Pet grooming growing trend

Alisa Boswell: Freedom New Mexico Alice McMath, a groomer for Pet Care in Clovis, trims a Shih Tzu named Shelby Friday. McMath said she has been in the dog grooming business for more than 20 years and sees a lot of passion in people towards their pets.

Pampered pets may be the new trend in the Clovis and Portales area.

According to local sources associated with professional pet care, employees and pet owners alike are passionate and devoted to their animals.

According to Barbara Craig, owner of Laundromutt in Portales, it’s not only people’s passion for their pets that makes pet care so popular but also lack of time.

“Probably 90 percent of my customers are employed,” Craig said. “And by the time the weekend rolls around, the last thing they want to do is bathe the dog.”

Craig said many of her customers have told her the reason they continue coming back is because their “babies” are treated like people.

“I’m like grandma’s house,” Craig said laughing. “I’m going to spoil them rotten and there’s not a thing you can do about it.”

Penny Sanders, a longtime customer of Laundromutt, said she and her partner run a bed and breakfast on top of working other jobs, so finding time for grooming pets at home is next to impossible.

“She’s (Craig) set up to do it and knows how to do it,” Sanders said. “It’s reasonable and they take care of us.”

Craig said she has been pet grooming for seven years and her business averages about 14 dogs per day. She offers grooming, washing, dipping and boarding.

Alice McMath, a groomer for Pet Care in Clovis, agreed with Craig that more than anything, what keeps pet care businesses popular is people’s love for their pets.

“A lot of people treat their pets like kids,” McMath said. “Especially when it’s their only companion; they pamper them even more.”

McMath said she has been grooming for more than 20 years and Pet Care averages 15 to 30 dogs a day.

Claude Sims, owner of a Shih Tzu named Shelby, said he takes advantage of the pet care industry because home grooming is too much of hassle.

“It’s just handy,” Sims said. “Their hair gets matted if you let it grow too long.”

Another pet care business coming soon to Clovis is Sierra Pet Hotel and Spa, which will offer boarding, grooming, doggie daycare and obedience training along with a shop with boutique pet supplies and six “Casita Suites” which include back patios for their occupants.

“When I go out of town, I want to know my dog is somewhere where it will be taken care of like it is at home,” said Shannon Coal, co-owner. “We saw a need for that in the community and we wanted to fill it.”