ELLY GRIMM

    • Leader & Times

Pet owners know a good groomer is an essential part of their pet’s health, and for many, that groomer is Shirley Sander at Critter Care at 730 S. Kansas Ave.

Critter Care is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and as Sander tells it, the business almost did not happen.

“I opened Critter Care Nov. 6, 2006 after the previous owners of the building had been trying to convince me to do something with the building after a long time. However, I'd already been in the building for more than 20 years and decided I was done with animals,” Sander said. “But I gave in and ultimately decided to give things a try. I'd already been in this building for several years, and at first, I thought it was something I would do more as a hobby, but I quickly realized that is NOT how it works. I got into the grooming side of everything because when I was originally just boarding, there came a point where I was wondering what I was going to do in the downtime after I fed and walked and watered all the animals. I didn't want to just sit around, so I decided it would be a good idea to give them baths and help clean them up some. Word of mouth spread, and things snowballed from there. I honestly never thought I'd reach 20 years – for a while, I was thinking 'One more year, then I'm done,' but it obviously hasn't happened yet, so here I am 20 years later. A lot of times, it doesn't feel like I've been here that long, but there are days when I feel every single day of those 20 years.” 

Sander said there have been many changes since opening Critter Care 20 years ago.

“A lot of people already knew me from working with the previous owners of the building, so I became 'the groomer who used to work for the vet.' Then, I became 'the groomer who used to work for the vet who now sells Scentsy products,' and then I became 'the groomer who used to work for the vet who now sells Scentsy products and raises Golden Retriever dogs,'” Sander said. “After a while, I became 'the groomer who used to work for the vet who now sells Scentsy products and raises Golden Retriever dogs and has RV shed rentals,' and that's enough for now. With all of that going on, I've met a lot of really great people and a lot of fantastic animals, which is great.” 

Sander said there are many aspects of the work she enjoys with her furry clients.

“The animals I work with are always great, it's a lot of fun being around them – I wouldn't have been here for 20 years if I didn't enjoy actually being around the animals. It's a lot of hard work, but the animals are great and you build that bond with them,” Sander said. “I have animals come in who are in dire need of a bath and a haircut, so I help them, and I also have animals come in who just need a trim, so it's great to see how the work turns out. With a lot of animals, especially their first time getting groomed, you have to watch them and get a read on how they're feeling and make sure they're comfortable. I've got a lot of regular clients whose pets know me pretty well by now, and there are some who even plop themselves on the table before I'm fully ready with everything. Lately, I've gotten away from the bigger dog breeds – unless I've worked with them before – because I need to have a knee replacement, so I don't take a lot of new big dogs because of that. But I work with all breeds and all sizes, whether they're puppies or fully grown. It's hard to say what my favorite part of each appointment is because each dog is different and with its own personality. You have to get to know them and talk to them and help get them in the mood to get groomed and clean. But there are a lot of my clients who know me really well and I know how to work with them and what makes them uncomfortable, and that comes after all the time I've spent in this place.”

Overall, Sander said, she is very grateful to have reached such a wonderful milestone.

“I'm very grateful to have reached 20 years, and I get to share part of that time with my own dogs from home every day. The dogs who come in get to see my dogs and I think that helps them know this is a good place for them to be,” Sander said. “I'm very happy I've been able to do this for as long as I have, and I'll keep going until I can't anymore.”