For many pet owners, a pet is more than just an animal or furry friend, it’s part of the family and they want the very best care for ithealth, food, toys and grooming. Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy opened on Monday, Jan. 25, and it intends to do just that by training and licensing pet groomers.
We are state licensed through the New York State Education Department of Proprietary School Supervision and teach students to create over 200 breed designs and individual customer design requests,` said Michelle Kennedy, owner. `As of now, groomers are usually unlicensed, so they might not necessarily know what they’re doing. With the coming of licensure, like students can get here, people will be going out there that are trained properly, just like in the beauty or barber industry.`
Kennedy is a Certified Master Groomer who has been grooming for 26 years. She has owned and operated Pink Dog Parlor grooming salon and said she’s taught many people how to properly groom dogs over the years, including her daughter who now works for her. With the closest professional grooming schools in New York City and Rochester, Kennedy felt it was time to open her own. She said it took about three years of back and forth with the State to get the required forms and licensing in order. Now she’s excited to finally be able to officially share her talent with others.
`I’ve already had a lot of interest in the school and I haven’t even told that many people about it yet. I put something on Craigslist and got about 10 people interested in finding out more,` said Kennedy.
She said many people don’t realize what an art form proper pet grooming is and that it does take some skill to do it the way it should be done.
`We make sure the nails are shortened and filed, we clean or pluck the ears, give them a bath and conditioning treatment and always want to know a dog’s coat type so we’re using the proper shampoo; some we want fluffy and some we want flat. We fluff dry them on a table and clip or scissor, depending on how their owner wants them groomed. Dogs usually come in every four to eight weeks, depending on the breed,` said Kennedy.
Kennedy said that some groomers know it’s the career they want from the get go. Others, like herself, see it as an opportunity to fulfill dreams after experiencing another job path.
`I used to work for the state, but after I had my first child I quit my job and started grooming. I thought it was so great to be able to work with dogs every day,` said Kennedy. `Some people choose pet grooming as a change of pace and it can be rewarding, both personally and financially.`
Those interested in attending Golden Paws can call 371-5118 or stop by Pink Dog Parlor.
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