Durty Harry's Offering Free Dog Wash to First Responders

Charlestown business Durty Harry’s is doing its part to raise money for The One Fund Boston while also offering first responders a free service.

All week long, the local pet supply and services business is providing free self dog washes to all Boston area first responders—including EMTs, emergency room doctors and nurses, FBI, Boston Police officers and others—at both their Brookline and Charlestown locations.

In addition, the business raised about $1,000 at a wash-a-thon on Sunday afternoon, donating half to PAWS New England, a dog rescue organization, and the other half to The One Fund Boston to support victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

A Durty Harry’s employee who is heavily involved with PAWS New England had come to owner Michelle Fournier about a month ago seeking to do a wash-a-thon for the nonprofit group. The event was scheduled for Sunday, April 21.

“Obviously, tragedy struck on Monday [April 15], and I immediately contacted her and asked if we could donate half the proceeds from the wash-a-thon to the victims of the marathon bombing. She was totally on board,” Fournier said.

Durty Harry’s often holds wash-a-thons to help nonprofit groups raise funds. Pet owners bring in their dogs for volunteers to wash and then donate money to the cause, Fournier said.

On Sunday, volunteers washed between 35 and 40 dogs, raising around $1,000 to be split between the two causes. Some people even came in the day before to drop off donations.

“On Saturday, I had people coming in saying, ‘I can’t make it tomorrow but can I give money anyway?’ It's a really generous community,” Fournier said.

To keep the giving going, Fourner and her staff decided to offer free self-washes to first responders for the rest of the week. Through the self-wash program, Durty Harry’s provides a facility and all the necessary tools—shampoo, conditioner, towels, brushes, blowdryers, etc.—and pet owners wash their own dogs on the spot. Typically, self-washes run about $15 per dog, Fournier said.

People who want to donate to The One Fund can drop off donations at Durty Harry’s through Friday. The business will make a final donation at the end of the week.