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Jan/Feb 2026
801-513-1988 SalazarScoops.com
Why Fear Is Just the Starting Line The Moments That Terrify You Most
When I came into this world, I almost didn’t make it. The umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck, and I would have died if my mother hadn’t had an emergency C-section. This traumatic event came after my parents spent more than 10 years in fear that they would never conceive. You could say that fear has always been a motif in my life. That story has been a reminder that there will always be things I’m afraid of, but if I can survive an umbilical cord almost doing me in, I can probably survive anything. Ashley and I just celebrated the fifth anniversary of Salazar Scoops in December, and we’ve learned that when you run a business, you have to deal with fear all the time. We had to overcome many fears just to get here, like leaving the security of our 9-to-5 jobs behind. I have to constantly make decisions that could greatly impact our success. Ashley has to manage the worries of an entrepreneur’s spouse, thinking of our very livelihood and the roof over our heads. If you trust the process, use fear as motivation, and have someone you can count on, you will emerge stronger, more capable, and ready for whatever comes next. To move my business forward, I often have to make choices with incomplete information, something that scares a lot of people. I make the most well-educated
decision I can, and trust in my abundance mindset. There is an opportunity for everyone in everything. I’ve literally turned picking up dog poop into a way to provide for my family, but it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. Entrepreneurship forces you to grow and mature. I’m a completely different person than I was five years ago. Ashley did a very scary thing when she quit her full-time job to do this with me. She put all her trust in me and has been learning to turn fear into fuel to keep going strong. We now have employees with families who depend on us, and we don’t want to let them down. The more we grow, the more people we will be responsible for. We are blessed to have a support system in each other. I can sense when Ashley’s feelings shift, and I’m good at helping her acknowledge what’s really behind the fear. The moment you can illuminate the real cause of fear, the monster in the closet turns out to be much smaller than you thought it was. Ashley can just tell when I’m down or frustrated, and often asks questions to try and help me. Though the idea of confrontation or uncomfortable conversations used to make her uneasy, I’ve helped her see that it’s better to get it out instead of bottling it up. Much of what you want to accomplish in life is waiting just behind a couple of tough conversations.
When you can move past your fears, you feel a sense of pride in yourself, your partner, and all the work you’ve put in. God never gives you more than you can handle. Much of our suffering comes from our inaction, reminiscing about the past or worrying about the future, until we get stuck. The only way to get over it is to be in the here and now and do the work. If you’re a fellow entrepreneur or just another of many humans facing the fears of life, take the leap. You are doing a disservice to yourself and your loved ones if you let anything stop you from achieving your dreams. We live somewhere where you can be in control of your own destiny, and that’s an opportunity worth seizing. We’re all afraid of something, but you’re braver than you might realize. Don’t let fear hold you back; let it lead you to growth and new possibilities.
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SalazarScoops.com • 801-513-1988
Share the Scoop, Spread the Joy
Earn Free Scooping Just for Sharing the Love
Bringing home a new pet for the first time can be exciting and nerve-wracking. One moment, you might be thinking of quiet nights curled up on the couch with your new furry friend, and then suddenly catch yourself worrying whether your carpets and furniture will survive. That mix of feelings is perfectly normal, but preparation can help keep your stress levels down. Start by getting your house ready. Tuck away cords, move toxic houseplants, and set up an area with food and a bed. Puppies and kittens are like curious toddlers. They always seem to find the one thing you missed, so assume anything left out could be chewed, batted, or swallowed. Food is another early test. For dogs, real meat should be at the top of the list. Cats need the same, since grain-heavy diets don’t do them any good. Birds, reptiles, and other unusual pets have their own needs, so it’s worth doing a little homework before buying. Routine also makes life easier. Feed them at the same times, build in bathroom breaks, and play regularly. Miss a walk, and your dog will remind you in no uncertain terms. Socialization matters, too. If you have a puppy, try mixing up your walking routes. Exposing it to different streets with new sights, sounds, and smells stimulates it in a good way and reduces anxiety. Kittens should be given space to explore without being pushed. A rescue cat may take weeks before it relaxes, but patience usually wins. And don’t delay that first vet visit. Even if your pet looks fine, an early exam can catch problems and set you up with a vaccine schedule. Some clinics even discount first visits, especially for rescues. The first few weeks as a new pet owner can be messy. Shoes might get chewed, accidents happen, and sleep takes a hit. Over time, though, the rough edges fade into stories. Before long, the same animal that kept you on your toes will become one of the best parts of your household. Quick Tips to Start Pet Life Right Bringing Home a New Pet?
At Salazar Scoops, every yard we clean tells a story; one that’s part of our own personal journey. As many of you know, we have a dream close to our hearts of growing our family and bringing a baby into the world. Your support has already made a huge difference, and we’re inviting you to help us grow in another way: by sharing the gift of a freshly scooped yard with your neighbors, friends, and their four-legged companions. Not only is this a way to make life a little easier for the other dog lovers in your life, but as a Scoop Club member, you get a special bonus for every person you refer. As part of the Scoop Club, you can always expect top-notch waste removal in your yard so you and your dogs can enjoy more quality time together. But you also gain access to a passionate community of pet lovers, local dog organizations making a difference, and a wealth of resources for dog care. We consider customers like you as part of our extended family, and we love to hear your stories about your pets and the joy they bring. When the snow starts to melt is one of our busiest times, making it the perfect moment to invite your friends and family to the club. For each person you refer, you’ll receive a special bonus: two FREE weeks of scooping in your yard. Your loved one will receive a full welcome package filled with thoughtful goodies. Referrals are also a chance to make a difference in the lives of needy animals here in Utah. For every referral, we are proud to donate $25 to a local animal shelter. When you share Salazar Scoops, you’re not just giving someone and their pet a cleaner yard. You’re uplifting the people you love, enhancing the lives of dogs in our community, and supporting us as we continue our hopeful path toward growing a family. Thank you for walking alongside us, one scoop and story at a time.
