Making your best friend look good too!

Born and raised in Portland, Maine, Susan has been passionate about helping animals since she was 8 years old. When she was 10, her eldest brother’s girlfriend taught her to sew. As the years went by, her love for sewing grew. Driven by her dedication to animals, she attended college and became a licensed veterinary technician at 48.

To further help animals, she co-founded Little Paws Big Hearts Pekingese Rescue in 2011 with her Virginia friend, Christie Compton Gourdoux. She used to rely on private donations to keep the rescue center afloat, but these were not always enough. To support her endeavor, she came up with the idea to make and sell dog bandanas. Here, her passions for sewing and animal rescue merged together.

First, she attempted to put her unique spin on dog bandanas by searching among stores and pet shops. However, she was disappointed with how flimsy, low quality, and limited the variety and styles of bandanas are on the market.

So Susan created her signature bandana, taking into consideration the durability, style, and other qualities she would like it to have. To ensure your furry friend will look good in her product, she incorporated hundreds of patterns and styles. She even added a unique feature through the collar to make sure the apparel stays on.

Susan has joined many craft shows, holiday fairs, and rescue events where her products are a big hit. This way, she was able to have a steady source of funding for the rescue center.