Today we’d like to introduce you to Khadijah Turnquist Moore.
Hi Khadijah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Pawtastic Tummies Inc is a trademarked company that began Sept 11, 2020 started by myself all alone and on a mission to service dogs. I grew up in a household with dogs and they are all I remember playing with as a child later adulthood. Dogs really became apart of my life when my father was deployed in the military. My brother and sisters are older than me therefore talking to them became difficult as they had their own friends to entertain, my mom and dad were working parents so that left me and the dogs. I began communicating with them realizing that they were listening to me through command so I practiced training my dogs, graduated high school entering college not 1 masters but 2 obtained (Clinical Psychology concentrating in Children and Adolescent Development and Animal Science concentrating in Animal Behavior. Whew that was a lot to say 🙂 Pawtastic Tummies Inc came about because I am trying to merge canine and human behavior creating bestfriends of each other not solely the popular “man’s best friend” I am observing behaviors, modifying what I see needs tweaking in dogs. Under Pawtastic Tummies Inc I offer daycare, boarding, behavior modification, dog walking and dog treats. I am not done yet, is what I said to myself because not only do I help dogs that currently have owners, I help dogs that are lost and/or currently in shelters as well. Last month I became a Maryland Charitable Organization and we are currently waiting 501C3 status; and I call that organization, Pawtastic Tummies Community Dog Network (PTC Dog Network) and you guessed it, its a dog rescue. My organization will rescue pups that are currently in shelters for longer than normal lengths of time. My organization will invite persons with disabilities to come with their supports if needed. I have a son diagnosed with Autism and I would not be here operating at this capacity had it not been for him. He began helping me when I solely made dog treats and to see him training pups, walking them and assisting with departures its breathtaking to see. I have him on the highest pedestal as he is only 13 and dogs have truly also helped him reduce unwanted behaviors at school. I am on a mission to find more individuals similar to my son and help them through employment if they are of age, volunteer efforts and/or creating a therapeutic pup that can help with modifying behaviors similar to what I had to do with our personal dog which helped my son. I am soon to enter shelters, point at a pup less desired via behavior(s), rescue, modify and assist with rehoming using my organization. Both Pawtastic Tummies & PTC Dog Network were designed to educate pups, listen to their pawrents love them and service them. Hello they call me Auntie Pawtastic. Yes I call my customers “pupstomers” and their parents
pawrents”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. Finding the space of where my organization will be has been the most difficult because I love and reside in Catonsville so I dont want to move from this area. The paperwork involved had been a struggle. I had an idea of just making and selling dog treats but the demand of assisting pups in other capacities appeared at the forefront and here I am starting from ground level. I help lost dogs find their way home or find new homes. My main struggle is that I cant service more pups due to current limited spacing but thats a goal that will very soon be accomplished. The struggle is that its only me and I have a lot of pups depending on me and my next moves so I really dont want to let them down. The struggle is that there were only a handful of people that believed in me and many people laughed when I said I wanted to blend personalities of human and dog and make them friends of one another. Dogs dont always want to be mans bestfriend and here I am studying and working towards making both nouns cool with one another
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am dog behaviorist. I listen to them to learn them and modifying unwanted behaviors and teach their owners what their dog has been trying to say through their behaviors. Now dont be afraid as I know the many unwanted stereotypes pertaining to “Pitbulls” I specialize in Terriers/ Pitbulls but welcome all dogs never mixing sizes. I am known for being “auntie pawtastic” I am known for my silly character portrayed on social media, I am known for the costumes I wear while entertaining pups. I am proud that I have serviced over 2k pups being a one woman show. I am proud that I never got distracted and remained focused as I have two companies both servicing pups. Honestly there arent many women that desire interacting with the most difficult dogs. Standing at 5 foot tall I have a lot of paws that love me being around. I have advocated for dogs since forever, I breathe them, I wash their faces day and night, I brush their teeth and give them kisses on the mouth (laughing) that is what really sets me apart from others too.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
bad luck is timing. I have an amazing family, my husband is an artist and often times will paint canvases with pups, I have 4 amazing boys with 2 of them entering universities in the fall. So I have my marriage and kids I am maintaining in addition my business. The luck is that this is truly a family business now and all are assisting.
Pricing:
- $35 per day for daycare/ boarding (starting price)
- I offer discounts for members/subscribers
- $45 per day if pup requires training
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawtastictummies?igsh=MTFuZ29jbm9vYjdgZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/khadijah.turnquist.moore
- Other: https://ptcdognetwork.com
