it certainly is rewarding to look at your progress and know that it was all you!”