Oct 23, 2015
The Wyoming County Chamber and Tourism office was pleased to celebrate a ribbon cutting on October 23, 2015, with Melissa Henchen at her new business Paws Perrydise, located at 63 South Main Street in Perry, NY.
“We are very pleased to welcome Paws Perrydise and Melissa Henchen as a new Wyoming County business located in downtown Perry,” said Scott Gardner, Wyoming County Chamber President. “Melissa is certainly energetic about offering these new services to pet owners. She brings with her a compassion for animals, and a deep desire to help clients connect with their pets and offer them a great environment for learning and services.”
“I knew it may be my golden opportunity to give pet owners of our community a place that they can get training, have fun, shop, and meet others who are just as ‘dog/cat crazy’ as they are,” said Melissa Henchen. "I'm already seeing the enthusiasm and support from clients and I am excited to be able to provide this resource to my community."
As an animal rescuer, Melissa Henchen started Paws Perrydise because she saw a great need for pet related resources in Wyoming County. She recognized that pet training and daycare facilities were popping up all over the region, but Wyoming County did not have that luxury. Working in a daycare and training facility was a dream job for Melissa, but she found the commute to be long for both herself and those in the area to seek services. She began searching for available space and found the perfect location in downtown Perry.
Melissa Henchen studied under Karen Pryor's Clicker Academy of Trainers, as well as, many training and management seminars which has given her a solid foundation of skills and education to pair with her extensive experience with rescued dogs. She plans on continuing her education to stay current and ready to offer her clients the best services.
Training classes, seminars, and private lessons are Melissa’s recommendation to someone who has acquired a new dog. She believes that training your dog should be a positive and fun experience. She enjoys seeing the shift in attitude with even the most frustrated owner once they are able to see results.
Paws Perrydise also offers dog daycare, where clients can drop off their pet to play all day and then pick them up tired and satisfied with the fun they have had with their friends. She also offers limited in-home boarding for those dogs who may not do as well in a kennel environment, and could use the personalized attention in the comfort of the home. Paws Perrydise is fully insured, highly experienced, and comfortable with special pet needs as well.
They also offer self-scrub tubs for customer use. This affords many pet owners who may take in Letchworth State Park’s hiking trails; those without an accessible tub; or those whose pets may have difficulty getting into a tub, the easy opportunity to use the ramp/stairs and raised tub. While Paws Perrydise isn't primarily a grooming facility, they do have a groomer who comes in by appointment (Hollywood Dog Salon).
Melissa also plans to offer retail products soon to assist customers in locating the best products for their pets. She will currently order anything the customer needs. Her goal is to utilize local, US made foods, and treats, to avoid product recalls, and provide the customer greater assurance that their pet is consuming something safe.
Paws Perrydise is not a "pet store" as they will not be offering puppies for sale from breeders. With over 4 million dogs dying in shelters each year, their focus will be to include local rescue groups into their promotions to encourage more pet adoptions. Melissa currently offers a discount training program for those who adopt a pet in a local shelter/rescue. She also hopes to host many adoption events and other animal welfare awareness activities for Wyoming County.
Prices for daycare, training, seminars and boarding are all listed on the website and can vary based on circumstances. Group class offerings are on average $20 per session (6 sessions per class). Private lessons are more due to the one on one attention and very specific/individualized plan to help the dog owner. All training, daycare, and boarding services require clients to pre-register which can be done in person, online, or via telephone at (585) 861-2861. Current store/tub hours are Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM, and Friday and Saturdays 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Class schedules vary, but they plan to expand store hours very soon. Visit the website at www.pawsperrydise.com
The Wyoming County Chamber & Tourism is the leading membership organization for local and regional growth, advocacy, and connection for Wyoming County’s business community. The Chamber & Tourism’s mission is to serve the members and community; promote and grow the area’s economic and tourism assets; and work collaboratively to create an environment that leads to the success and economic prosperity of Wyoming County. For more information or to become a member please call 585-237-0230 or visit the website at www.wycochamber.org.