CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a tornado destroyed their facility less than three years ago, Kathy’s Pampered Paws is reopening at its rebuilt home on Hadley Drive.

The December 2023 tornado leveled the front half of the building, located off Britton Springs Road in northwest Clarksville, according to previous reports. “The entire front of our building was completely gone,” owner Kathy Conn told Clarksville Now. The kennel area, built from solid block, was the only section left standing.

“We cried a lot,” Conn said of the day of the tornado, adding that she and her team took shelter in a nearby car before taking action. She said it took nearly 10 hours for her and her team to move all 38 dogs and one cat to safety.

Interior hallway with collapsed ceiling panels, hanging insulation, and debris strewn across the floor; metal cage walls line the corridor. Entrance at far end shows broken roof letting light in.
The kennel wing that remained standing at Kathy’s Pampered Pets after the Dec. 9, 2023 tornado. (Contributed, Kathy Conn)

Conn said she considered retiring in the aftermath, but her employees and longtime clients kept her motivated. “I just couldn’t let any of them down,” she said.

Rebuilding through setbacks, community support

Conn described facing “one hurdle after another” in the rebuilding process, from Planning Commission approvals to updated building codes and zoning requirements.

“A lot of different codes and zoning have changed,” she said, noting the original building was built 26 years ago. Conn said she started her pet care business in 1990 before transitioning to the Hadley Drive location in 2000.

| NEWS ALERTS: To get free breaking news alerts on your phone, text the word NEWS to 43414.

She shared gratitude for the community support they received. “So many good people, like our mayor (Joe Pitts), stepped up and helped out a lot with our codes and Planning Commission debacles,” she said. “We have wonderful friends that have just come in and helped out.”

Blue house severely damaged by a disaster, with a collapsed roof and extensive debris in the yard.Front of a dog grooming shop called Kathy's Pampered Paws, with large dog illustrations on a blue-gray building exterior.

Redesigned facility for comfort and safety

The new facility comes with several upgrades. Conn said the lobby is more spacious for customers checking pets in and out. It also has a big viewing window for owners to watch their pets splashing around in the outdoor water play area. The second floor includes a “large indoor play place” with large windows for when the weather keeps pets indoors. They also have separate rooms for large dogs, small dogs and cats, all with “luxury kennels.”

Reception desk in a pet store with dog illustrations on the front panel and shelves of products behind it.
Row of metal kennel enclosures along a concrete hallway in a pet facility, with numbered doors and glass panels on both sides.
Row of empty metal animal kennels with numbered doors along a wall; yellow interiors and padlocks visible.
Row of metal kennels with glass doors labeled 94–101 in a pet boarding room; shelves and cleaning supplies nearby; blue rug on the floor.
Black dog leaps over a blue plastic pool on grassy turf in a fenced outdoor play area, a drink table nearby
Light-colored dog with a blue ball in its mouth walks through a sprinkler on a concrete patio, with a second dog near a plastic pool in the background.
Brown dog in orange collar splashes in a shallow concrete pool with a blue toy in its mouth under a fountain spray.
Dog standing in a small blue plastic pool on a sunny artificial turf yard with a plastic playset nearby and chain-link fence behind it.
A speckled dog with a pink collar carries a blue ball in its mouth on a wet concrete patio as water sprays nearby.
Brown sofa with multiple cushions sits in a bright, industrial-style room with two small chairs and large windows showing greenery outside.
Three vintage rocking chairs with brown wooden frames and circular patterned upholstery sit in front of large stainless steel appliances in a gray, industrial room.
Bright yellow sofa with two cushions against a gray cinder block wall, by a large window showing outdoors.

“Every time I walk in there, my heart just jumps because it is absolutely beautiful,” she said. “It is truly everything I kind of had dreamed a place could be.”

Conn said the rebuild focused heavily on safety and preparation, noting that Tennessee sees frequent tornado warnings and that the new facility is built entirely out of solid block. “The whole front of the building was gone,” she said. “The only thing that stayed was the block, and you gotta be prepared for something like that.” Conn said there is also a safety area in the stairway built for sheltering in place.

“Being prepared, especially when you’re dealing with the love of people’s life, is so important,” she said.

Woman in pink shirt stands in a backyard with red heart balloons and a colorful beach ball by a water fountain; group with dogs near a gated area in background.
Owner Kathy Conn stands near outdoor water play area during grand opening of Kathy’s Pampered Paws on July 18, 2026. (Jazmin Logan)

Kathy’s Pampered Pets, located at 127 Hadley Drive, held its grand opening on Saturday. Owners and their pets toured the new facility and had complimentary popsicles and pup cups.

Their current hours are Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon, and Sunday from 4-6 p.m. for boarding pickup only. Conn said they plan to expand weekend hours in the coming months.

| DON’T MISS A LOCAL STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter