At age 21, Holly Hargrove had already earned a licensed vocational nursing degree to go with an associate of applied science degree in business management.
The latter came from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. The LVN nursing degree was achieved during Hargrove’s high school years at the Harlingen School of Health Professions. Hargrove has an appreciation for the healthcare field and is proud to have earned her nursing degree.
Hargrove did find, however, that it wasn’t a career she wanted to pursue. The business management degree from TSTC pointed her in a new direction. She’s the daughter of a veterinarian technician and grew up with a father who loves hunting dogs. Hargrove was inclined to be involved in something involving the care of animals. It’s how on the western edge of Harlingen, heading toward Primera, that Hargrove launched Ruffin’ It Pet Resort.
She and her family did a fixer-it-upper. In this case, it wasn’t turning the former offices of a utility electrical contractor into a residence, but instead into what Ruffin’s Facebook page say is an “up and coming luxury, 24/7 pet boarding facility.”
“I’ve always leaned toward pet care,” Hargrove said. “There is a need for it in the Harlingen area.”
Reading Body Language
The young entrepreneur’s business is a work in progress after its recent opening.
There are still rooms being renovated for the change over from a contractor’s business place to a facility caring for dogs and cats. The front section of the new business has been transformed into professional office space. Around the corner and down a short hallway leads to one of the dog kennels. Two very large dogs – including a Newfoundland weighing well over 100 pounds – leap to attention, with tails happily wagging in seeing Hargrove during their recent stay at Ruffin’ It.
The key to understanding dogs, she says, is reading their body language and “knowing what they’re going to do before they do it.” Hargrove has strategies and approaches to deal with the separation anxiety many dogs experience when separated from their owners. Ruffin’ It has a large backyard area where dogs can exercise and begin to feel at home in their temporary shelter until their owners return.
“Cuddle them and have activities for them to do,” she said of caring for dogs.
Cats can be more of a challenge. They are creatures who thrive on familiarity and prone to stress in new surroundings, Hargrove said. Be it a dog or a cat, after an initial stay or two at Ruffin,’ she works toward making them comfortable at her boarding home. Some customers are already convinced that Ruffin’ is a safe and nurturing place for their pets.
“We’ve taken our 4 dogs twice, and both times have been flawless,” wrote Laura Haley on the Ruffin’ Facebook page. “Our dogs are very well cared for, and we get to go on vacations now!”
Give It Your All
Hargrove’s time at TSTC served her well.
She credits the business management courses at the college for teaching her about accounting and customer service.
“They developed my way of thinking to be a professional,” Hargrove said of her TSTC instructors.
One of her instructors, Duston Brooks, told the TSTC media office that Hargrove was the type of student that wanted “to know the why.” The instructor recalled the specificity of a financial plan which Hargrove came up with for a mock small business. The hypothetical is now a reality with the Ruffin’ It Pet Resort. Her business is in its beginning months and off to a good start for a young entrepreneur who is sure about her mission and ambitions.
“Find out what you’re good at and give it your all,” she said, giving advice to her generation of high school and college graduates, while following those words in her own life.
Ruffin’ It also offers grooming and training and Hargrove plans to offer daycare for pets in the near future. Call 956-752-7833 or email ruffinit.harlingen@gmail.com for more information about the requirements and process involved to board pets.