Going to the dogs

Martha Smith
Posted 1/20/15

Things are always jumping at Dogpatch on Brownlee Boulevard. And hopping. And barking. And wagging.

That’s because at any given moment, four professional groomers – including the owners, Linda …

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Going to the dogs

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Things are always jumping at Dogpatch on Brownlee Boulevard. And hopping. And barking. And wagging.

That’s because at any given moment, four professional groomers – including the owners, Linda McMahon and Jaime Nelson – are combing, blow drying and trimming critters that are either laid back or singing plaintive tunes. Even though Dogpatch is a stone’s throw from all the work being done on the Apponaug Circulator, a cacophony of barking, chatting among the groomers, and equipment drowns out the sound of construction equipment inside.

Every day is “bring your dog to work” day, so the paying customers are joined in the racket by Prudence, a three-year-old Scottish deerhound belonging to McMahon; Bruce, a Labrador-Great Pyrenees cross who is Nelson’s; Frankie, a little guy whose claim to fame is a pair of dyed purple ears, owned by Vanessa Wiggs; and Abby and Vivienne, a Pekingese and standard poodle, respectively, whose owner is Linda Munroe, proprietor of The Wizard of Paws.

She rents space from the owners.

The action on a recent snowy, refrigerator-cold afternoon was pretty much as usual.

Prudence greeted newcomers by sticking her snout over the Dutch door. Vivienne displayed a grin showing off her shiny white teeth. Clara, a tiny Maltipoo, was doing her impersonation of a flying squirrel while being shown off as the finished product by Munroe. Troy, a three-month-old Shih Tzu mix making his first-ever visit to the groomer, looked terrified despite Nelson’s steady stream of reassurances.

Riley, a Golden Retriever, is ready to go after being stoic throughout the long process, and is equally impassive when an excited Addison Immondi, 3, flings herself at the dog. Mom Melissa is patient with both of them.

Likewise, a handsome pit bull named Tiger goes home with the Raineys, and Bichon Frise Isabella is so thrilled that Guy DiBiasio has arrived she climbs all over him until he looks like the Headless Horseman.

Or Headless Dogsman.

You never know what’s going to happen on Brownlee Boulevard, where everything is going to the dogs.

Comments

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  • allent

    Linda is the best. She does my sister's bishons and they come out great.

    Tuesday, January 20, 2015 Report this

  • allent

    here der der

    Saturday, January 31, 2015 Report this

  • rebeccaaaa22

    Our regular groomer Vanessa was out, so the owner Linda said that she would be able to cut our dog's toenails in the meantime while we waited for a full grooming appointment with Vanessa. My dog Lexi has high anxiety, but usually does very well with Vanessa. However, she was squirming for Linda, and you could visibly see Linda getting frustrated. Linda stopped attempting to soothe Lexi and started snapping at her saying "knock it off" and "stop". Linda then asked another employee for help, the other employee agreed and asked what Linda needed, and Linda replied "a gun". This is extremely unprofessional customer service and completely uncalled for. If this is how Linda behaves in front of clients, imagine how she is when an animal is left alone with her? I left the building in tears once I made sure that Lexi was okay (Linda cut her toenail too short and it was bleeding). Upon returning home my mother called Linda and found out that she was the owner. Linda did not have an explanation for her behavior and proceeded to hang up on us after we stated we would be filing a complaint.

    Wednesday, March 18, 2015 Report this