About
A founder-led Atlanta grooming brand, ten years in.
Happy Hearts was built on one belief: pets deserve knowledgeable, compassionate, individualized care — every single time.
Meet Wayne
Professional grooming with a deeper understanding of pets.
Wayne Hartley Jr., RVTg is a Registered Veterinary Technologist based in the Greater Atlanta Area — and a proud graduate of Fort Valley State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology.
He is the founder and CEO of Happy Hearts Grooming Studio & Barktique, a luxury pet care brand in Atlanta built to provide exceptional, knowledgeable and compassionate care while helping pet parents better understand the needs of their pets. Over the years, Happy Hearts has grown into a trusted name in Atlanta’s pet care community.
Be Their Voice.
Wholehearted Care. Every Time.
Beyond the studio
One mission, many rooms in the pet care industry.
Across all of Wayne’s work, the mission is rooted in education, access, representation and leadership — building better systems for the future of pet care. Whether through business ownership, nonprofit work, media, mentorship or innovation, he is committed to helping pet professionals grow, helping pet parents make informed decisions, and creating pathways for the next generation.
Founder & President
PETLANTA
The heartbeat of Atlanta's pet industry — a community-centered organization that connects, empowers and elevates pet professionals through networking, education, leadership development, service projects and community impact.
Founder & President
The PETX Network
A national platform built to support pet care professionals through business education, strategic partnerships, digital media, community programming and in-person experiences — including PETX Media, PETX Connect, PETX events and The PETX Podcast.
Founder
PETEXPRESS
A pet care rewards and financial technology platform in development — connecting pet parents with trusted providers, offering rewards through a partner network and creating new growth opportunities for local pet businesses.
Founder — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Future Pet Leaders of America
FPLA opens career doors in the pet care industry for youth and young adults through mentorship, scholarships, leadership development, career education and college and industry exposure.
Memberships & affiliations
- National Dog Groomers Association of America
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
2016 — 2026
The Happy Hearts story
Happy Hearts begins
Founded in Atlanta around a simple commitment: knowledgeable, compassionate care for every pet.
Built around professional pet care
Word of mouth grew the client family across the city.
A full Atlanta grooming operation
Grooming becomes the heart of the business, with a reputation for breed-specific work.
Ten years — and a new chapter
Happy Hearts Grooming Studio & Barktique launches, with mobile grooming leading the way forward.
Happy Hearts Grooming Studio & Barktique
Today Happy Hearts focuses on what it does best: professional grooming, mobile grooming, specialty and breed-specific work, and a curated retail collection of the products our groomers trust. Mobile grooming leads the next chapter.