Williamston pet spa and boutique will dapper up your dirty dog

If Kelly Love had a tail, it would start wagging every time she walked through the doors of Doggie Style Pet Spa & Boutique, a business she founded in late March in Williamston after six years as a professional groomer.

“Animals are just a pure form of love,” she said. “Getting to spend that little bit of time with someone else’s special pet is great. Their owners — their parents — entrust you with them, and they all have their own personalities and quirks. It takes time, and you have to learn it, but with a little compassion and patience, it’s not a job.” 

Love, a Brighton native, offers full grooming packages starting at $45. The service includes a bath, blow dry, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning and haircut. She also offers each of those à la carte, along with pedicures, anti-flea and de-shedding treatments and more.

“My service is one-on-one. I don’t have dogs lined up in the kennels, and there’s no handing off your dog behind closed doors. It’s an all-glass storefront, which is cute because people walking by will look in the windows and wave, and the dogs get to see all the action and butt wiggle,” Love said.

She works with dogs of all shapes and sizes, from German shepherds to beagles. Some breeds require regular haircuts, while others shed their fur, but she said all pups can benefit from a day at the spa.

“They all have their seasons and their times,” she said. “By washing your dog, you’re opening up the pores, and that’s the best time to brush them, blow dry them and get all that dead hair off of them. Of course, it also just makes them feel so much better.”

She can also cure ailments that owners may not even be aware of.

“Some dogs have quite a bit of hair in their pads, which is a lot like walking around with something in your shoe,” she said. She can check for and remove irritants like that during a grooming session.

Love is always taking on new clients. While she admits being the sole proprietor and employee of the shop can be arduous, she finds her work fulfilling enough to keep her coming back each morning with a fresh sense of enthusiasm.

“It’s not something you’re going to get rich doing. It is hard work. But it’s also a lot of kisses and butt wiggles, which really warms your heart,” she said.