DICKSON, Tenn. (WTVF) — It’s a blend of education and entrepreneurship for students at Dickson County High School.
They are turning heads with their latest venture — Cougar Paws Dog Grooming. What sets this grooming service apart is not only the expert care provided to four-legged clients, but the fact that it operates right on a high school campus.
Ty Weaver is the Future Farmers of America (FFA) agricultural advisor and teacher.
“We teach our children how to handle dogs safely, how to take care of them responsibly, and then we teach them tricks and grooming qualities,” she said.
The idea behind Cougar Paws Dog Grooming came from existing school programs involving different animals.
Weaver recognized the potential for a dog grooming service to provide students with valuable skills and career opportunities.
“It’s just a different type of business. You know, when you think of Ag, you think of careers like farming and veterinary work, but there are so many others, and this is just an opportunity for them,” Weaver said.
Students quickly jumped at the opportunity to participate in this unique program.
Rob Stockman, a senior and FFA president, said he appreciates the school district for exposing students to non-traditional, but successful career paths.
“We do plumbing, electrical stuff, and there’s different ways we can go, you know, to TCAT or anything like that, and we’ll be ready. That’s a lot thanks to what we’ve learned in agriculture classes,” Stockman said.
But Weaver says the best part of it all, is that students get a chance to let go of some of their problems for just a moment to love a cute puppy.
“You never know what they walk in here. You know, class was hard, home life might be a little bit messed up. They might have some struggles that we don’t know about. And so, this is just an unplugged, you know, no strings attached. Let’s come in, let’s work. Let’s smile and have fun. And that’s exactly what we do,” Weaver said.
Cougar Paws Dog Grooming has become a beloved part of the community, servicing between eight and 16 dogs weekly.
The school gets a lot of their furry clientele thanks to the students, staff and community members.
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