Sebastopol’s canine sanctuary, the freshly opened Sebastopol Paw Spais a breath of fresh air for dog owners looking for a self-serve wash experience that is anything however regular.
Sebastopol homeowner Kyra Zona, who has a doodle of her own, felt most dog washes were overstimulating for dogs, with industrial-looking interiors, a lot of loud noises and claustrophobic tubs she felt made dogs feel caught.
She desired her self-serve dog wash to seem like dogs were walking into a hair salon.
“It’s homey, owners are very comfortable and they feel welcomed and relaxed,” Zona said. “I’ve had people come in thinking their dog would not do well but every person has been surprised how well they did because the space is so calming and comforting.”
Zona opened Sebastopol Paw Spa at the end of May. Opening a dog day spa was an imagine hers that she wasn’t sure she would have the ability to meet.
“I just felt like you either do your dream now or just close that chapter,” Zona said. “My vision was to bring a really nice space to the community where they felt like, very welcome.”
Zona said she wished to provide dog owners more control when it concerned their animals, from where they shower them to what they shower their dogs with.
Each family pet owner is provided a basket with hair shampoo, a de-shedder brush, hand brush for cleaning, a “zoom groom” brush to eliminate loose hair and dead skin, a de-matting brush and an ending up spray.
Pet owners are likewise provided aprons, towels and ear cleaner prior to being required to a cleaning station.
Each bath appears like a walk-in tub, suggested to make dogs not feel caught or cornered like conventional dog baths. The baths are likewise raised so dog owners don’t need to flex over with actions leading into the bath for dogs to utilize.
Pet owners can likewise obtain “hoodies” to cover a dog’s ears while they’re being blow-dried to lower stress and anxiety.
Each bath is cleaned up by Paw Spa staff and gotten ready for the next bath.
“My main goal is to keep it clean and make it feel like you’re going to a salon,” Zona said. “And we’ve really been able to give individual attention to each person and dog that comes in here, which is nice.”
She intends to work with dog groomers, too, to provide dog owners the choice to drop off their family pet for grooming.
“I just like being able to offer the community something that’s more reasonably priced,” Zona said. “If you don’t want to spend $100 today but want your dog to look and smell nice, you have the option to come here and spend $25 to $35 and they come out looking basically the same.”
Opening a self-serve dog wash is just the start of Zona’s aspiration. She has actually worked to end up being a pediatric therapist however took a break as she opened her brand-new business.
But now she’s close to ending up being a certified medical social employee and her objective is to integrate that with the Paw Spa to help kids.
“I feel that animals can be a very important part or asset for kids who are trying to overcome various challenges,” Zona said.
She likewise wishes to open a farm-based behavioral day program to help kids incorporate into the neighborhood. And, for kids who are old enough, Zona would hire them to operate at the Paw Spa to learn client service abilities.
“I have a huge love for animals and children in need,” Zona said. “But I definitely want to get back into therapy because I love working with kids.”
You can reach Staff Writer Sara Edwards at 707-521-5487 or sara.edwards@pressdemocrat. com. On Twitter @sedwards380.
