Abby Klest Pet Stylist

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10/08/2022

A note from your dog groomer:

I’m tired. My body hurts everywhere. I have hair splinters in every or***ce of my body. I have to regularly see a chiropractor/massage therapist just to keep my body healthy enough to continue doing my job. What I (we) do isn’t easy. We don’t just hang out with your dogs and have a grand ol puppy party.

What we do is hard. There’s a reason why you pay us to do it, and it’s because you know that it’s hard and don’t want the hassle of doing it yourself. This is our livelihood. This is how we pay our bills and feed our families (my fur babies to be exact). We understand that times are hard with the economy and money is tight. It’s the same way for us too. We are individuals trying to make it in this world, just the same as you are.

We take our time to ensure that your animal is kept comfortable and given the best quality of care that we can give, so please don’t rush us. Circumstances are different for each and every dog. Your perfect dog that has never shown you it’s teeth doesn’t like being in a strange area with someone other than their owners touching them. You tell us that you brushed your dog thoroughly and that there are no mats, but we find mats in the areas that you didn’t realize needed brushed. Your matted dog is most likely going to leave with irritation or nicks and that’s not intentional. We never want to hurt your dog.

Services and upgrades that we recommend to you are not because we’re greedy. We recommend them for the betterment of your furry friend. When we suggest a timeframe to come back for another appointment, it’s not because we want you to continuously spend your money, but because we know the outcome of owners who wait too long to bring their dogs back.

The puppy you brought in for the first time (with a picture of exactly how you envision them) isn’t going to look the way you pictured. Your puppy is experiencing so many new things and we’re trying our best to make it positive for them. Similar concepts apply to senior pets.

The comfort and safety of your pet is our number one priority. You may want your dog to be left long and fluffy, but sometimes that’s not what is best for them. We don’t shave your dog because we want to, and we don’t do it because we’re lazy. De-matting your dog is hard on them and hard on us. Trying to brush through mats that are down to their skin is inhumane and damaging to their hair/skin.

The price we charge, again, is not because we’re greedy. We only see a slight percentage of what you pay. Our tools need maintenance in order for us to provide our best quality of work. We have to buy new tools and equipment because over time, they wear down. We purchase products that assist us so that we can ensure your pets come back to you looking wonderful, smelling great, and feeling like your favorite childhood teddy bear.

We appreciate all of our loyal customers who are understanding, caring, and patient with us. We are thankful for our clients who stay by our side despite our flaws and bad days.

I’m tired. My body hurts everywhere. But, I love what I do and I love your pets. Each day, I wake up and choose this job because it brings me joy. I’m a work in progress who is trying to improve every single day for the sake of you, your pets, and myself.

With love,
Your dog groomer 🐾

Meet our new groomer! Mike
01/13/2022

Meet our new groomer! Mike

11/07/2021

I did not write this it was shared by another groomer. There are a lot of groomers that feel this way and it's really sad that this happens because we truly love what we do.

My passion as a groomer didn’t die, it was stolen.

In the wake of ‘Groomer appreciation day’ I’d like to talk about how hard it is to enjoy that day anymore...Because I don’t feel appreciated, in fact...I barely feel anything for my career anymore and unfortunately, I’m not the only one. So let’s talk about that, but first, let’s talk about where my passion came from.

My passion used to be...dogs. Oh, I was obsessed with them. Animals of all kinds, but especially dogs. I can’t remember a time where I didn’t love dogs and if you ask my family, they couldn’t either. I was so crazy about them, I would tell people I wanted to be one. Obviously, that was impossible, so there had to be a way to make my life all about...dogs.

My passion used to be...art. I wasn’t great, I was good though! I could look at something and draw it, paint it or sculpt it. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it was fun and I thrived to get better, to be able to do something creative and fun. Something to use that skill, to use my hands. I always wanted to draw animals, but even more so, I loved to draw or paint...dogs.

My passion used to be...grooming. Finally, finally! I found a way to bring my two biggest loves in the world...together. To have dogs in my life every day AND express a creative skill of my own. I found grooming.

Even better? I was exceptional at it from the beginning. I soared through academy, I picked it up like I was born to hold those scissors, like I was born to be a groomer. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, all I could talk about was grooming.

