Happy Tails Dog Spa™ Signs Seventh Franchise Agreement

TYSONS CORNER, VA – February 24, 2006 – Happy to be Here, Inc., the franchise company of Happy Tails Dog Spa™, today signed its seventh franchise agreement with Peter Zammer of Plainfield, Ill., who plans to open his own dog daycare and spa this summer in the suburbs of Chicago.

Zammer, a former sales representative, first heard of Happy Tails Dog Spa™ franchise opportunities when he opened a “going away” gift from a friend.

“When my wife and I moved from Massachusetts to the Chicago area, we did not recognize how great the growing need for pet care in the Midwest is,” Zammer recalled. “It wasn’t until I began reading a popular pet magazine my friend subscribed me to that I realized the lucrative benefits of owning a pet franchise.

“With a proven track record of success and a commitment to quality care, Happy Tails Dog Spa™ was the perfect fit,” he added.

After living in the area for a number of years and sampling different pet services, Zammer decided in January to leave his sales career and commit his time to starting his new franchise. He plans to oversee the day-to-day operations of the center, supervising the dog day care, spa and other guest services.

His wife, Colleen, plans to support the business at night and on weekends as she continues her career as a technical director at Diageo, an international beverage manufacturer.

“We are excited to have signed our first franchise agreement in Chicago where dog day care is ever-popular and the pet care market is thriving,” said Amy Nichols, CEO and president, Happy to Be Here, Inc. “Because of Peter’s deep love of dogs and his extensive sales experience, his Happy Tails Dog Spa™ will perfectly complement the business experience of our franchisees who are opening spas in Houston and along the East Coast.”

The next step is to find the right location in Chicago for the dog spa. Officials with Happy to be Here, Inc. will work with the franchisee to find a location and to negotiate a lease. It is expected the spa will open this summer.

The Zammer’s reside in Plainfield, Ill. with their two Shiba Inus, a four-year-old male, Sake, and a three-year-old female, Mika.

Nichols is especially pleased the couple shares her passion for pet care.

“Our two dogs are like our children and I know there are many other owners who feel the same way throughout the region,” Zammer said. “Hopefully, in the near future, I will have the opportunity to open other franchise locations to serve the growing need for pet care in Northern Illinois.”

Happy Tails Dog Spa™ is a place where pets are valued as family – where dogs enjoy endless playtime and spa treatments in a positive environment. Dog owners have the assurance of leaving their beloved pets in the hands of trained professionals. The Happy Tails Dog Spa™ staff willingly nurtures each pet with attention and love.

Happy Tails offers a variety of fun activities, sociable training and comfortable boarding for dogs of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities and temperaments.

“What makes Happy Tails Dog Spa™ so different is our ability to provide dogs with a fun and positive experience,” Nichols said. “Owners no longer have to feel guilty when they have to travel for work or when they go on vacation because they know their dog loves it here.”

Nichols offers franchisees a solid business support system, with step-by-step guidelines to operate a successful Happy Tails. Company officials will guide franchisees through every phase of opening a Happy Tails, from site selection, to the layout of the facility to an unparalleled training program, both on-site and at corporate headquarters in Tysons Corner, Va.

Nichols said it is now a golden era for the pet care industry, noting the number of dog owners in the United States has swelled to nearly 50 million and there are more pets than people – 378 million pets versus 280 million people.

“Pet spending has dramatically increased over the last decade, and there is no end in sight,” she said. “Last year, total pet expenditure reached an astronomical $34.3 billion. More and more dog owners are providing their family pets with the kind of care they would give their own children.”

For more information, please log onto www.happytailsdogspa.com.



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