Gone to the dogs New business caters to pets with a taste for fashion
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Siloam Springs mail carriers be warned: a boutique in town has thrown open its doors to welcome local tail waggers. Pure blooded breeds and mutts alike are trouncing through the entryway at 2420 Hwy. 412 E. for petting, pampering, primping and paraphernalia.
Since it opened in March, It's a Dog's World, located in Colony Plaza, has been offering pet grooming, diligent animal care and supplies to pet owners at a discounted price, said owner and operator Kat McDorman.
"My first concern is animal health and then I worry about customer satisfaction," McDorman said. "Pets are my clients and I do everything that I can to keep them happy and comfortable."
In addition to full grooming services, which include shampooing, conditioning, hair cutting, nail clipping, full and partial shaving, flea and tick treatment, ear cleansing, teeth brushing and anal gland cleaning, It's a Dog's World also offers occasional pet boarding services.
"All of the services and how long they take really depend on what the owner wants and what the pet will allow," McDorman said. "I'd rather take more time because some animals get nervous. I try to make them as comfortable as possible."
McDorman purchased the shop from its previous owner at the end of July. Other than occasional help from her husband, James, she has been running the one-man petcare business solo since the shop keys passed to her hand.
"I've been doing pet grooming since 2002 and when the opportunity came to buy this I felt that it was fate," McDorman said. "This is the path that I was supposed to be on."
Stocked on the shelves throughout the shop are pet supplies ranging from flea and tick treatment to leashes and pet carriers. Dog and cat clothing, including Arkansas and Oklahoma sports jerseys, are among the shops favored items.
"If anyone is looking for anything in particular, I'll try to help them find it and order it," McDorman said, motioning to a shelf supporting puppy dental kits and furcatching car seat covers. "I'm always open to suggestions and really want to have what people want for an affordable price."
When they aren't home with her children, six-yearold Tristen and two-year-old Dillan, the family's two female mixed breed puppies, Angel and Dixie, accompany McDorman to work.
Often, the well groomed puppies can be found sporting products from It's A Dog's World's product line, including dresses and sweaters.
"I try to pick products to sell according to customer wants and specifications," McDorman said. "Personally, I hate going to places and seeing something I really like and than realizing it's too expensive to buy."
Despite the implications of the store name, It's A Dog's World also offers grooming to willing cats.
"I have one cat client that likes to be groomed and shaved but a lot of others are very afraid of water," Mc-Dorman said. "I do what I can and it's different for each pet that comes in."
Each time a customer enters the store with a dog in search of pet care services, McDorman examines the animal's skin and assesses the hair type to determine individual grooming and product needs. Before bathing each animal, McDorman selects from an array of more than 15 shampoo and conditioning products to best suit the particular pet's skin.
Following washing, pets either air dry or are dried using a blow dryer.
"If they've had the flea dip they can't be heat dried or it will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment," McDorman said.
In an effort to remain abreast of new information in the pet care and accessory industry, McDorman makes it a point to read as much related material as possible and may often be found researching online.
Two weeks ago she traveled to Joplin, Mo., for a dog convention for continuing education purposes.
"It's really important for me to do those things not only for dog health but also to know what products are out there," she said. "I love this stuff. The whole reason I started in this business was my love of animals."
In the past, McDorman's passion for her vocation and animals led her to operate a small animal rescue out of her home.
"I really got into all of this in the beginning in Vaughn, Arkansas where I took a few animals into my home," Mc-Dorman said. "My first husband and I had some land and I was able to help the local animal shelter with their population a little bit."
For additional information about It's a Dog's World, call McDorman during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 238-1001. Saturday grooming services are available by appointment only.
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