Pooch Pampering Still a Priority for Some

Tri-boro residents and business owners are still trying to make the best of a difficult economic climate. But business has not been all together rough, rather, "ruff," for pet-grooming business in Butler.

Owner Louise Blakeley and Manager Kerry Meletti said business has slowed down over the past few years, but they are still grooming about 25 dogs and several cats every Saturday. Despite rising utility and supply costs and out of compassion for her customers, Blakeley said she has not increased the costs of the business' services in more than four years.

"I feel bad for the customers and I feel bad for the dogs," she said.

4 Paws Only has been in business under Blakeley's ownership for nearly 25 years at the Boonton Avenue location. Blakeley said prior to that, she was working in an office environment when she decided to follow her passion for animals and pursue grooming school. Meletti has been working at 4 Paws Only for the past 23 years.

The business has seen some customers cut back on the services they were used to requesting because of their financial situations, Blakeley said, only having their dogs bathed and their nails trimmed while attempting to groom their fur themselves. But Blakeley said those same customers have often come back asking the groomers to fix mistakes they have made. Other customers have "salon-shopped," Blakeley said, visiting different local grooming shops in search of the most affordable price.

While pet grooming may seem like a luxury to some, not all pets are groomed for their appearance. For some breeds, Meletti said, grooming is imperative to their health and well-being.

"Some people have no choice because when you have a dog that needs to be groomed, you have to do it," she said.

One way Blakeley has noticed customers have tried to make grooming more affordable is to stretch out the amount of time between visits. This can have an adverse effect on the animals, Meletti said, as the more infrequently a pet visits the groomer, the less comfortable they are with the process.

But one customer said she has been bringing her dog, Ozzy, to 4 Paws Only for the past nine years and he loves going to the groomer so much, that her family has not been affected.

"We have to walk him there because he tries to jump out of the car when we drive him he's so excited," Becky Karpowich, of , said.

Karpowich said the groomers are like family and they have built a good reputation in the tri-boro which is why she, and others she presumed, continue to frequent the business.

Blakeley said 4 Paws tries to cater to as many customers as possible without sacrificing their values, which include refusing to drug animals that are not cooperating with grooming. Meletti said if an animal is not cooperating, the pet simply goes home. But the business does do nail trimmings for not only dogs and cats but ferrets, rabbits and other animals as well.

"We kind of just like to keep our customers happy and clients looking good," Blakeley said.

By nature of the business, the job can be highly physical and challenging. But Blakeley said being able to please the customers to the point where they continue to return is rewarding.

"Seeing dogs come in looking like a trainwreck and then seeming them look nice is good," she said.