About the Owner

Vanessa Davis had long been a lover and advocate of dogs and all animals. When the opportunity came to change her long-time career, she jumped. Through much research and inspired by Taylor, her golden retriever, she developed and opened Dirty Dogs Spa in Wake Forest, NC on March 1, 2012. That same year, in September, she purchased Trail Dog Outfitters, which provides high-quality outdoor apparel along with unique items for outdoor, nature, and dog enthusiasts. With the business growing and the need to expand, Vanessa and her husband, Joe, opened Dirty Dogs Spa at Stonehenge, in Raleigh, NC. 

Vanessa is a certified groomer and adjunct instructor at Wake Technical Community College, teaching classes for those wanting to become professional groomers in the Wake Forest, Raleigh area. She is certified in Pet Skincare Specialist and Canine Massage.  These skills are reflected by Dirty Dogs’ specialized and natural products. She and the entire Dirty Dogs staff are certified in pet CPR and First Aid. Vanessa has served on several advisory boards and business alliances, including the Wake Tech Advisory Board (small business), the Rolesville High School Business Alliance, a Rolesville Chamber of Commerce Board Member, and a Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. Vanessa contributes pet and pet care-related articles to Circa Magazine, The Wake Weekly, the Wake Living Magazine, and the Wake Forest Parish Neighbors, and other community publications in her spare time. You can read these articles on our Pooch News page.