may 3.2002 _
Um ¡ í ü i v í m m ews
ina M icciulla used to have a job
that many people thought was
damn cool.
S h e ’d get up early in the
morning and go off to the radio
station nicknamed “T h e Beat.” T here, she
entertained Portlanders as one of the morning
team known as G ina, C ort and Rebecca.
And then, after 16 years in the industry, her
career came to an abrupt end. G ina left radio
behind and set off to follow her real love: caring
for animals.
Now, she gets up
early every morning
and goes off to a job
th at this person
thinks is far cooler
than the radio job.
Marty Davis
G ina still is enter
taining Portlanders, hut these days her fans are
furry, four-footed and fido-ish.
She and business partner Sue Loftesness are
the co-owners of Unleash Yourself, a state-of-
the-art doggie day care center located on the
lower end of Northeast Alberta Street. T h e
facility features more than 4,500 square feet of
total doggie utopia.
A “green building,” it is equipped with an
air-exchange system— no doggie odors here—
and a lap-of-luxury, oh-so-comfortable, radiant-
Gina Micciulla (left) and Sue Loftesness own a state-of-the-art doggie day care center
water-heated cushy floor. T h e outdoor play area
From noon to 2 p.m. each day it’s quiet time,
alone, at 2,100 square feet, is the largest in the
To enroll and he accepted, your pooch will
and anywhere from 10 to 40 dogs are kenneled for
have to be interviewed and pass a temperament
Portland area, and— moms and dads, check this
a
nap. The Big Dog crowd gets plush floor cushions
test.
A
ll
nonaggressive
breeds
and
all
sizes
are
out— it’s all mud-free.
on which to lounge and reflect on the good life.
welcome.
And when we’re talking outdoor play area,
T he dogs never are left unattended in the
However, there’ll he no biting or growling, so
folks, we don’t mean, “Honey, put the dog in the
play area. Unleash Yourself has one handler for
play nice now, kids. Each pooch gets a locker for
hack yard, please.” T his place rocks.
every 10 dogs.
“necessaries,” including that favorite mommie-
It’s got loads of live green grass, wading pools,
For pleasure and sport there’s balls, there’s
smell T-shirt.
climbing gyms and all the toys you can carry
jumping games, there’s a tube
from inside. Even cooler, by the
thing to run through— there’s
time the dog days o f summer roll
open fenced windows facing
around, the area will be
Alberta Street. T h ere’s hugs,
equipped with a misting system.
there’s love, there’s stimulation,
Lacking only in poolside bever
there’s
play and frolicking and
age service, maximum summer
romping and, oh my god, can it
comfort for the pampered pooch
get
it better for any dog anywhere?
is guaranteed.
Check out www.unleashyour-
Doggie day care costs about
self.biz for further details, then
$20 daily with a “Pooch Punch-
call and schedule the interview
card,” hut the value is immea
and temperament test. Your dog
surable. In exchange for your
already loves you, but trust me,
dollars you take home a happy
this will elevate you to the high
and tired yet energized and
est realm of doggie adoration
enriched canine who’ll stay co n
(and considerably ease your guilt
tent for two to three days— until
about leaving the little darling
it’s time to repeat the process.
all day).
Day care isn’t intended for
daily use; the dog needs refresh
ow that fido/fidette is tired,
ing and resting time in between
socialized, happy and hun
stays. Two visits a week is co n
sidered optimum.
Even though she’s off the air, Micciulla still gets great reception
gry, exactly what were you plan-
Y uppie P uppies
Pamper your pooch with doggie day care, organic pet food
and naturopathic healing alternatives
fflf QUEER
PROFIT
A * '-
N
ning on serving for doggie dinner? Please, don’t
even be thinking about doggie junk food or
sharing your own Lean Cuisine.
Nope, you’ve got to continue to maintain
the well-being of your dog pal by providing qual
ity natural foods, snacks and toys. And the
women of Healthy Pets Northwest have gath
ered all these products in one place for you.
Friends and business partners Julie Canton-
wine, G aia M ather and Brenda Kehau have
combined their skills, talents and interests to
produce a business dedicated to selling pet foods
and snacks containing no animal byproducts or
toxic chemicals.
T heir mission is to do more than sell pet
food. They are in business to educate, heal and
promote the well-being of all pets.
They can reference herbal and homeopathic
remedies. They will consult with pet health care
specialists and, utilizing nutritional guidelines,
help you establish and maintain the best quality
o f life for your pet.
Naturopathic physician M ather works with
resolving pet behaviors by utilizing the Bach
Flower Remedies. W hat, a questioning look?
W ell, the Bach Flower Remedies are a com
pletely natural, gentle and effective way to rem
edy pets’ undesirable behaviors. By looking at
their underlying causes, it is possible to find a
solution to balance impulses.
Once the underlying cause is understood, the
correct remedy or combination of remedies gently
will balance the animals’ behaviors until they are
at peace with the world again. And then you give
them an all-natural peanut butter doggie cookie.
Healthy Pets Northwest sponsors monthly pet
care seminars that have been well received. Atten
dance is on a “donation only" basis, and all proceeds
are given to Portland pet shelters and charities.
T h e topics vary monthly. For a schedule of
seminars and lots o f further information please
visit www.healthypetsnw.com. J H
Business news with a queer bent should be reported
to M A R T Y D a \JS at m arty@justout.com.
From left, Brenda Kehau, Julie Cantonwine
and Gaia Mather educate, heal and promote
the well-being of all pets
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