Marysville dog grooming salon providing low-stress environment for anxious pets
A local dog groomer wants to provide a little stress relief for anxious pets with the opening of a new grooming salon in Marysville.
Kimball resident Jennifer Wagar opened Urban Paws Pet Spa Monday at 1168 Gratiot Blvd., in the Marysville Market Square Plaza. The salon already had its first customers Monday morning. A large black-and-white dog waited patiently for his grooming while a tiny long-haired puppy nervously barked as it got a hair cut at its second-ever grooming appointment.
Wagar said the salon will focus on providing a low-stress experience for dogs and their owners. As she walked around the salon, she carried around Jet, the long-haired puppy, to calm him down after he was scared by the clippers.
"To be able to provide a stress-free environment for the dogs, that really is the most exciting thing for me," Wagar said. "To help dogs like Jet."
A grooming appointment can be a stressful event for a dog, Wagar said, and she wants to alleviate that stress by giving dogs the time they need to process what it happening to them or get used to certain equipment. The salon also has a private back room for dogs who can't handle being in the main grooming area.
Wagar said the salon will also use all-natural proucts to promote skin and fur health. All dogs will receive a shampoo, conditioner and facial as part of their grooming. The salon will also offer occassional drop-in nail trims for dogs and cats.
"Our number one focus really is to make sure the pets get the most our of their grooming experience," Wagar said.
To book an appointment or stay up to date on the business, visit the salon's Facebook page at Urban Paws Pet Spa, call (810) 294-5151 or email urbanpawsgroom@gmail.com.
The salon is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The salon will be closed every other Monday and Saturday.
More on Wagar
Wagar began her dog grooming career when she was working at Gone to the Dogs Grooming in Kimball as a receptionist. She moved from answering phones to bathing dogs, and finally picked up her first pair of clippers in early 2021.
Wagar said she wanted to open her own salon so she could keep it small and quiet and focus on working with special needs and fearful dogs.
She worked with Michigan Women Forward to secure a loan and learn how to open a small business. She began searching for a location Marysville and Fort Gratiot, and found the ideal space and welcoming community in Marysville. She said she was happy she found this space because it's easy to access but it's also far back from the traffic of the main road.
Wagar has always loved dogs, and currently has five pit bulls.
In the future, she hopes to grow the business by adding another groomer and evening hours for pet owners who work.
Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Marysville dog salon provides low-stress grooming for pets
