A pet’s best friend

SHE IS

Dedicated to making dogs and cats feel better about themselves.

THE ART OF CARING

Dana Vinson likes taking a matted dog and making it look good. She

particularly feels good about helping pets that aren’t being taken

care of properly, or those who have been rescued.

“I like getting them all started over again, shaving them down,”

she said. “It makes them feel better.”

Vinson loves animals and has five dogs, four kittens and one cat

of her own. She recently rescued the kittens after someone dumped

them over her fence in a shoebox. The kittens were in bad shape, she

said. They were full of fleas and their eyes were matted shut.

“I had to bottle feed them for two weeks, every two hours. When I

found them they were only three and a half inches in size with no

teeth,” she said.

After working for a vet as a child she decided that wasn’t for her

-- with the blood and all -- and so decided being an animal hygienist

was her calling.

“I’m more of a beautician and create anything I want,” Vinson

said. “It’s more like an art.”

She said she loves her job and can’t imagine herself in another.

Vinson enjoys working in one place and getting to know all the

people, pets and performing all the necessary tasks to make the

health of the pet optimal.

“You have to ask yourself -- would you like your butt cleaned and

shaved,” she asked.

But she has the patience, love and understanding as well as a

great knowledge about cats and dogs that gives her the tools to

excel.

“My boss said I have a gift because I know how to deal with them,”

she said. “I have a knack. Most dogs and cats like me.”

GROOMING BASICS

There are other tasks, Vinson said, besides grooming the animals,

that are crucial to the pet’s health and well being.

“Every groomer that considers themselves an animal hygienist needs

to do a full-service grooming,” she said.

If dog’s ears aren’t cleaned out once a month, it can cause ear

infections. Vinson said three integral tasks are to clean the ears,

squeeze the anal glands and do their nails, though they might not be

the most enjoyable tasks.

“If you’re not getting those three you’re not getting the

service,” she explained. “If a customer comes in and the haircut

isn’t perfect, they’ll come for the hygiene.”

Rinsing an animal completely after the shampoo is very important

too, she said, otherwise their coat could get too dry. And you’re not

supposed to wash your pet more than once a month.

As far as ticks and fleas go, it’s critical to have them treated

once a month with a quality product. Flea collars and cheap grocery

store remedies fail.

“A cat or dog can become anemic from flea bites and can also get

tape worms,” she said.

NOT ALL A WALK IN THE PARK

“I’ve been bit by every dog and cat possible, “ Vinson said.

But she has patience and empathy and understands the animal’s

point of view.

“If you don’t help the dog and give him a sedative, down the line

it’s going to get hurt,” she said.

Dogs hate their nails getting done more than anything.

Story by Suzie Harrison and

photos by Kent Treptow