Anita Owens says at its core, ShamPoodles Grooming Salon, Spa and Boutique was an opportunity to do what she truly loved. 

“I absolutely love animals, and I wasn’t satisfied with the care my dogs were getting at any of the places I had taken them for their grooming needs,” she said.

Prior to opening ShamPoodles, Owens worked several different jobs, including social work and acting as a pharmacy tech at Kroger.

However, she said she kept wanting to work with pets, both her own and other peoples’.

So Owens, with support from her husband and family, enrolled in grooming school and opened her own business upon graduation.

ShamPoodles was originally located off of Redwing Drive near Papa Johns, but Owens has since moved the business to a renovated house at 229 McClure Road.

ShamPoodles offers a wide variety of grooming services, including shampooing, hair trimming and coloring, nail work, teeth cleaning and spa treatments.

The groomers mostly cater to dogs, but Owens said they have worked on other animals as well, including cats, Guinea pigs and rabbits.

The business currently employs two full-time stylists, including Owens, and two part-time assistants who handle scheduling and check clients in. Owens said she is looking to hire a third certified groomer.

“We normally have three full-time groomers, but one had to leave after working here for four years due to health issues,” Owens said.

ShamPoodles grooming services are available by appointment only and must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, Owens said. The business also offers doggie daycare and boarding.

Owens said she an expansion to ShamPoodles is in the works which will eventually allow her to teach her skills.

“We are currently working with our attorney to get all of our legal documentation together and ready to go to accept our first grooming students,” she said.

For more information visit shampoodlesky.com.