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Letter to the editor

Pets get deluxe at-home grooming

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON, Times Staff Writer
Published January 9, 2008

Sharon Pietris grew up around animals.

Her parents own a cattle ranch and she has always had a menagerie of pets. When she was younger, she wanted to be a veterinarian but discovered she couldn't deal with euthanizing animals.

So, she decided to make them feel better with her mobile grooming service that travels to their owners' doorsteps.

The 26-year-old Pinellas County native opened Classy Canines Mobile Pet Salon several months ago. Her clients include dogs ranging from a 3-pound Yorkie to a 100-plus-pound Newfoundland.

What are your credentials?

I graduated from St. Petersburg College and have been a veterinary technician for five years. I apprenticed at Haines Road Animal Hospital in St. Petersburg for a year and worked there a year.

What kind of investment did it take to get the business started?

I have a customized grooming trailer. I'm almost 6 feet tall and needed a larger working space than a van. The trailer is 12 feet long, 51/2 feet wide and 71/2 feet high. It cost $50,000.

What features does the pet salon have?

It is fully equipped with its own power, heated water and air conditioning. I have a grooming table and bathtub. I don't use crates. It's all hands-on. The products - shampoos and conditioners - are all natural.

What area do you cover?

All of Pinellas County.

What services do you offer?

Bathing, nail trimming and filing, ear cleaning, thorough brushing and drying. I also do breed standard grooming and special haircuts at the owners' request.

How many dogs can you groom at a time?

I do multipet families and can take up to five small or medium-size dogs at a time or two large dogs at a time.

What is your price range for full grooming?

Twenty-five dollars for a small dog, $85 for a standard poodle size and $140 for one the size of the Newfoundland.

Is there any dog you won't take as a client?

I won't take aggressive dogs.

Christina K. Cosdon can be reached at cosdon@sptimes.com or 727 445-4154.

Fast facts

Classy Canines Mobile Pet Salon

For more information on dog grooming services, call Classy Canines Mobile Pet Salon at (727) 735-3122.

[Last modified January 8, 2008, 23:15:48]