Melina Alexakis

Melina Alexakis, an Eau Claire native and fifth-grader at Putnam Heights Elementary School, is anything but your average 10 year old. While many kids her age love animals – I mean, who doesn’t love a puppy? – Melina took it to another level by starting her own pet-related business.

“Melina created everything about the business, never complains about going to work, and is very proud of her business. I’m also very impressed with her self-confidence with the dogs and clients. More often than not, I have to drag her away from the dogs,” says Christy Varnavas, her mother. “Creating a business would never have crossed my mind at her age.” But when Alexakis’s dog Clio died in 2014, that’s exactly what she did.

“I love animals– all of them – big and small. I remember how much I liked walking Clio,” says Alexakis of how her business, Furry Fitness, got started. “Dogs are ‘Furry,’ and I knew right away that ‘Fitness’ should go next, made up business cards with a logo, and started getting clients.” Melina has three clients and walks dogs three to four days a week. Her services start at just $5, and she’s saving up her money to buy her own Welsh Cardigan Corgi.

But not everything Melina does is for profit; she also donates her time by volunteering at emBARK, a dog day care. “I keep puppies company for two days a week in the puppy pen until their owners come to take the little ones home,” she says. “When all the pups are gone for the day, I go into the big dog pen and run with the big dogs.”

And run with the big dogs she does.

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