Nichole Curry operates Services with a Smile, a dog care business in White Center that provides exercise, training and more for dogs of all types. It enables her to carry out and fulfill her deeply held Christian faith by caring for animals and helping people locally and through ministries she supports. At left is her client Buddha and on the right Luna.
Nichole Curry is a woman who understands her life purpose. At a time when so many are changing careers and seeking new directions that means she's something of a rarity.
Being a deeply committed Christian helps and is the foundation for every aspect of her life but it is her expression of that faith through action that defines her.
Curry operates a canine services business that does much more than just walk dogs.
Services with a Smile offers:
- Basic obedience training including up to 15 commands
Behavioral Click and Squeak training.
- Basic agility and trick training
- Dog park adventures
- Dog walking
- Pet and House sitting
- Boarding
- Pet cab
"I provide all around dog care," said Curry. She's seeking just a few new clients since she's already pretty busy.
She can handle any size dog and surprisingly she said, "I actually prefer to work with aggressive breeds because they are misrepresented. It's always the people, not the dog."
A long time White Center resident, and graduate of Sealth High School, Curry uses West Crest dog park to exercise and train the dogs under her care.
She got her start in the business through a friend. "She had adopted a dog in another state so she brought the dog to me and asked me to walk it.The dog's name was Bliss. But I found out this dog had food aggression issues. Anytime you dropped food or put it in her bowl, she would snap. Under normal circumstances they don't even adopt dogs out that are like that. We bonded however and I prayed about it because I wanted to help her. The Lord told me, and I just started hand feeding her. From there everything just took off and I started getting clients."
That was ten years ago.
"Every dog that I've ever gotten has had some sort of behavioral issue, " she explained, " so I started reading and researching everything I could get my hands on and it has worked out so well. (…) I learned that all a dog wants is purpose and if you give them simple training and keep them moving, it usually works out."
She keeps her training positive, fun and game oriented and uses a squeaky toy as a device to alert the dog that she needs their attention. "Even if they are in a fight you can get them out of it with squeak training."
Curry is also a caregiver for DSHS, caring for her disabled father, and lives with her mother and father.
Which brings us back to her purpose. Much of the money she makes from her work (which by the way is provided on a sliding scale to help those with lower incomes) all goes to support, "a loving, giving ministry that me and my mom have called GGIEWP (Glorifying God In Every Way Possible). Any money we make we tithe and seed."
They support the television ministries of Joyce Meyer Shepherds Chapel and Joel Osteen but also help people in the community. "Everywhere I go I see a need," Curry said," and my mom makes hats so I go and give them out to people who need them."
"I want to share a bible verse with the community. It's from first John 4:12. 'No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other God is with us and his love is made perfect in us.' I on purpose love people through my business. It's why I have a sliding scale. It's about love."
You can reach Nichole through her website Serviceswithasmile.biz or through her personal Facebook page or by telephone at 206-736-4310.