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Soggy dog story T
Trendy self-serve dog washes are starting to pop up locally.
Date published: 1/27/2007 By CATHY JETT By CATHY JETT IRED OF LEANING over the tub to get Fido squeaky clean, only to have him shake wet fur all over everything? Three area businesses now offer a relatively inexpensive, hands-on solution. For about $15, they'll let you plop your pooch into one of their waist-high tubs, tether him to it, and use a hose and complimentary shampoo and conditioner to get rid of all his dirt and dander. They'll even give you a waterproof apron to wear and let you use their towels and professional grooming dryers so the pup doesn't catch cold on the way home. "Our motto is, 'Clean your pet, leave the mess, we do the rest!'" said Wanzer Smith, co-owner of Bark n' Bubbles, a self-service/full-service dog wash near Lowe's in the Southpoint II retail development at Massaponax. It opened last fall. Smith got the idea for Bark n' Bubbles from his wife, Lys Mata-Smith, who ran across an article about a self-serve dog wash while surfing the Net. They researched the idea and discovered that there was a demand. Such businesses have become increasingly popular since they started popping up in larger cities several years ago, according to Jeff Reynolds, executive director of the Clark, Pa.-based National Dog Groomers Association of America Inc. "They're for the general public that wants to bathe their pets themselves without a groomer," he said. The biggest demand, not surprisingly comes from owners of medium and large dogs, such as Labs and golden retrievers, who are harder to fit--and keep--in the family tub, according to Petgroomer.com, a popular Web site for groomers. Some of the people taking the plunge into the self-service business are like the Smiths, who were looking for a business they could start and expand. He majored in business at Bridgewater College and was running B&K Kitchens on Lafayette Boulevard for his dad. "It was time for me to get out and spread my wings," Smith said. His wife continues to work as for Medical Imaging of Fredericksburg as a MRI technician, but helps out at Bark n' Bubbles part time.
Date published: 1/27/2007
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