"Howl-A-Lujah" Dog Grooming

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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01/06/2025

I'm about at the 8 week post op point! 2/3's the way through what I was told to do for my recovery period. I'm a little discouraged by continuing discomfort when making certain movements, and I certainly feel it when i try to lift anything over 10 # still... :'( I'm NOT a patient patient!
Anyway, I'm starting to think about returning to work and how that will happen. Because of the closure of my Dr.s' offices due to the PRIME takeover of St. Mary's hospital, I am without a Dr. for my last followup appointment. It was rumored that he was going to try to find a placement in the specialty clinic at IMH here in Watseka to continue his practice in gyno care of patients only. I know he had a meeting there, but I have yet to see if an agreement was reached! So, I do not know at this point if i'm GOING to be able to get a followup appointment at that point or not yet, to know if my insides are sound enough to proceed with a work schedule. While this is very stressful for me, there are hundreds of other women in the same postition as I am right now, hustling to find new doctors up north for their continued care. I am not alone in this, but, I do not want to establish myself with someone else, if there is a possibility that I can see the Dr. that DID the surgery, to know that things are 'ok' in there.
I am going to do a few 'test' dogs, very small ones, to see if i can handle the standing for hours. From there, if it goes well, I would be picking up the schedule and going back to work 3 days a week. I am targeting the week of July 7th right now, possibly working on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. That would give me Fri-Mon to rest, continue to recup, and live life.
If you are a regular client who has a small dog that is in need of grooming at that time/week (i don't know who is waiting for me, or who may have gone elsewhere, and when for an inbetween groom) please reach out to me PRIVATELY by phone or personal message to see if that timeframe would work to get back into a regular grooming schedule rotation. I will start to look at my book, back when i first closed for business getting ready for surgery, and call folks that have been waiting the longest to get back in. That is the ONLY fair thing to do. Weight limits that first week or two are going to be under 10 # to 15 # max, and I may require owners to stay at dropoff to put dogs in the tub, and remove them from the tub to placement on the table after the bath.
We all know that the best laid plans can go awry, and I have no idea what stamina I will have until we get there. Heavier, larger dogs, and ones that require more time to groom will have to wait until i get my 'sealegs' back to be seen unfortunately. I do NOT want to repeat what I've just been through with further, or failed prolapse!!!!! So, we'll take it as it comes, and go from there. I'm hoping that in the first couple of weeks I'll have a good picture of what getting back to normal will look like, with or without i final checkup with MY doctor practicing elsewhere, or having to establish with someone else for clearance.
So, stay tuned, and get in touch soon.... Thank you for being patient beyond the norm, and supporting what I do. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things next month!

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28/05/2025

I know I'm not open for business yet or booking appointments, but I just wanted to let folks know that for the past few days, I've not had Mediacom service. I have no idea what is going on around here with them, but it's been off/on, partial service, terribly slow service and/or connectivity issues, or no service at all. I've seen trucks at opposite ends of our subdivision here on the highway all day, but, whatever they're doing, it hasn't gotten better! There IS service this morning, but who knows for how long? Anyway, just wanted folks to know that if you try to get ahold of me for any reason at all, and can't that's why! I haven't disconnected my phone, or my pages, and i haven't moved either! LOL I hope they figure this out soon!

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