This was no longer just a job, I was never talented at anything. I never thought I’d have a career, just passing jobs. I was okay at drawing, I was good at writing and reading, but this? I was amazing. This was a career, not just a job. I wanted to be someone, something important in this industry. I wanted to be someone that people recognized, that they asked for advice, complimented, loved. I wanted to make an impact in the career I so desperately enjoyed.

There was nothing that could take this from me. I spent thousands of dollars on equipment and continued education, I learned from everyone I could. I loved what I found.

So what happened? Why did it all change? That burning passion became a flame that burnt everything away and now...Now I dread getting up in the morning. I wonder why I look at my grooms don’t look exciting, I no longer look at them and think ‘wow...I created this!’.

I used to think this sudden change in excitement was my fault...Did I stop caring what they looked like? Am I not putting in enough effort? What am I doing? Maybe in some ways the loss of passion is my fault, but the more I think about it...the more I think...my passion didn’t die, it didn’t disappear...it was stolen.

My passion was stolen by...greedy business owners. Those that don’t know a thing about grooming or the industry, yet they still see that there’s a need for grooming and there’s good money in it, so they insert themselves where they shouldn’t. With no research and no compassion.

They want more, more, more. If you’re sick, groom. If you’re tired, groom. If you’re injured, groom. No matter what is wrong, be at work. No matter how you do it, get it done. It’s a factory. The schedules are piled on to you. Dog after dog after dog. You no longer know their names or their quirky personalities. You no longer stop to get a kiss on the cheek or scratch their ear. There’s no time for that. One dog becomes another which becomes another.

They melt into each other, you barely think. You just….groom.

My passion was stolen by uneducated pet parents. Those that buy dogs that are high maintenance, but they decide not to care for those needs. They expect the impossible, but we cannot achieve it and when we don’t...we are degraded and ridiculed.

This isn’t a real job! You play with puppies all day! It’s your job to brush them out! My fluffy wouldn’t harm a soul!

One star reviews, a bashing facebook post….Degradation and shame that can destroy someone’s entire career. All because they didn’t take a brush to their dog every day, like they do their own hair.

We’re called lazy, except...it’s grueling on my back to stand there for an hour picking through your dogs pelted body to safely removed it from it’s fur casket.

We’re being unfair...Because we give your dog sweet relief instead of caving to your vanity.

We’re abusive...Because those mats caused knicks and bruises, because your dog is shaking since he’s now exposed and cold.

I’m so worried now that I have them sign multiple disclosures and show them pictures of exactly what their dog will look like...I’m afraid to help your dog...because your single facebook post can end my income, it can end my career.

My passion was stolen by untrained dogs. The ones that I can’t blame...because it’s not their fault. It’s the one holding the leash that failed them. But I cannot say that. If I say that, I upset you...You will yell, you will blame me and again...you can end my career.

So I cannot blame your dog, but I cannot blame you...So I do my best to work with him. As he wiggles and turns. When he screams and bites. Your words can end my career, but so can his teeth.

I do not blame him, but I am tired...I am sore. He is making me want to go home.

My passion was stolen by my body. I’m not yet 30, but I might as well be 60 with the way my wrist aches. The way my back screams when I pick your “little” Bella up. My body can’t keep up with the demand, but I work through it.

Only five more hours...another tylenol will make it through the day and if I wash that back with some coffee...I won’t be so tired anymore. I only kid myself, as my ankles creak in pain and my neck twinges when I turn it.

One carpal tunnel surgery will set me out of work for at least a week...that’s a large impact on income, but maybe that surgery will give me some relief to push through another 10 years of this.

But then again...we just play with dogs all day.

Don’t get me wrong...I still love my job. I still love dogs and I still love art. I WANT my passion back. I deserve that passion. I deserve to be good at something, to be great! I deserve your respect and your kindness.

I should be allowed to tell you that your dog is difficult and we have to train him to get better without you thinking I must have hit him to make him bad.

I should be allowed to shave your poor, matted dog without you screaming at me for his naked, bruised body.

I should be allowed….to be passionate for the career I once loved.

Appreciate your groomer and understand that we are also humans.

Cooper❤
07/10/2021

Cooper❤

Cooper
05/01/2021

Cooper

Pepper
05/01/2021

Pepper

Ginger
03/16/2021

Ginger

R***r
03/16/2021

R***r

Oliver and O'Malley
02/20/2021

Oliver and O'Malley

Truman and Ellie
02/20/2021

Truman and Ellie

Address

3301 Highway MM
Hannibal, MO
63401

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15732210915

Website

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