Scoop Club Bonus: For every person you refer,
earn two free weeks of scooping in your yard!
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SalazarScoops.com • 801-513-1988
The Scoop on Our Partners: Rocky Mountain Pet Care
Pets are part of our families, and every walk, snack, and moment of quality time matters. At Rocky Mountain Pet Care, owner MJ Jensen is dedicated to keeping pets happy, healthy, and comfortable in their own homes. What started in 2018 as a side gig inspired by her own stressed-out terrier has evolved into a full-fledged in-home pet care business. At Salazar Scoops, we share MJ’s mission to provide comfort and care for pets. MJ knows firsthand how stressful it can be for both dogs and their owners when people need to go out of town. When she went on vacation in 2018 and had to board her dog, she spent most of the First-time customers who mention Salazar Scoops will receive 20% off their first invoice at Rocky Mountain Pet Care. For more information, visit RockyMountainPetCare.com
trip glued to live videos of her anxious pup. She decided to do something, starting a side job watching people’s pets. It quickly evolved from helping coworkers and friends to leaving her 9-to-5 job in 2020 to go full-time with Rocky Mountain Pet Care. “My big thing is making sure everybody is comfortable in their own environments,” she said. “It’s just really rewarding to gain not just the humans’ trust, but the pets’.” Rocky Mountain Pet Care offers drop-in visits, dog walks, and overnight care for a variety of pets. She spends time with each animal, ensuring they feel comfortable. They also give back through their annual Santa Paws food drive. This year, they donated 1,293 pounds of food, toys, bedding, and treats to Animal Care of Davis County. They are introducing a new program where people can purchase a walk for a shelter dog from them.
MJ’s mission is to provide comfort
and care for beloved pets when you’re not there, and knows a clean
yard makes all the difference for the mental and emotional health of dogs.
“Just like us humans don’t like walking into a dirty environment, the dogs don’t either,” she said. At Salazar Scoops, we are proud to help dogs live happy, stress-free lives, just like Rocky Mountain Pet Care dedicates itself to ensuring pets feel safe and comfortable at home, even when their human best friends are miles away. Together, we can keep tails wagging and busy pet parents confident that their beloved pets receive the loving care they deserve.
For Our Furry Friends!
Dog Birthday Cake
Celebrate your furry best friend’s big day with a healthy and tail-wagging-tasty birthday cake.
Ingredients
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease two 6-inch cake rounds and put parchment paper in them, cutting so it fits cleanly in the pan. 3. Mix pumpkin purée, peanut butter, applesauce, and vegetable oil in a large bowl until incorporated. Then, mix in eggs and honey. 4. In a separate bowl, mix flour and baking soda. 5. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and whisk until combined. 6. Divide batter between pans and bake for 18–20 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and cool completely. 7. For frosting, blend yogurt and peanut butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. 8. Once cakes are cool, coat with frosting and layer.
• • • • • • • •
1 cup pumpkin purée
1/2 cup peanut butter (xylitol-free) 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs 2 tbsp honey
1 1/2 cup flour 2 tsp baking soda
Frosting •
2 cups unsweetened Greek yogurt 1 cup peanut butter (xylitol-free)
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Inspired by TakesTwoEggs.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?
Shrinking the Monster in the Closet
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Your Referral Can Make Tails Wag
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A First-Timer’s Guide to Pet Prep
Rocky Mountain Pet Care Keeps Tails Wagging
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Dog Birthday Cake
Meet the Canine Hero That Warns of Seizures
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Trained to Protect The Service Dog That Changed a Child’s Life
Enter Ezra, the service dog.
European herding breed known for intelligence, alertness, intuitive ability, and loyalty. Service dogs’ sense of smell is more powerful than any machine and can detect changes instantaneously. They have been likened to a live-in medical alert system. They can also be trained to notice anxiety or discomfort and offer comfort and companionship, interrupting potential panic attacks by calming their human companions. With training by Julie Madison of Top Tier K9, a professional dog-training company, Ezra learned to detect seizures by using his ability to sense subtle changes in scent or behavior. He was also taught to alert JJ and those around him before any visible signs of a seizure appeared, allowing a few crucial moments for JJ to take medications to curtail the seizures and ensure he was in a safe place.
The veterans reached out to Canines for Heroes, a Sarasota-based nonprofit founded by Air Force veteran Mark LaFlamme. As a highly decorated Air Force veteran of three combat operations in the Middle East, LaFlamme knew firsthand the challenges of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); two of his fellow officers succumbed to the pain and took their own lives. As a way of coping with their loss, LaFlamme set out to help others by giving them access to the healing power of trained service dogs. Canines for Heroes has years of experience matching service dogs with individuals in need. So, Mark LaFlamme and his wife, Sandra, matched JJ with Ezra, a dog trained to detect oncoming seizures and provide emotional support. Ezra is a Czech shepherd, a Central
The family of JJ, a preteen troubled by debilitating seizures, was struggling to manage the condition and allay its devastating effect on his learning and well-being. They tried numerous treatments and therapies, but nothing worked well enough to stabilize JJ’s health. Then, JJ’s community stepped up in a way that changed his life forever. Military veterans at Sun Outdoors, an RV community where JJ and his family live in Sarasota, Florida, learned about the difficult situation his family faced and took the initiative to help.
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SalazarScoops.com • 801-513-1988
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