Heads to Tails is Debra Marshall's second entry in the pet care field. To the delight of both her two legged and four legged clients, Debra decided to expand her company by opening her local pet grooming salon in early 2002. It's always a pleasure to visit with Debra and listen as she tells of her latest venture;
I have always loved animals, especially dogs, and have always known that I wanted a career that in some way indulged my affection for them. After being disappointed with the kennels I visited while looking for a place to board my German Shepard, I decided to open my own kennel. In December 1997, I opened A Second Home Kennel in Seville. I felt that as a kennel owner, I should have some experience grooming, so, I trained with Nancy McClain in Medina and discovered that grooming was something I really enjoyed.
After experiencing success in the boarding and grooming business at A Second Home, I began to think about starting another business. When the building we're in here came up for lease, I decided to take the plunge and in April 2002, I opened Heads to Tails Pet Grooming where we groom all breeds of dogs and cats. Large dogs, small dogs, any breed at all. We even groom hard to handle dogs. I have another groomer who works with me here and we simply schedule the hard to handle client on a day when both of us are available.
Our grooming service includes the clip, bath, drying, trimming of toenails, and cleaning out their ears. A lot of breeds have hair growing in their ears that has to be removed to prevent the ears from developing an infection. We apply an ear powder that aids in the removal of the hair and also serves to help keep moisture from coming back into the ear canals. We recommend that pet owners spend time playing with their pet's ears and feet to help their pet become comfortable with having them handled when they're here for grooming.
Sometimes cats just don't clean themselves the way they should and need to be professionally groomed. We'll bathe, dry, and brush them and removed the matted or tangled hair they can't remove themselves. We'll clip their toenails just like we do for dogs and we clean their ears. Often we see long hair cats whose hair is so matted that we have to shave them down and start over. The cut is called a "lion cut" and we leave the hair on the cat's head, shave the entire body and most of the way up the tail, leaving a little pom at the tip that resembles a lion's tail. They're really cute. Quite a few of our customers have us shave their cat every few months. Cats are not the easiest to groom because they don't really want to stand, they want to lay down and their skin is like tissue paper so you have to be very careful not to cut them. Often, they not very cooperative so we have kitty muzzles and claw protectors that prevent us from getting bitten or scratched.
Another service we offer while grooming is expressing your pet's anal glands. Some dogs and cats go their entire lives without needing it done and others need it done ever month or two. When their anal glands fill up, you'll notice them scooting along on the ground or fussing with that area a lot. Many people take their pets to the vet to have these glands expressed, but, we provide that service here as well.
It generally takes us about two and a half to three hours to groom your pet and to make sure they're completely dry. We groom by appointment only and we try to accommodate our clients by occasionally offering a few appointments early in the morning, in the evening, and on Saturdays. Usually, we can get you in within four or five days, and, if you mention that you saw us on The Advocate, we'll give you five dollars off on your first grooming appointment!
Debra Marshall's grooming services receive raves from pets and their owners alike. Treat your furry friends to the best care available by calling Heads to Tails today and don't forget to tell them that The Advocate sent you!
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