A new sign is hanging on Main Street in Maidstone welcoming four-legged clients to enjoy pampering and rejuvenation.
Happy Pawz grooming salon opened on April 1 with tours and a hamburger sale to benefit the SPCA.
Kassandra Payne opened the salon in order to offer a service not currently available locally.
"I'm hoping to stock what a pet store would offer. There is nothing between Lloydminster and the Battlefords. I'm trying to take care of the middle," said Payne.
She was offering grooming services from her home in Waseca in 2009, but an outbreak of parvo in the community led to its closure because she didn't have space to quarantine animals and she didn't want to take any risks.
Payne calls pet grooming her passion. It started when she took her dog to a groomer in Kindersley. During those visits she asked questions and after a while she was invited to help wash the dogs and later was taught to brush them properly.
Payne is now halfway through a diploma program in pet grooming. She has her pet first aid and WHMIS certificates and is preparing to complete first aid and CPR courses for humans.
Safety is important to Payne, who insists all of her clients are up to date with their vaccinations before any services.
She offers grooming services for all sizes of dogs and cats and hopes to book three to four animals per day. Equipment in the shop includes a variable height grooming table and large tub fitted with hoses that blend shampoos and conditioners with the water.
She offers a variety of shampoos, brushes and tools for different types of pets and different coloured coats. Her shears are cleaned in a special solution between animals to offer greater protection from disease.
She currently offers a wide variety of services including ear cleansing and plucking, nail trim and file, teeth brushing and massaging baths and will soon add skunk baths, nail paw-lish and nail caps.
Payne says she is striving to offer a place of comfort as well as safety for her clients. She is grateful for the support of friends and family who have helped get the shop ready for business.
Payne is a dedicated pet owner who can't imagine life without a variety of pets.
"I'm hoping we get a lot of business, I really want to provide a good service," said Payne during the grand opening surrounded by friends, family, future clients and some happy dogs.
