Check out the very first edition of our newsletter!
May/June 2025
801-513-1988 SalazarScoops.com
Building a Dream, One Scoop at a Time
this with our jobs, and I was also spending hours creating video content about the industry. Despite the long hours, the business continued to grow. This big change was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Last year, we quit our jobs to go full-time on Salazar Scoops and quickly saw how much overwhelmed families appreciated having this responsibility taken off their shoulders. We’re not just giving families a safe environment for their dogs and children to enjoy again; we’re building relationships. From clients who are grateful we made sure their gate was latched so their beloved fur baby was safe to older adults who just want someone to talk to, we’ve learned firsthand that something as simple as picking up after dogs can have transformative impacts on people’s lives. We believe in treating every customer’s dog like our own dog, Dax. When new people sign up for our service, we welcome them into our family with a kit filled with free resources to help their dogs live their happiest, healthiest lives. When a customer’s dog passes away, we feel it deeply, too, and make sure they know we’re thinking of them. Those moments of personal connection, helping bring peace of mind to people’s lives, mean the most of all. We’ve become friends with many of our customers; some even attended our wedding. I don’t think Ashley will ever forget the day she left the spa she was working at as an aesthetician to do this with me full
Love, Dogs, and Lawn Duty
time. I’ll never forget all the hard work that went into this dream. But every day and every dog reminds us of how much joy we get to share. For Ashley, it’s therapeutic being outdoors and helping improve people’s lives. For me, it’s making our scary world a little less overwhelming for people and their pets. Our goal is to become the biggest pooper scooper in Utah and provide our employees with a stable job where they can accomplish their dreams. We’re still chasing our dreams of having our own family, saving for a home, and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors when we have some free time with the stars above us and Dax at our feet. Whether you’re a property manager, a parent juggling it all, or someone who wants more tail wags and less stress, we’re here to help. We hope to welcome you and your four-legged friend to our family and be a part of our scooping story!
My dad used to say, “Same toilet, different poop.” He was a janitor, and both my parents were immigrants from Colombia who took whatever jobs they could to build a better life. They taught me early that no job is beneath you if it helps provide for your family. So, when I started scooping dog poop in backyards during the pandemic, it didn’t feel weird. It felt like something I could be proud of. Though Salazar Scoops started as a side hustle, it’s become a path toward freedom, family, and a future I could create with my own hands and boots. I was working in cybersecurity in 2020 when I realized I never wanted to rely on another company for my future again. I wanted to take control of my own life and find a better way to provide for my daughter. I stumbled upon a woman who was having a lot of success picking up after dogs, and after letting the idea marinate for months, one day, I finally said, “I’m going to do this.”
Let’s get to scooping!
My wife Ashley, my fiancée at the time, jumped right in to help. We were juggling
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SalazarScoops.com • 801-513-1988
Though summer is all about fun and relaxation, the heat can sneak up on us fast, and our dogs feel it even more than we do. With all that fur, limited ways to cool down, and the sensitive pads on their feet, it doesn’t take long for our furry companions to get overheated. Get ready for a tail-wagging season with these tips to protect your dog from the heat. FETCH THAT WATER BOWL Hydration is essential for your dog year-round, but it’s especially important to ensure your pet is drinking enough water when it’s hot outside. Place multiple water bowls around your home and yard to encourage your furry friend to sip frequently throughout the day. If you’re traveling, hiking, or having a day at the park, bring a collapsible dog bowl with you so your dog can access water on the go. Dehydration can seriously impact your dog, so look out for symptoms like sunken eyes, dry mouth, excess panting, vomiting, or diarrhea. Dog Days of Summer How to Keep Your Pup Happy and Hydrated
Getting your kids outdoors to enjoy nature is a goal worth pursuing, but smartphones, video games, and social media have made it far more challenging in recent years. We celebrated Earth Day on April 22, and a nature walk is a great way to keep the appreciation for nature going. Planning games, creative projects, and other challenges to engage them during your hike can get kids involved from the start. Choose a trail that isn’t too difficult, and allow your children to wander and explore. If your children have a creative flair, encourage them to collect dried leaves, pieces of bark, seed pods, sticks, and other items to use in a collage. For adventurous kids, you can draft an age-appropriate list for a scavenger hunt to keep them from growing bored on the walk. You can include different insects native to your area, specific colors of leaves, and types of flowers, and you can even have them keep an ear out for different bird calls. Challenge your kids to make a list of all the plants or animals they can identify while they walk. Apps like Leafsnap help you identify plants using photos of their leaves or other parts. Additionally, the Arbor Day Foundation offers an online step-by- step guide at ArborDay.org for identifying a tree by its leaves. Keep the learning going by having your kids record their distance based on trail signs or a map app on their phones and calculate their average speed. You could also invite your youngsters to become cartographers, tracing the trail and surroundings on paper, including landmarks, rivers, and lakes. Older kids can add topographical information using their phones or an altitude app such as Altimeter or My Altitude. Hiking is a fantastic activity to help your kids appreciate the outdoors rather than their phone screens, but being in nature takes energy. Remember to pack snacks and a water bottle before you leave, or pack a favorite picnic meal to savor the rewards of exploring the outdoors! Help Your Kids Fall in Love With Hiking Step by Step
HOT PAWS, BIG PROBLEMS If the pavement or ground is too hot for your bare feet, it’s unsafe for your dog. Asphalt on sunny days absorbs and holds heat that could burn your dog’s paws. When planning walks or outdoor activities, opt for the early morning or evening hours to avoid the warmest times of the day. Stick to the much cooler grass and test the pavement by pressing your hand to it for seven seconds.
