Everything you need to keep your pets happy and healthy in Taos
By Virginia Clark & Photos By Mike Hawkins
Vacaying or just hanging with Fur Babies? Here’s what Taos offers to keep pets cuddly — both at home or on the road. Grooming, daycare, boarding, training and more. Also check out Law of the Land — for staying safe and legal in town, county and public spaces. That way everybody is happy.
BOARDING, GROOMING, DAYCARE
Pet Resort & Bow-Wow-Tique
Totally up ’n’ running or walking ’n’ playing for staying or vacaying pets. Precious ones can have boarding, daycare and baths, furry buddy time or they can just hang with humans if they need it. The resort says: If tails are wagging after a stay or two at the resort, we’re doing our job.”
575-751-9247
24822 US 64 West, El Prado
10000wags.com
Busy as ever, owner/groomer Cyríl Martinez said her loyal peeps and pets kept her afloat thru Covid. Named Avalyn after her grand doggie (she’s Cyríl’s only “grandchild”) Cyríl babies pets and owners alike. So whether boarding, grooming or both, come for bliss-filled, hypoallergenic, organic and non-toxic care.
575-613-6188
1036 Reed Lane, Suite B, Taos
avalynspawspa.com
Owners/groomers Stefanie Smith and Austina Hall love pets as if they are their own. They offer cats, bunnies and dogs “kind and compassionate fear-free treatments for their furry friends and their parents” that are mostly 1:1, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. cats and bunnies, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for dogs.
575-377-5202
Pioneer Plaza, 1329 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Unit E, Taos
barksandbowspetgrooming.com
Pam Busick and hubby are often called Aunt Pam and Uncle Greg — for the special bonds they have with pups ’n’ their parents. Been here “forever,” Pam grooms 6 days a week and they board 7 days a week. You’ll find up to eight and occasionally 10 fur-friends out for leashed morning walk/runs on their 27-acre Carson Ranch trails. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
575-751-7286 35 South Carson Road, Carson NM 87517 Facebook PAM-pered Pets
Sherri Perry says they are rolling with their special hand-scissoring/stripping, pet shaving grooms and much more. They do all Stray Hearts Shelter animals for free — because they love animals! Open daily, 4 p.m. is often slower and more available, so come on down for their fear-free care.
575-741-5352
1022 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Suite G., Taos
supergroomersoftaos.com
Taos Canyon Kennel & Training Center
Boarding dogs and cats on her 57-acre Magee Mountain Ranch, retired veterinarian Susanne R. Felser, VMD offers a quarter-acre, fenced indoor and outdoor kennel space through the first week in January; then closed through March. Felser occasionally offers training classes as well.
575-758-4229
26900 US 64 East, Taos Canyon
taoscanyonkennel.com
Certified, licensed and insured master pet groomer for over 25 years, owner Lisa Hopkins offers full-on gorgeousness for dogs under 60 pounds, and cats. Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, same-day appointments may be available. Allowing up to 3 hours for a pet’s grooming makes it a treat for everybody!
1018 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, El Prado
575-751-7099 - call or (575) 741-0267 - text
taosfurstyling.com
As they boldly say online –“100/Natural & Cruelty-free Spoil.” Check out their Preshies perfumed pet pics. So good, one reviewer said he’s gonna use it on his own hair! Ann-Marie, Teresa, Clair, Brooke, Chachi and Tammie offer caring, compassionate modern behavior-handling grooming with treats, walks, happiness and love.
575-613-7344
Venado Plaza, 94 NM 150, Suite 5A, El Prado
unleashedtaos.com
TRAINING
“As a certified dog trainer with over 20 years of dog-training experience, I offer one-on-one training, puppy consults, remote classes, educational programs for schools and rescues. My training is positive reinforcement-based with an emphasis on respect, reward and empathy for the dog and owner,” said Jane Gerard, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP.
575-758-4430
janetrains.com
Owner Delinda VanneBrightyn is “dedicated to an enlightened life with dogs through training for pets and working dogs: obedience, agility, enrichment, nose-work, treiball, directed movement, AKC Canine Good Citizen, service dog training, scent detection training and more!”
575-770-5633 125 La Posta Road, Suite 11 dogology-dv.com
Tad Schmidt creates results-based training “for a balanced dog,” including remote collar techniques for safe off-leash walks. “I train dogs. I teach you how to lead,” he likes to say. “Be proud of your dog and showcase his new manners in public.”
575-779-8114 (text is best) taosdogguy@gmail.com elevationk9.com
Taos transplant, Jen Havens, brings her award-winning “ethical dog training” and Pet Care practice to the Enchanted Circle, focusing “on the welfare of each dog, person and household” she serves. Jen is a Dog Trainer and Pet Sitter who incorporates “rewards-based, fear-free, and humane methods of care and training,” as well as her faves — enrichment and tricks.
626-673-7978
302 Cruz Alta Road, Taos
thereallifedog.com
DOG PARK
Formerly a tennis court, this is a small fenced area at Kit Carson Park on Paseo del Pueblo Norte. Dogs must be licensed, vaccinated and wearing visible tags. Puppies younger then four months and females in heat are prohibited.
ANIMAL SHELTER & CONTROL
1200 Saint Frances Lane, Taos
575-758-2981
strayearts.org
Taos County Animal Control
For any dog-related incidents. 575-737-6488
575-758-3361
TAOS COUNTY VETERINARIANS
Angel Fire Small Animal Hospital
Susan Gaffney, DVM
3382 NM 434, Unit H, Angel Fire
575-377-3165
angelfirevet.com
Salazar Road Veterinary Clinic
Trisha Albin, DVM, CVA; Kim Sides, DVM
575-758-9115
1025 Salazar Road, Taos
salazarroadvetclinic.com
Ted A. Shupbach, DVM; Jeff Tidwell, DVM; Daniel Fitzimmons, DVM
41 NM 522, El Prado NM
575-758-7310
taosvetclinic.com
LEASH LAW OF THE LAND
Dogs must be on-leash and rabies vaccinated in town, town-owned parks, Taos County developed recreation areas (like campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads) of Carson National Forest and Bureau of Land Management.