Not every dog likes a bath, but in
the hands of Leonora Rovtar, owner of Dogs Unlimited
Mobile Grooming Service, most furry friends quickly change their minds. With
all-natural, organic, biodegradable shampoos in subtle bouquets of lavender and
a state-of-the-art, custom-built, mobile pet spa equipped with a large bathtub,
warm water, heating, air conditioning, blow dryers and doggie treats to spare,
who wouldn’t come running?
Leonora, and her husband, Joe, are easily spotted around
the Valley wearing their whimsical “scrubs” and motoring among the
neighborhoods in their hefty, white truck speckled with pink paw decals.
“Everyone knows us because of our funky outfits,” Leonora
said.
No doubt the trail of polished puppies in their wake is
evidence, too.
Leonora got her start in the grooming business with 4-H,
where she grew up in the San Fernando Valley. She was a Santoro then, and her
family was well known for winning lots of awards in 4-H competitions. Leonora
showed beef, sheep and swine for 10 years and learned the technique of
“fitting” (grooming) the animals for competition. It was during those years she
discovered she wanted to work with animals professionally.
“I figured if I
could trim a lamb, I could trim a dog,” she said.
She went to work for Simi Valley’s most popular grooming
shop and honed her technique. She started her own business in 1991 and met Joe,
a Hollywood caterer, in 1992. The couple began taking weekend trips to the
Santa Ynez Valley and when Leonora began to slowly
establish a client base, they made a permanent move to the Valley in 1997.
“City dogs are fluffy and pretty, entirely different than
ranch dogs.” Leonora said.
On any given day she will contend with foxtails, ticks,
fleas, burrs, thistles, matted hair and all varieties of manure and mud.
“Chicken manure is the worst,” she said, laughing. “It’s a
hairy business, too. It gets everywhere.”
Leonora’s commitment to an animal’s well being goes beyond
a simple bath. She shaves, trims nails, expresses the anal gland and performs
dental brushing. She also does de-matting, de-shedding, and breed-specific hair cuts. She considers herself half groomer, half vet.
“I touch every part of their bodies,” she said. “I find
lumps and bumps, moles and cysts. I often recommend a visit to the vet when
something looks suspicious.”
To Leonora, being mobile is about more than just physical
convenience, it’s also about the emotional wellbeing of the animals. She gives
each dog, and the occasional cooperative cat, her one-on-one attention. Without
car rides, leashes and long waits in cages the animals are entirely more
comfortable. And so are the owners. For further convenience, Leonora also makes
appointments around the pet owner’s schedule, but for the most part, she is
trusted enough to come around when the owner isn’t home.
It’s this level of trust that also makes Leonora a
favorite with special-needs dogs, whether they are senior dogs, dogs that
suffer seizures, dogs that get car sick or dogs that have an injury. She uses
oatmeal, Lavender, medicated, hypo allergenic and moisturizing shampoos. One of
Dog’s Unlimited’s most loyal clients, Carol Sherline, wouldn’t trust anyone else with her pets.
“She terrific,” Sherline said. “When I adopted a dog from the humane
society she had no muscle tone in her legs. One time, when I took her to the
groomer, she sat in a cage for four hours; the next day she could barely walk.
That was it for me.”
Leonora summons this level of confidence in hundreds of
customers from Goleta to Santa Maria. She admits the job is physically
demanding, with as many as eight to 10 stops per day, but it’s also rewarding
and much less stressful than living in a big city.
“I love my clients. They are amazing, and extremely
generous to me.” Leonora said.
Bobby Vreeland reciprocates her sentiment. Wife to Jim
Vreeland, of Vreeland Ford fame, and mother to the famous Jack Russell Terrier
“J.R.”, Bobby wouldn’t let J.R. near anyone she and Jim didn’t trust
completely.
“Leonora has been fabulous. She’s convenient and keeps
J.R. looking good for public appearances,” she said.
Lesser known but wholly adored is J.R.’s little sister
Emma who was born with a neurological disorder.
“This is why Leonora is special to us,” Vreeland said. “We
trust her completely with Emma, who is our special little puppy. The dogs are
polished, treated well and happy. That’s the most important thing.”
Fast approaching her 10th anniversary, Leonora admits a
lot has changed in the grooming business in the last decade. Grooming shops are
now more like a salon or spa experience for your pet. Specialty items, frilly
shampoos, colognes and accessories are all the rage among celebrity pet owners,
and the general public is following suit. Although she keeps up with the
current trends by attending conventions and constantly updating her equipment,
she also wants to stick to the basics of professional grooming. Her focus is
happy, healthy dogs and satisfied owners, a combination that will no doubt
bring her decades of anniversaries to come.
For more
information on Dog’s Unlimited Mobile Grooming Service call Leonora at
805-688-0086.