Shelley and Dave Koenings are animal lovers, big time. But it goes beyond caring for their two dogs, Jinx and Cayman, who they adopted from Fluffy Dog Rescue. The couple recently created their own business catering to the needs of furry friends far and wide.
Well, that is, as far as their van can take them in a day. The Koenings started a mobile pet grooming service called Portable Pet Groomers that brings a trained and certified grooming specialist to the pet's home, rather than the other way around.
The Koenings cite convenience, pet safety and the lack of a commute with a car-dreading animal as a few of their company's biggest perks.
"It helps reduce the stress on your pet because it eliminates the commute and sometimes long wait times at the grooming salon," says Shelley. "Plus, the pets we serve receive individual, undivided attention from our groomer from start to finish, all in the comfort of their own driveway."
Portable Pet Groomers caters to dog and cats of all ages and breeds and is helping introduce Wisconsin to a growing national trend that is already popular in California and Arizona. With its headquarters in Waterford, Shelley says she's able to service customers in Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha counties.
"The pet industry is booming right now, but people are also getting busier," she says.
The Koenings' at-home service, while costing an average of $15-$20 more than traditional grooming salons, cuts the pet wait time in thirds. Most of their services -- which include various dog packages such as "deluxe bath" or "full haircut / styling," as well as additional fine-tuning options like de-matting, nail polish, teeth brushing and flea shampoo -- are accomplished in less than an hour.
Cat services are assessed on an individual basis and include bath, blow dry, brushing, nails, ears and the "lion" or "summer" hair cut.
"The best part about this new service is pet owners don't have to do anything except make the appointment," Shelley says. "In fact, the owners don't even have to be home during the grooming and can enjoy coming home to a freshly groomed pet."
Portable Pet Groomers operated a fully equipped van outfitted with a generator, water tanks, water heater, air conditioner and heater, dryers, clipper and other supplies. The Koenings say business has been so consistent that they are considering adding a second van to create a grooming fleet.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
