Dog Grooming Services Open

May 15, 2020

Is pet grooming an essential service? If you’ve pondered that during this crisis, you’re not alone.

Pet owner Steve Kiraly of Blue Bell is starting to have trouble recognizing his dog. His 7-year-old cocker spaniel normally gets groomed every five weeks, but the pooch’s regular groomer is closed.

“Why can’t dog groomers be open?” he asked. “She has never looked this raggedy. My wife has thought about it. She has trimmed a little around the eyes, but that’s it.”

Although many dog grooming salons and shops have temporarily halted services, some veterinarians and mobile businesses in the Philadelphia region still offer grooming.

Uncle Aaron Grooms LLC, a mobile dog grooming service in Delaware, has been extremely busy — and open. Owner Aaron Rivera said dogs are pampered inside the truck while the groomer wears personal protective equipment.

“Luckily, we have the blessing of one client at a time,” he said, “so it’s not like a constant rotation of people coming in while we are working.”

There’s also the DIY route in Cherry Hill at Pet Supplies Plus, where pet owners can wash their animals themselves — tub and soaps provided — for $10.

Certified personnel offer nail trimmings too.

Becky Cusato can cut nails for dogs, cats and even bearded dragon lizards.

“It’s just like a normal nail clipping,” she said of the reptiles. “Their nails are kind of like a cat’s nails, so they are just long and skinny and you kind of just clip them with really small nail clippers.”