Riina the Dog’s Trip to Pärnu
Text Susanna Poikela Photos Anu Saarto
We’ve written before about 3-year old first-aid dog Riina, who works alongside her owner Anu Saarto presenting first-aid kits to businesses. In addition to this, Riina has a natural gift for spreading joy wherever she goes. Who better for this task than a dog—man’s best friend?
Anu Saarto’s family is Finnish–Estonian. The father’s side of both of her sons’ families lives in Estonia, so they travel regularly to the southern neighbour. As many entrepreneurs know, business often blends into leisure travel—and that’s exactly the case with Saarto. This time, they were selling first-aid kits under the sunny skies of Pärnu.
In Estonia’s most famous beach town, the family has posed in photos with celebrities like rock star Tanel Padar and local entrepreneurs, sold first-aid kits, and brightened people’s days—a task Riina handles with ease. She also has a great nose for sniffing out those who might need first-aid supplies in their businesses. And sometimes, they take a break and head to the beach. “Riina doesn’t swim, but she goes absolutely crazy for the sandy beach,” Saarto says.
In Pärnu, Anu Saarto met many Estonian clients. “Only after some practice—and after a story about me appeared in the local paper Põhjarannik—did I learn how to really sell to locals. The approach has to be different than with Finns. Estonians aren’t as shy as I first thought. They’re actually quite happy to buy, whereas in Finland, selling often feels more like hard selling,” Saarto explains.
Their next destination is Haapsalu, followed by a trip to Hiiumaa. In Finland, school starts on 7 August, so the end of summer vacation is in sight.
“We were supposed to meet Anu Saagim too, but she’s so busy that it looks like we’ll have to postpone till the autumn,” Saarto hints. Time will tell whether Saagim ends up buying a first-aid kit from Anu and Riina.
You can read more about Anu, Riina, and the boys’ trip to Rapla here, and about Riina’s New Year holiday in Saaremaa here.
To learn more about this and similar topicsAnu Saarto Entrepreneurship first-aid dog first-aid kit goodwill ambassador Riina Riina the Dog Travel
