"Howl-A-Lujah" Dog Grooming

02/06/2026

WHOA~ i was just made aware of a new groom shop storefront opening in watseka. 3 gals, full service and they do all the BIG dogs AND AGGRESSIVE dogs, as well as cats.
Pricing is CRAZY high folks! Like $30 more than i have ever charged for a full groom....good luck with THAT. But, I suppose if you have a storefront with rent and 2 employees you have to charge more. I sure wouldn't want to have multiple BIG and/or AGGRESSIVE dogs in my shop at the same time tho....that's a LOT of liability! Also I see that they will be charging extra for things that i normally include in a groom.
I'm really happy with my small dogs and semi-retired schedule. I cannot imagine having some of my tiny, old, or infirm clients in the same room with pitbulls or other large breed dogs.....that's cringe-worthy to me!
Who could afford the extra worry and costs leaving their beloveds in a place like that?!
They do cats too.....
Well, good luck girls.....I hope you have a LOT of safety precautions and insurance in place!

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13/05/2026

I don't want to 'jump the gun' here or cause undo concern, but in an effort to inform the general public and err on the side of caution, i just want to make folks aware that there 'might' be some kind of canine illness going on in this area.
I've had 3 clients in the past week cancel and/or reschedule appointments for the same reason. I didn't think much about it until i had a client call today to give me a 'heads up' on it. All 3 of her dogs have had something that has caused prolific and profuse diarrhea, lethargy, fever, vomiting, lack of appetite and dehydration. One dog had it and the following week her other 2 dogs came down with it. At first, she said her vet thought the dogs might have been exposed to a toxin having been thrown in the yard, or that they might have been exposed to some poison around the house. My client further stated that several other neighbor's dogs either had or have the same thing. The vet didn't come up with anything specific and just treated symptoms. She said that when the vet called to check on the status of her dogs post treatment, she was told that they've had 'several' other cases since of dogs in the area with the same thing.
In an effort to clarify the situation, I called that vet myself and asked if there is any concern about a pathogen or specific identifiable illness, and transmission (either airborne or contact) that is suspected? But they wouldn't give me ANY answer, citing 'hippa' laws.
Ok, I wasn't asking about specific cases or diagnosis'. I was trying to determine if in my own business, i could be putting my clients at risk if a dog comes in here presenting any of these symptoms. I've also reached out to my own vet, but they are about an hour north of here, so not the same vicinity, and they said they have not seen any of this there. I did reach out to another local vet, but they are closed on Wednesday afternoons, so I left a message. I'll be curious to see if they respond tomorrow.
Anyway, in the meantime, I'm not sure if we have some kind of virus, or epidemic sprouting, or if it could be connected to a parasite (all of the dogs that reported symptoms are vaccinated against the usual things, including distemper, rabies and parvovirus) or a rodent issue?
If you have a dog that has underlying health issues, or is elderly, unvaccinated, or if you walk your dog regularly in your neighborhood, a park, or let them spend extended time in your own yard where they might be tempted to eat rabbit or other animal droppings, you might want to rethink that and stay close to home for awhile.
IF your pet should exhibit any of the above mentioned symptoms, please see your vet right away and bring in a stool sample for analysis.
Hopefully, we're not seeing the beginning of an unpleasant trend here.
And, IF your pet is exhibiting ANY of these symptoms within 24 hours of a grooming appointment here, please call and reschedule so that we don't take the chance to spread something to either MY senior dogs with special needs or any other client's pets.
Thank you!

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16/01/2026

For anyone that might be interested: A little over a week ago now, I reported a stray dog that had been roaming my neighborhood, obviously dumped here just after New Years' (approx Jan 3rd) He showed up on a couple of the neighbors' security cameras at night. As the days went on, he was criss-crossing the highway and there was great concern that he was going to be hit! So I reported it to animal control...after several days of wandering, he was visiting garbage cans looking for food. He was skittish and would run if you approached him. ICAC came out and spotted him. They called for KCLAFP to come down and set a trap for him. By 3pm that same day we had caught him.
NO COLLAR, NO MICROCHIP, NO TAGS and he is a BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS SIBERIAN HUSKY-PUREBRED PUPPY! Not even a year old estimated.....Can you believe that?! Dumping a puppy to fend for itself in this awful weather on a busy, dangerous highway?!?!
Anyway, he has been at ICAC all this time now and his stray hold will very soon be up.
HE NEEDS RESCUE OR ADOPTION! So far I am told that he is just a sweetheart and gets along with the other animals there.
This is no place for him to be! PLEASE, REACH OUT TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A BEAUTIFUL HUSKY PUPPY TO CALL THEIR VERY OWN!
icac calls him 'Ryder'. His eyes are like clear blue ice.
I WISH so that I could adopt him, but I have very old senior small dogs here and no fenced yard to contain him in.
HE DESERVES A LOVING FAMILY TO BE A PART OF.
If you are interested in him, or know of someone that might be, PLEASE get in touch with Iroquois County Animal Control at (815) 432-6955 or (815) 432-4918

30/11/2025

For anyone that has a grooming appointment this week, I just want you to know that the highway is clear and so is my driveway into the shop.

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20/09/2025

Please take note of this announcement locally! Homes are needed for these animals. Noone wants to put them down, but they can't keep taking in if they have nowhere to go.... please share and help if you can

20/09/2025

Please take note! These animals will be euthanized if they can't find places for them....pass the word!

