animal lover's profile

Donny Knowles and Tara Datro of Knowles Tree Service, based in North Hampton, are all about bark…in more ways than one. Their business is based around bark, focusing on tree removal and all-natural mulch products, to name a few of services provided. And much of their personal lives focus on bark too; that is, their three beloved dogs who are with them most of the time at home and at work. All are rescues and embrace their blended family wholeheartedly.

Donny grew up in North Hampton and Tara in Brentwood. Both had family dogs throughout their childhoods. They met 4 years ago through mutual friends and have been together ever since. When they met, Tara had Baya (a huge English Mastiff) and Rudy (a Boston Terrier). Donny had Ms. Lola (a Blue Nose Pitbull). “We started dating and the dogs got along really well. Now the dogs are all best friends. We’re all best friends and the dogs are with us most of the time,” Tara said.

Ruby came into Tara’s life as her elderly ‘parents’ were going into a nursing home and couldn’t keep her. Tara’s son found Baya via a Facebook post. She came from an abusive situation where she was over bred for years. Donny has an enormous affection for Pits and got Lola from a friend who could no longer keep her. He also had his Pit named Crazy at this time. “Everyone in town knew Crazy,” Don stated. “He went to work with me for

10 seacoastbarkmagazine.com crazy

many years. He was a magnificent dog. 75 to 80 pounds, was totally ball-obsessed and loved to swim. I lost my Dad and Crazy the same year and told my Mom that losing Crazy was actually harder. She responded by saying, “You were with him all the time.”

The largest portion of Knowles Tree Service’s business is tree removal. They also have a neat machine called a mulcher that is like a huge mower that can easily clear out large overgrown areas of land. The business caters to both landscaping companies and the residential market. Other core products include all-natural mulch and landscaping supplies such as compost, loam, stone and stone dust. Their mulch, branded as “Outta My Tree…wicked good mulch,” should be of great interest to people with pets. It’s totally natural and contains no chemical additives which can be toxic to animals. The mulch comes in a few different colors, and Donny and Tara encourage people to come in to

discuss their needs in person. Not only will one get great landscaping advice, but they also will be greeted by three wagging tails!

Prior to becoming a leader of the Knowles team, Tara worked for over ten years in the medical field. She was a nurse assistant, a pharmacy technician, a phlebotomist and also worked with hospice organizations. I asked her what she enjoys most about her new “Bark” career. “I love the customers and working with them. I get calls constantly hearing that people are happy with

The Knowles Team

Heading to the Keys

Ms. Lola, Ruby & Baya

our work and what a really good job our guys did. We’ve a really professional crew.”

Donny’s favorite part of the business? “We do stuff to help people with things they can’t do themselves. We provide a service that makes people happy. It’s dangerous work, and we have a really good safety record. The most important thing to me is that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.”

seacoastbarkmagazine.com 11 Since the age of twelve, Donny had a chainsaw in his hand! His father was a forester, and he would clear trees at the gravel pit on their property. “I’d cut them for firewood, load them in the pickup truck and my brother would drive me around to deliver, since I couldn’t drive.” After trying his hand at a few different professions… construction, masonry and work on an offshore lobster boat…Donny started Knowles Tree Service when he was 26. After 20-plus years of running a highly respected business, Donny said his Dad’s advice has been instrumental in his

success. He told me, “Number 1: Always do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. No. 2: Don’t give people anything to complain about. It was simple advice, but I actually built my business on it.”

Donny, Tara and their pups spend the first few months of each year in Little Torch Key in the Florida Keys. Though they still are working, their winter getaway provides them with a bit of a rest after relentless hours of work from spring to late fall. A lot of their work is under the worst of conditions; storms, power outages, 24-hours a day. They’ll be home and Knowles will be open April 1st…so stop in & learn more about pet-safe mulch and more!

We wrapped up our chat with a quick question. What can we learn from dogs? “Kindness. Loyalty. They really pull people together and bring the good out in people. We can be having the worst day, and our dogs bring us comfort.” Awe…such PAWS-itive things to bark about. Thank you Donny and Tara.