08/13/2025
Today is Lonnie's Birthday and I'd like to take this moment to reflect on our Pines Pet Pampering journey since I met him 25 years ago and how much his role has mattered!
When we met, I was working as a Veterinary Hospital Director in Fort Worth, and he was working as a High School Band Director in Garland. We met through Love @ AOL (yes, online, 25 years ago before we even had cell phones!). I lived here in Joshua on a tract of family land that's been passed down through generations (with huge PINE trees throughout the property). Lonnie lived in Dallas.
We immediately connected through our shared love of music, adventure, and animals! When we got married the following year, I was still working at the same job, but Lonnie took a band director job here at Joshua High School and moved here from Dallas. Within 4 years, after much talk and planning, we built The Pines Pet Pampering on our family land, next to our home in 2005. The original facility was only 800 sq ft with 8 indoor/outdoor boarding runs, a raised tub, and a small grooming area. It was tiny, but it allowed me to continue doing what I have always loved the most in life....being surrounded by and loving animals 24/7 day in and day out!
Throughout our marriage, Lonnie has always supported my passion to care for animals - whether that meant rescuing and adopting animals in need (everything from rabbits to reptiles), fighting for animal welfare, or helping me fulfill my dreams to have a pet care facility where I could take care of people's pets with the same deep love and care that I give my own. After opening The Pines Pet Pampering, Lonnie helped me grow the business to a point that within 3 years, it exceeded both of our expectations! My dreams shifted and I began to envision what it would be like to provide the same kind of pet care, but in a much more luxe setting.
Lonnie might not have been able to truly grasp what my vision was (it sure seemed grand at the time), but he was always supportive and he always believed in me! By 2009, with his unwavering dedication and partnership, my vision to operate a luxe pet care facility became a reality and we were able to move from our little 800 sq ft facility, to our new 6,000 sq ft facility right on Broadway street!
Throughout the entire 20 year history of The Pines Pet Pampering, Lonnie has been relentlessly devoted to our business and the pets we care for. It's truly incredible how he worked a full time job for Joshua ISD, working well over 60 hrs a week there (especially during football season), while also doing everything he has always done for The Pines at the same time!
Lonnie retired from teaching last year, and he's been able to be with us full time at The Pines Pet Pampering ever since! He wears so many hats, but the most valuable one is being a best friend to all the pets at our facility every single day. Every dog loves Lonnie! I get to see it day in and day out and it brings me so much happiness and pride! It's truly a testament to how our business has been thriving for over 20 years now....and it's a testament to why Lonnie is also my best friend.
Dear Lonnie, thank you for everything you do. Thank you for being you....so selfless, so patient, so fun, and just... such a kind hearted man. I am proud to call you husband, partner, friend. I love you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
❤️ Melinda
