ICYMI: Unleashed Pet Boutique & Spa Reopens In Port Washington

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — It's been a whirlwind few years for Unleashed Pet Boutique & Spa owner Laura Palattella.

She's faced seemingly insurmountable challenges and the uncertainty of the pandemic — but now, she's turned the page to a new chapter and is excited about a new day dawning for her business in a new location with a supportive community in her corner.

"We (recently) reopened in a new location in Port Washington after being closed for a year," Palattella told Patch. "We weren't sure if we would but we did it!"

Located at 122 Shore Rd., Unleashed offers grooming services by appointment only, as well as high-end, organic and holistic dog foods. This is her second iteration of Unleashed, which used to be a mainstay in downtown Port Washington.

A Long Road To Finding Her Way Back

In 2018 — after nearly 15 years on Port Washington's Main Street — Palattella closed up shop and tried her luck in the pet boarding business.

She found a silent business partner and opened a facility in Manhasset Isles. Then the pandemic hit and her business partner pulled out. Forced to abandon that dream, she reopened her beloved business in 2020, only to see it close once more due to what she described as bureaucratic red tape.

"I had to regroup because it was a little difficult," Palattella recalled in an interview with Patch. "I lost some of my confidence."

At this point, Palattella might have thrown in the towel for good. But thanks to the support of friends and family, and the green light from one local municipality, she decided to soldier on.

"Through friends and family, they just kept pushing me and then the Village of Manorhaven — really the board members and trustees —said, 'Come to Manorhaven'" Palattella recounted. "So I did."

Patch has reached out to the Village of Manorhaven for comment.

Palattella's newest store on Shore Road is roughly a mile away from Unleashed's original home on Main Street.

"My clientele in Port Washington, Manhasset, Great Neck, Glen Cove — everybody has been fabulous. Unbelievable. They've been so supportive and everyone has come back. I feel so blessed," she said.

Unleashed's Newest Location Offers Same Promise

Customers can expect the same welcoming atmosphere and expert services as before, Palattella said, adding that Unleashed isn't like many other standard grooming facilities.

For one, the groomers do a lot of hand-scissoring.

"It's like an art," Palattella said. "You're not just picking up a clipper and shaving a dog."

In total, Unleashed has three groomers. Each appointment takes about 2.5 hours, with groomers spending at least one hour on a dog.

Because Palattella doesn't like dogs sitting in cages all day, there are only about three dogs in rotation at one time.

What also sets Unleashed apart from other companies: Palattella's commitment to selling only organic and holistic products, including her own dog treats.

"I carry only organic and holistic foods," Palattella said. "I also make my own line of treats because I honestly don't trust a lot of products now. They say made in the U.S.A., but the thing is — it may be made in this country, but the product may come from China or Brazil."

According to Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, an associate professor of clinical nutrition at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, the concern about where pet food ingredients come from can be tied to the melamine crisis in the 2000s.

In an article for PetCareRX, Wakshlag said a Chinese company tried to make their wheat gluten purer by adding melamine, a plastic product that contains nitrogen.

This caused acute kidney problems in many cats and dogs. And the FDA had to launch an investigation.

Of course, this is not to say that every pet treat product that comes from a foreign country is dangerous. But Palattella says she doesn't want to take any chances. So, she makes her own dog treats, named affectionately after her late Irish wolfhound, Fiona.

"I work with somebody with whom I develop the product. Then he makes it," Palattella explained. "I have dehydrated sweet potatoes and I wrap them in chicken. And that's it. I also do it with apples and bananas."

Unleashed is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, except Sundays and Mondays. Geriatric dogs and dogs with health issues can come in at 8:30 a.m., so they don't have to deal with the morning rush.

Unleashed's Pledge To Give Back

For every dog groomed or washed, Palattella says Unleashed will donate $1 to the Farrell Scholarship Fund.

The fund was established in honor of two Manhasset brothers who died tragically in a car crash this summer. James and Michael Farrell — 25 and 20, respectively — were among the five people killed in the July 24 nighttime crash in Quogue, a sleepy village in the Hamptons.

Unleashed's promotion will last through the end of the year.