T
hey say that pets have soothing qualities and that
they can help heal the soul, mind, and sometimes
even the body. For owner of Everything’s Irie
Doggie Salon, Irie Vance, that statement holds truth
in her own life beyond which she might ever have imagined.
Her story—unlike that of so many entrepreneurs who
venture out on their own to begin a business doing something
they feel passionate about—follows quite a different track, as
it was not until a point in her life that most people would have
been looking ahead a few years toward retirement. Her children
grown, she could have been turning her interests toward
developing a new hobby or traveling. Instead, her family’s
lives were turned upside down by her mother’s diagnosis with
ovarian cancer in 2012—followed only a few month’s later by
her sister’s devastating diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.
The word
cancer served as a catalyst, a motivation to get
involved with organizations like the American Cancer Society,
for which she and her husband served as co-chairs for the
Cattle Baron’s Ball in both 2012 and 2013. It was in 2013
that—just as planning for the ball was in process—Vance’s
mother and sister both lost their battles, and Vance realized
just how short life can truly be and that surrounding yourself
with the things that you love most is vitally important to living
life to the fullest.
It was with her sister’s words of encouragement echoing in
her heart that Vance completed 600 hours at dog grooming
school to earn her diploma as a Master Groomer. And while
she might not currently use her own skills at the salon she
opened in 2016, that proficiency provides the backbone of her
business, as she has the knowledge in place to find groomers
with excellent skills and ensure that nothing at Everything’s
Irie is anything but the very best. “The business knowledge I
gained was incredibly important to what I do now, but I also
learned that there really is a lot you have to know about these
animals,” says Vance, whose team of groomers possesses the
level of knowledge and respect for the dogs in their care that is
reflective of her own. “I’m very proud of my groomers. They
have incredible talent and so much experience, and they really
are like artists who take a great deal of pride in their work.”
story by
Liesel Schmidt
photos by
Kristina Wright
Business Profile
Finding
the Path
28 | VIPPensacola.com
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4/26/18 8:12 AM