17/07/2025

Well, it's been a great couple of weeks starting back to work again! I'm very thankful for the clients who have been waiting to get in, and waiting for me because they trust me. There's no better feeling than that: knowing that you are appreciated for what you do and how you do it. There are a few people who have decided to stay with their interim groomer for one reason or another. That was disappointing, but I'm over that now. I've picked up a couple of wonderful new dogs to fill those spaces....a couple of them coming from former clients whose pets had passed away, and they have new pets now. They called me because they value what I do, and how I do it. Nothing pleases me more than to be reacquainted with folks I knew so well, hated to see 'go' when their pets passed away, and then to come full circle with new pets when they are ready to open their hearts again! That's who I'm here for.
There are a few 'special needs' dogs again now, and I love working with those dogs and their owners. I can schedule extra time with them now that my schedule is a little 'lighter', and I know that they appreciate that time and dedication. It's a learning curve for me as well-you should never stop stretching and growing your skillset and knowledge. It gives a fresh perspective on things. All in all, it's been wonderful to see folks, to love on the dogs I know well, and hear how much I was missed while I was out. I've also been pleased to be able to bring the hairstyles folks were used to back to their pups, as not all were pleased with cuts they got elsewhere. I'm not about 'classic breed specific' cuts-not that I can't or won't do them-it's just that i don't work with show dogs. I work with family pets who need to be clean, neat, and comfortable while still looking like the breed that they are. I'm also a stickler for details that others don't take the time for, whatever the excuse is! I check anals, and I do ears! I can't believe some of the things my beloved clients have had neglected while I was recuperating. I've been so happy to relieve their discomfort and send them home not scooting, not abcessed, not draining cheesy gunk from their ears, and clearing around noses, lips and eyes to alleviate allergens, eye boogery discharge, and food accumulation, making them see better, hear better and smell less funky!
I'm proud to do what I do! And I'm so happy that you are happy with how I groom your pets!
Thank you for your trust, loyalty, and friendship!

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23/06/2025

I have to be honest...I am very discouraged right now. I've made several phone calls to clients today, long-term small dog clients, that I thought I'd served very well over the course of time, only to find out that they will not be returning here for grooming.
I've always been the kind of person who took pride in longevity, loyalty, honesty, and operating in such a way as to provide clean, competent, one on one, and kind care to the dogs that have come to me.
I'm not sure what I've done, or not done, besides getting older, and needing surgery, neither thing I can help, only to hear that 'the new place in Milford' will be serving the folks that I was serving(-I thought, well-)from now on.
I was once 'the new groomer in town', a decade ago. Folks came to me from other groomers too, but mostly I brought my business with me from the K3 area when I moved here. I've seen many people and pets come and go, and have grieved with folks that lost pets they loved so much--I loved them too.
On some level I feel like I need to apologize for getting older and having surgery, or 'failing' my clients by being closed to recuperate.
I've done this job happily for almost 25yrs. In some ways, it's the job that's given the need for surgery, and I can't help getting older.
Anyway, for those that are staying with the 'new' groomers who can offer you more than I can, I'm sorry that I failed you.
For those of you who will be returning for care here, I just want you to know that I am thankful. I never expected so many to turn away from my doorstep because I was sick. I said that I was going to reopen in July, right after the 4th!??!
For those coming back,
I'll continue to do what I do in the best ways i know how to serve your needs and your pet's needs.
I don't know how I could do any less than that....
I just hope that there will be enough income now to 'float my boat'. I can't afford to 'sink'. I can't afford to retire.
To those choosing to leave, no hard feelings on my part. I wish you the best. I will miss you, but I'll miss your pets more. They became partly mine when you entrusted them to me for grooming. It will be hard to let that part go.....
I don't think I'll make any more phone calls today to try to set appointments....my heart can't handle it.
Tomorrow is another day. Hopefully it will be a brighter, happier one than today has been.... :'(

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23/06/2025

I've been calling clients to set up grooming appointments for July. Having trouble getting ahold of some of you. I leave messages and don't get any responses....Hmm??? Leaves me wondering....illness? vacations? has your older dog moved across the rainbow bridge? Did you see someone else for grooming in the interim while i was recuperating from surgery, and possibly want to stay with that person? Whatever the reason, I'd REALLY appreciate knowing! I'd really appreciate some kind of response so I know how to move on down my list, or book a future appointment for your dog?!?!
I know that some of you have taken your dogs to other groomers and were pleased with their work. Some folks had/have made second appointments with them as well. That's all fine. I've been off for almost 3 months and it's summertime. I get it. But, I'd just like to know if I should count on you coming back or if i need to fill those spaces in my book with other dogs waiting to get in. I told folks that I would be starting with the small ones and moving up into the few larger dogs. I also told folks that I would be calling folks in order, from the time I closed just before I had surgery. I'd like to get responses from those folks first before moving through the list. That seemed only fair. Some of you, I've left more that a few messages for with no response. I tried....I guess if I don't hear from you, I will assume you don't need me anymore to fill your grooming needs??? :'(

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12/06/2025

I got up this morning and followed what would be my usual workday routine. My granddog groom was scheduled for around 10am, and my grandson Logan came to mow for me while I groomed Ollie. Logan took Ollie out of the tub for me, but otherwise, the groom went perfectly! I do believe that I will be returning to work a little ahead of schedule as long as I still feel good tomorrow after the exertion of today! I am very thankful. I hope all my clients will be too! HUZZAH! 🙂 I can't believe that I'm 9 1/2 weeks post op now and doing this well. I'm glad I took the time to let myself be the priority while healing. The payoff will be a return to work a little earlier than I thought it would be. I'll start calling clients tomorrow to put appointments on the book!

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