03/24/2025
Hey there, pucci family. Giselle here.
I’ve been wanting to put into words for quite some time now, how wild, scary, and yet so beautiful, the Covid pandemic was from my point of view. So here goes. I hope you enjoy this blog form trip down memory lane. I hope it brings back some of the good memories as well as the funny in the crazy of it all for you.
A small pet grooming salon in the swells of a Pandemic.
The early days. Full of wonder. Kind of like the wonder of how much p**p will show up in the yard as the snow melts in the spring. 😬😅
If you’d told me in 2019 that I’d spend two plus years scrubbing paw prints off the grooming salon floor at 2 a.m. while debating aerosol transmission rates with Cosmos, my Great Dane, and Burger my little Russian Bolonka, I’d have said you’d been sniffing too much shampoo. But here we are. My little pet grooming salon, the one with the beautiful flower Mural on the fence on Mill Street, has survived a pandemic, seven employees, and approximately 7,862 soggy towels used to wipe up disinfectants. 3 washing machines and 2 dryers later, Let’s just say it’s been a journey.
The Day the Leash Went Slack
March 2020. One minute, we were elbow-deep in spring shed season, booking back-to-back appointments for Samoyed’s, Husky’s, dirty doodles and persnickety Persians. The next? Silence. Lockdowns hit, and suddenly, our bustling salon felt like a ghost town. No jingle of collars, no chatter in the waiting area, no Morty the pug snorting at his own reflection. Just… stillness.
I’ll never forget sitting on the floor of the empty grooming room, surrounded by unused clippers and gallons of Natures Specialties shampoo, wondering how we’d “keep the lights on”. How do you explain a global crisis to a team of groomers who live for their daily “puppy cuddle breaks”? And how do you lead a team and an entire community, who looked to you for the facts, information, to keep them and their fur kids safe, through something you’ve never experienced before? All as a baby business owner/ operator myself.
Pivoting with Paws (and Protocols)
“Adapt or collapse” became our mantra. Overnight, we morphed into part time epidemiologists and full time disinfecting ninjas. We redesigned the salon with plexiglass barriers, staggered appointments, and turned our waiting area into a “no contact” handoff zone. Our ordering list that used to include items such as squeaky toys and cat nip, now was taken over by orders of face masks, disinfectant, and UV lights.
Then came the *real* challenge. Learning to pivot at a moments notice when protocols were switched up as quickly as they had been placed only 2 weeks prior. The ever evolving mandates that made scheduling appropriately and with little inconveniences to you, damn near impossible. But, somehow, someway, we figured it out together.
The Team That Preened Together.
Let’s talk about the Pucci crew. Seven incredible humans who showed up daily, armed with masks, face shields, and enough dry shampoo to decontaminate a herd of fuzzy sheep dog’s. They learned to groom through foggy goggles. They hugged nervous clients with their eyes. They took hour cuts so we could keep everyone employed. Other than government mandates, we were able to weather the pandemic with no lay offs. Something I am extremely proud of and thankful for to this day.
And the pets? They became our therapists. There’s nothing like a loveable fuzz butt’s head in your lap to remind you that joy, kindness, and love persists, even in chaos and unknowns.
Manotick’s Heartbeat (and a Few Wet Noses)
This town…OUR town, carried us. You pre paid for appointments you couldn’t keep. You tipped double “just because.” You dropped off homemade cookies with notes like, “Thor’s blowout got me through 2020.” And hand made facemarks to keep us safe (Thank you Eva ❤️). When we launched our online store to attempt to generate income that did not require in salon visits, (gourmet pet treats, stress-relief sprays, and bandanas stitched by local crafters), you bought them for your neighbors, nurses, and for your own fur kiddos.
And when Bella the schnauzer tested positive for Covid anxiety (yes, that was a thing and some fur kiddos and their families still feel the effects of it), you rallied. We all did.
The Messy, Furry Lessons.
We learned that “essential” isn’t just about food or medicine, it’s about the lifeline a well groomed, health, happy pup provides to someone isolated. That a team’s strength isn’t measured in scissors or clippers, but in how they show up through the chaos and unknowns, while putting their own health and safety at potential risk to keep your kiddos in healthy shape. We also learned that resilience smells a lot like Coconut conditioning shampoo mixed with Disinfectant.. of every variety.
Mostly, we learned that small businesses don’t survive because of profit margins. They survive because of people. Because of YOU!
When they say, “It takes a Village” Manotick takes it to heart and shows up where needed.
It is never lost on me that we are only here and able to do what we love because you believe in what we do and our value in your community.
Here’s to the Next Chapter 🥂
The salon’s buzzing again now. The dryers hum, the clippers chatter, and the waiting room’s packed with wagging tails and updates about Manotick’s latest squirrel drama, and boy is it juicy gossip! Did you know Marvin the black squirrel with the thin tail told Wally the Brewer Terrier that Finn the Scotish Terrier stole his acorn and wont give it back?? The tea is hot!. 🤣
In all seriousness, we are different, though. We are more intentional, more grateful and we now boast an expanded footprint to serve you better.
To every client who trusted us to make the safest and best decisions for your fur kiddos as well as you and your loved ones, to my team who turned grit into grace, and to this quirky, kind village we call home: Thank you. You didn’t just keep our doors open, you reminded us that even in the darkest days, love has four legs and a heartbeat.
Now, who’s ready for our 7 year anniversary, with myself at helm, happening May 1st, and all the fun a Manotick summer has to offer?
We sure are!
With fur covered clothing and a heart full of hope, love, and sincere gratitude,
Giselle.
P.S. To the gentleman who tipped us in toilet paper in 2020… We’re still laughing. 😆
For those new to our page or the Manotick community, we are, Pucci Parlour. Where every pet is family, and every family is a bit better with a little fur.
Located in Manotick, Ontario.
You can find us at 1134 Mill Street, between the chaos and the cuddles,
For all of your Feline and Canine’s wants and needs
Www.pucciparlour.ca
Manotick's Premier Pet Grooming Salon and Pet Boutique! Professional dog and cat grooming with specialized services. Our clients are never treated as a number.
