{image1} For more than 20 years, Patty Wood (of the Irish bar Paddy's Pub) operated a dog and cat grooming business called Wags 'N Whiskers at 2427 N. Murray Ave. In the same space, Helena Radke recently opened a full-service pet spa and styling salon called Madra, which is the Irish word for "dog."
"I hope it brings me as much luck as it did Patty," says Radke, who is Irish.
Madra offers brushing, combing, washing, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, nail clipping and nail polishing for pets. Although Radke's main focus is dogs - she has a miniature poodle named Pheebee who sports silver-painted toenails- she also grooms felines.
Full-service groomings cost between $35-$40. Nail polishing is $10 and tooth brushing is $4.
"This isn't the kind of tooth brushing they get at the vet," says Radke, 31, who lives in Riverwest. "It doesn't get the tartar off, but it makes their breath fresh for the day."
A full-service grooming takes between two and four hours, depending on the animal, and the process is painless. After dropping off your pet, Radke assesses their coat, decides if they need a haircut and chooses the right shampoo.
"Dogs don't get out of the tub until the water runs clean," she says, explaining that it sometimes takes three rounds of "lather-rinse-repeat" to clean a dirty doggy.
Radke then puts the pet in a kennel with a soft dryer to dry the animal's hair. "I don't use any heating elements when drying, so there is no risk of them getting burned," says Radke, a native of New Berlin, who graduated from the Lakeshore Technical College with a degree in animal science.
Radke started her career as a certified horseback-riding instructor for the YMCA before opening Madra on April 1.
Madra's atmosphere is very soothing and spa-like, with lots of plants, candles and soft music. "I didn't want it to feel sterile, like a hospital environment," she says.
Radke chose the East Side space not only because it was once the successful Wags 'N Whiskers location, but also because she felt the area truly had a need for her business.
"Since Wags 'N Whiskers closed, the East Side was lacking a full-time pet groomer," says Radke. "Until now."
Madra is currently open by appointment only. Call (414) 332-2289.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
