BRUNSWICK

1. Kathy, first of all, please offer a little background on yourself, such as where you grew up, schools you attended, and what activities you enjoy doing during your spare time. How did you become interested in pet grooming?

I was born and grew up in Brunswick, so attended Brunswick schools and graduated from BHS and then Plus School of Business in Portland.

I was first into horses and spent many years riding, and eventually taught horseback riding at a camp for eight years. I am a certified instructor from Teleawooket Instructor’s school in New Hampshire.

I got my first dog at age 7 from the Coastal Humane Society and trained her to do about 35 tricks and then did little shows at a few granges and such when I was a teenager.

In my early 20s, I got into purebred dogs and showing … then teaching dog obedience for about 20 years in the Brunswick area. I also taught the “positive method of dog training” at the Volhard’s obedience instructors’ camps several times a year in Syracuse, New York, for eight seasons.

At the same time, I began to raise dogs and show them in AKC shows, breeding and finishing many AKC champions, and obedience titles over the past 45 years of showing in both conformation and obedience trials — primary labs and miniature pinschers.

I worked for 24 years in my family business of Wilson’s Lunch industrial catering trucks and when my dad retired, I wanted to do something different. I decided to start a pet grooming business … it seemed a natural direction to take.

I was also the executive director and manager of Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, starting in 2000 for 2 1/2 years.

In my spare time now, I still show dogs. I am president of a local dog club; we put on two AKC shows a year at the Cumberland Fair Ground. I love to read, and I am on the Brunswick Town Council as an at-large councilor.

2. What services do you offer at Kathy Wilson’s Pet Grooming? And how much does it cost?

I do pet grooming, mostly dogs, but also some cat clipping. An on occasion, nails and such for rabbits, birds, etc.

The prices vary according to the size of the animals and what needs to be done for each animal. I will do dog’s nails for $10 on a “call first and drop in” basis, and it goes up from there.

I try very hard to be reasonable in pricing, as I understand the love of our pets and the desire to have them clean and looking great.

3. Pet owners have many choices when it comes to caring for their animals. What makes your place so special?

I have a long history of understanding animal behavior, and I like both the pets and the people.

I have come to be able to read the pets and thus am able to be very gentle in all grooming. I do not believe in “overpowering” the pet in order to groom it. I will work with most any temperament and have come to be known as the person who will groom your dog when no one else will. I do not believe in medication in order to groom, except in very rare cases.

I am willing to try to work with any pet. I work “with” the animal, not “on” it.

4. Do you have any grooming experiences that will make us chuckle? Do you have a favorite breed of animal to work on?

I once tried to give the wrong dog back to the owner, and had her convinced it was her dog … before I realized I had brought out the wrong dog. Since then, I always note the cage number on the dog’s card when it comes into my shop.

I have also learned that pet owners and I have a different language and am very careful to ask very specific questions when the dog is dropped off — so I really know what the owner wants. I will call and check with owner if I find, while working on the dog, that I can’t do exactly what they requested.

I feel my job is to do what the owner wants, not what I might think. I never forget that the dog is a well-loved member of someone’s family.

5. How do customers get in touch with you? Where are you located and what days/hours are you open?

I am located at 36 Cushing St., on the corner of Cumberland Street, in Brunswick.

My number is (207) 725- 0179. I only take appointments and never work on weekends as I am often away at dog shows.

To accommodate people’s work schedules, I will take dogs in very early, 5 a.m. if needed, so they can get them groomed on a workday. Otherwise I prefer all dogs to get here by 8, if possible, and I schedule myself to be done by around noon (five or six dogs a day). But I will work until I am done.

Cats I will only do at 7 a.m., before the dogs arrive, and the cat owners must stay and guide the cat on the table as I clip it. I do not do cat baths or comb outs … only clips.

Who is next?

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