MARCH 14 • 2024 | 45
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amounts of money.
“There are a lot of dogs 
who need to be groomed 
monthly or whatever it might 
be,” she explains. “But the 
majority of dogs [don’t need 
this], they need baths and 
they need their ears cleaned, 
their nails clipped and their 
teeth cleaned.”
Many pet parents, Neff 
adds, aren’t taking these 
steps as often as they should.
That’s why Scenthound’s 
“bread-and-butter,” as Adam 
Neff says, is its membership 
program that offers three dif-
ferent care packages that dog 
parents can enroll in.This 
way, pet owners can ensure 
they keep their pups up-to-
date on their health and 
wellness needs before issues 
like difficult mats or skin 
infections develop.
Membership packages 
start at $30 per month. For 
a limited time, Scenthound 
Birmingham is also offer-
ing a first-come, first-serve 
friends and family discount 
to interested dog parents 
who can call (248) 690-3455 
for more information.

BUILDING COMMUNITY 
BRIDGES
Instead of turning to a bank 
for a traditional business 
loan, the Neffs sought out 
the help of Hebrew Free 
Loan as a way to build con-
nections within the Jewish 
community and, hopefully, 
be able to give back to the 
Jewish organization in the 
near future.
Hebrew Free Loan’s 
Marvin I. Danto Small 
Business Loan Program is 
providing the Birmingham 
business with a $100,000 
no-interest loan.
“We needed something 
with a good reputation that 
we knew we could trust and 
help walk us through the 
process of getting our first 
big loan,” Adam Neff says. 
“They were great to work 
with.”
“We also love the idea of 
using something through 
our community,” Melissa 
Neff says of choosing to 
work with Hebrew Free 
Loan over a bank. “This is 
just more meaningful than a 
transaction with a bank, and 

we feel proud that we’re a 
part of it.”
Given the current situation 
in Israel with the ongoing 
Israel-Hamas war, the Neffs 
felt more compelled than 
ever to launch their dream 
business with the help of a 
Jewish organization. “There’s 
such a stronger connection 
to our community and want-
ing to be proud of who we 
are,” Melissa Neff says of her 
growing Jewish pride.
As a young family with a 
16-month-old daughter and 
an Alaskan Klee Kai dog, the 
Neffs have long-term plans 
to eventually open more 
Scenthound locations in the 
Metro Detroit area but want 
to perfect the Birmingham 
model first before replicating 
it.
“We feel very strongly 
about this franchise and 
the success it could have,” 
Melissa Neff says. “Our five-
year goal is to open another 
two Scenthound locations, at 
least.” 

For more information, visit www.

scenthound.com/birmingham.

Adam and Melissa Neff 
with their daughter 
Blake

here’s to

David J. 
Axelson 
has joined 
Honigman 
LLP’s Corporate 
Department 
as a partner in 
the firm’s Finance Practice 
Group. Based in Detroit, 
Axelson specializes in 
acquisition financings, 
leveraged buyouts, recap-
italizations, cash-flow and 
asset-based credit facilities 
and debt restructurings. 
He works with private 
equity sponsors, portfolio 
companies and corporate 
borrowers in a broad range 
of finance transactions. 
Axelson joins the firm from 
Ropes & Gray LLP, where 
he served as Counsel. He 
earned his Juris Doctor 
(J.D.) from Loyola University 
Chicago School of Law 
and his Bachelor of Arts 
(B.A.) from the University of 
Michigan. He was also rec-
ognized by Best Lawyers 
“Ones to Watch” for 
Corporate Law, 2021-2022.

This month, 
Temple Israel’s 
Rabbi Jen 
Lader will be 
recognized for 
completing her 
18Doors’ Rukin Rabbinic 
Fellowship along with 
her cohort group of cler-
gy members from across 
North America. This rec-
ognition will take place 
during a Siyum (Completion 
Ceremony). Rabbi Lader has 
spent the last two years in 
the program, which focuses 
on inclusive practices for 
serving Jewish interfaith 
couples and families. 

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