Mayra D. Grajales doing what she loves.

Today I'm presenting an amazing woman who has devoted her life to the care and training of dogs. She has been an animal lover since the early ages of her life. She has a passion for what she does. "No animals left behind", that is her motto. I have been honored to have meet her and we are still friends to this day. I am truly proud of her and all her accomplishments in her young life. Hard working woman and wife. Life has not been easy for her, but she has made it to the top and continues to wow me everyday.

When you started with your business? 
Long story short I began grooming at the age of 11. In 2001 I was offered my first real grooming job working at a vet’s office. I worked at the clinic, did house calls and at a pet shop for a while. Then I traveled to Florida in 2006 to take a course in grooming. I ended up giving class at the school for the remainder or the summer. When I got back home I opened up the First Grooming Shop in the area called Almanas Dog Stylz. It was a wonderful endeavor and the beginning of great things for me. In 2007 I took all the exams necessary to become the first International Certified Master Groomer in PR! (I was the first person to take and pass all the exams on the first trip IPG made to PR).

 In 2010 due to problems with landlords I was forced to close my shop and I decided NOT to relocate so I began doing house calls again. I'm not a person to ask why thing happen I just accepted them. Closing my shop turned out to be the correct decision and a blessing in disguise. As 2011 was full of family health issues and many other personal issues for me. In 2013 I was awarded Groomer of the Year by the Federación Canófila of Puerto Rico. I have yet so much more to accomplish and so much I have that I am thankful to God for all he has given me.

How we meet? 
I met Rafael Rios a year after I arrived in
PR when I joined CAP. He later turned into my brother when we initiated into the SilverWings in college, me being the only woman in our group. Rafael you will never know how much you impacted my life and how much you meant. I was never "left behind" when physically I was the one holding the guys back. But I never gave up.

Your hard times and the obstacles you encountered in the business perspective:
Personally some of the most difficult times when my sister and mother were both diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis within a year of each other. My sister has been stable while my mom had some very bad times (she is better now) all that and more caused me to suffer from panic attacks... Rafael knows me, I never suffered from panic attacks... shy and quiet I tend to be... anxious never. So it was hard but with help I have gotten passed it...

From a business perspective, grooming has become my life, my profession. I'm good at it, I LOVE teaching others what I know. It has been a challenge proving myself when others said the contrary about me but lately many who doubted me have come up to me to recognize my growth as a professional in this field. I have created a name for myself and that is something nobody thought I would do as everyone said my business would not last that I needed to finish college and be what they wanted me to be.

Where you see yourself in 5 years?
I have some exciting things going on this year so I have no idea but I'd like to think I'll become the leading terrier groomers on the island.

Who is your major inspiration to keep working day by day? 
My family!!! For them I have done it all.