A Chat with Michelle Fournier (and Harry)

When Harry met Michelle, she was working from home and loving her career in the public relations field. But she was spending a lot of time solo and missing human interaction; she decided to scratch that itch with a dog. Enter, Harold Ellison Shuman (Harry's formal name.) Fournier had never entertained the thought of owning a business in the doggy industry – but after taking a very dirty Harry to a do-it-yourself dog wash in nearby Cambridge, the rest as they say, is history. Fournier is now the proud owner of Durty Harry’s on Main Street here in Charlestown. This month, the booming business, which offers everything from grooming to doggie socials, celebrates its second anniversary. Recently, Patch sat down with Durty Harry’s top dogs for a closer look at Charlestown’s canine culture…

Q: Your business is coming upon its second anniversary – what’s it been like being a business owner in Charlestown?

A: It's hard to believe we're coming upon our two-year anniversary! In some respects, it feels like this is all I've ever done and in others, it feels like it was literally last week when we rang up that first sale ($7.49, I cried). The rewards of being in business in Charlestown are too many to list. I think most of all, it's the amazing people I've had the privilege of meeting and forming relationships with. (And of course, Harry has made many best friends!) We have the best customers on the planet.

I also love the sense of community within the group of small business owners here. From Zume's, Raspberry Bouquet, Olivia Browning and the Navy Yard Bistro, etc., everyone bands together and supports one another -- it's amazing.

Q: We hear Harry is quite the K9-5er – what’s a typical day at the office, are you all working like dogs?

A: Ha! Yes, we like to joke that it's not a workday if we haven't cleaned up someone's pee. The best part of DH is that there isn’t a "typical" workday. Each day brings us new gifts, and every day is a school day. We're learning, modifying, and hopefully bettering our business with each day.

 Q: From Valentine’s Day soirees to pictures with Santa, the Durty Harry’s community has quite the social life. What’s next for these party animals? 

A: I think that's one of our key differentiators amongst our competitors, we strive to give back to our loyal customer base by hosting really fun people/dog parties. This spring we had our St. Puptrick's Day party and we’re planning our second Wash for Lucky Lab Rescue. Last year we raised $2,500 for them in four hours. It was insane!

Q: Do you and Harry have a favorite part of Charlestown for a walk?

A: I'll defer to Harry on this one. He tends to love Paul Revere, and he's also a fan of the Navy Yard. 

Q:  Any observations on Charlestown dog owners, there seem to be a lot of them?

A: Charlestown dog owners rock. That's it.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your job?

A: Again, too many things to list. I love interacting with dogs - it's a blast. It's funny, I can be in a funky mood, and in will walk a newbie that we've never met before, or one of our old faithful's and my spirit is immediately lifted. I also love buying new products, this is a completely foreign task for me, so it's great when I bring in a fresh item and people/dogs like it!

Q: What do you think makes Charlestown different from other Boston neighborhoods?

A: It may sound cliché, but Charlestown is a true community. Our customers care about each other, and each other’s well-being. When a dog is sick or injured, people inquire and it's out of concern, not gossip. It's really amazing that in a city environment a small town culture is what's prevalent. 

Q: What do you see in Durty Harry’s future?

A: I joke that I'm "building an empire". But, all joke's aside, I don't see a ceiling for Durty Harry's, there is no stopping point right now. I'm in the process of looking to open a second location, which may stretch Harry thin, but I think he's up for the task. No matter where we grow though, my heart will always be in Charlestown.

If you haven’t already, grab your pup and take a walk down to 287 Main Street, Michelle and Harry would love to meet you.

To find out more, visit durtyharry.com or call 617-242-DOGS.