WINDOWS DOWN? STILL DANGEROUS No matter the weather or how quick the errand is, leaving your dog in a parked car for even five minutes is never safe. Even with the windows down, a car can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures. On a mild 70 degree day, the inside of the vehicle will reach 104 degrees in only 30 minutes. The dog days of summer can be a season of happy memories with your pet, but they rely on you to protect them from the risks of heat. With a bit of planning, attention to any alarming symptoms, and water always on hand, you can make the summer safe, fun, and full of tail wags.
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SalazarScoops.com • 801-513-1988
The Scoop on Their Poop What Your Dog’s Droppings Say About Their Health
Your dog’s poop can reveal a lot about their health and alert you to potentially serious illnesses, stress, or issues with digestion. From the consistency to your pup’s bathroom behavior, every detail can offer important clues about their well-being. “Poop scoring” is an effective way to gauge what your dog’s droppings mean about their health and help you catch issues before they become bigger problems and even larger vet bills.
those are red flags that something isn’t quite right with their digestion.
your yard, it’s important to contact your veterinarian.
2. PERFECT POOP
4. DIARRHEA
Firm stools that aren’t too hard mean your dog’s diet is balanced and their digestive system is a well-oiled machine. It should have a segmented appearance and leave little or no residue after it’s scooped. Though slight variations or less-than-perfect number twos are okay occasionally, this is the consistency your dog’s BMs should be most days.
You should never ignore diarrhea, which could be caused by anything from eating something that doesn’t agree with your dog to dehydration or viral diseases. If your dog has diarrhea once but seems in good spirits with no other symptoms, watch them and consider a dietary change. However, if this lasts more than 24 hours or happens on and off for days, you must take your dog to the doctor. At Salazar Scoops, we care about your dog as if it were part of our family. Their health and well-being matter to us. If we notice any irregularities while scooping, we will alert you so you can take action quickly and avoid any potential concerns.
1. HARD, DRY DROPPINGS
If your dog’s droppings are very hard, dry, and in the form of small pellets, it could be a sign of constipation. Not only can this cause discomfort for your dog, but it can also lead to obstructions that may require a trip to the vet. If you notice your dog is straining, yelping, or has a case of the post-poop zoomies,
3. SOFT SERVE STYLE
Poop that ranges from soft logs to “soft serve” piles with little to no segmentation are a clue that your dog might not be feeling well, is extra stressed, or having problems digesting food. If you notice this in
For Our Furry Friends!
Fruity Pup-Sicles
Help your furry best friend cool down from the sweltering summer sun with this refreshing and healthy fruity pup-sicle!
Ingredients
• • •
1 1/2 cups of strawberries
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A splash of water
2 bananas
Dog biscuits (bone- or stick-shaped)
1/2 cup coconut oil
Directions 1. Add strawberries and bananas to a blender and blend until smooth. 2. Heat coconut oil in a pan until melted. 3. In a bowl, stir the fruit mixture and coconut oil together until it’s the thickness of soft ice cream. 4. Add a splash of water if the mixture is too thick. 5. Pour mixture into paper cups and cover with plastic wrap. 6. Cut a small hole with a knife in the cling wrap of each and push a dog biscuit through as an edible popsicle stick. 7. Place cups in the freezer, leave until frozen, then let your dog enjoy their cold and fruity snack to beat the heat.
Inspired by Rover.com
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SalazarScoops.com • 801-513-1988
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
4043 Riverdale Road #1020 Ogden UT, 84405 801-513-1988 SalazarScoops.com
What’s Inside?
Why This Means More Than Clean Yards
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Tips to Keep Your Dog Cool
Tips for Engaging Your Kids in a Nature Hike
The Poop Score Chart Every Dog Owner Should Know
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Fruity Pup-Sicles
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Hero Hound Saves Owner
Loyalty Runs Deep Gita’s Heroic Dash to Save Her Owner
The bonds we develop with our pets are unlike any other we experience. They depend on us for their every want and need, and we often give them whatever they ask for! We know they would do the same for us if the roles were reversed. As the years pass, that bond deepens, making us inseparable from our furry friends. Many of us have felt despair when we imagine life without our trusty dog, cat, or other pet. It turns out that some animals feel the same and will do
his glucose machine telling him his blood sugar was too low. As he headed toward the fridge, he noticed his 13-year-old dog, Gita, wanted to go outside. Shortly after being let out, Gita took off toward the woods, and her owner followed in pursuit. After traveling 20–30 feet, the man turned around to head back home when dizziness
the secluded woods. She jumped into action, heading toward a well-traveled street, where she encountered a sheriff’s deputy. The deputy tried to get the dog in his vehicle to no avail, so he surveyed the surrounding area to find Gita’s owner. The deputy could not locate the owner but still felt something was wrong, so he turned his attention back to Gita. The two locked eyes before Gita stood up and ran toward an unmarked side street. Gita led the deputy directly to her owner before any more harm could come to him. After the event, the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office posted “Hero Dog Saves Owner” and their account of the story on Facebook. Gita certainly proved her loyalty and bravery that day!
overcame him. He fell to the ground, broke his hip, and immediately started shouting for help. Gita remained by her owner’s side for some time before realizing nobody would hear him in
everything in their power to protect their owner if tragedy occurs. An 84-year-old man in Washington state woke up one morning to the sound of
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