The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
KEEPING CANINES LOOKING GOOD
Kristy’s Kritters Pet Spa marks its 19th year of providing grooming services for dogs
“... we’ve had dogs (belonging to customers) live to be like 16, and groomed them their whole life.” — Kristy Sammet
Although Kristy’s Kritters Pet Spa closed for six weeks earlier this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, owner Kristy Sammet still found a way to keep busy inside her salon.
Since there were no dogs coming in for their usual appointments,
Sammet focused instead on creating a new look for the front section of the building’s interior.
She reduced the size of a large waiting area to expand the space where she and her staff groom canines at Kristy’s Kritters, which is located at 120 N. Lake St. in Madison Village.
Performing the renovation helped Sammet to prepare for the return of Kristy’s Kritter’s regular customers — the fourlegged ones and their human owners — once she got the go-ahead to restart regular operations.
“That’s why I decided to do the remodel, it gave me something to do,” Sammet said. “We’re always so busy that we never have time to redo anything. (The shutdown caused by COVID-19) kind of gave us time.”
Sammet has been keeping extremely busy for 19 years as the owner of Kristy’s Kritters. She opened the salon at its original site in the Chapeldale Plaza in Madison Township. Six years later, she moved the shop to its current location in Madison Village.
“I’ve always loved animals,” Sammet said. “I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I couldn’t deal with the aspect of animals being hurt or sick.”
At age 15, while attending Madison High School, Sammet signed up for a program where students could get work experience in the community.
“I worked at a grooming salon,” said Sammet, who graduated from Madison High School in 2000. “The woman I worked for was a master groomer; she trained me.”
While learning the art of dog grooming in high school, Sammet also discovered a profession that would serve as a good alternative to becoming a veterinarian.
“I realized (grooming dogs) was something nice where you could take care of the animal and make them feel good, and it was a good way to be with the dogs,” she said.
Kristy’s Kritters grooms dogs only.
Sammet also found that owning a grooming salon offered the opportunity to build strong relationships with her clientele.
She noted that customers typically bring their dogs to Kristy’s Kritters every four to six weeks, and sometimes even more frequently.
“So we really get to know the customers and their dogs, and families,” Sammet said. “Actually we’ve had dogs (belonging to customers) live to be like 16, and groomed them their whole life.”
Diane Thomas is one customer who has been taking her dogs to Kristy’s Kritters since Sammet opened her shop in 2000.
A Madison Township resident, Thomas currently brings her two chihuahuas — Harley, a male, and Nikki, a female — to Kristy’s for regular grooming sessions. She did the same with previous dogs that have since passed away.
“I love to go (to Kristy’s Kritters),” Thomas said. “I can’t say enough good things about Kristy and all the girls who work there. They really care about the animals.”
In fact, Thomas recalled how Kristy’s staff alerted her to an ear infection that one of her dogs had.
“I never noticed it,” Thomas said of the dog’s ear problem.
Sammet said she and her co-workers often spot lumps, infections and other abnormalities while grooming or bathing dogs and will report those issues to the owners.
“So the owner can take their dog to the vet and catch things early,” she said.
The all-female staff at Kristy’s Kritters consists of three groomers and three bathers.
“Most of the girls have been here five-plus years,” Sammet said. “I’ve had my staff for a long time. We have a strong passion for all the dogs.”
While Sammet expanded the salon’s grooming area during the COVID-19 shutdown, she also upgraded the dog-bathing room over the Fourth of July weekend. Sammet said she installed new, state-of-the-art stainless steel tubs as well as new exhaust fans.
Sammet said Kristy’s Kritters, which reopened May 5, draws customers from Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties.
“I even have some people come from Pennsylvania and Shaker Heights,” she said, adding that many area veterinarians also refer customers to her shop.
Looking back over the past 19 years, Sammet said she’s happy with the career she chose and the business she’s established.
“We have such great clients, and the dogs we work with are wonderful,” she said. “This is definitely a very nice field to be in.”