Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Case.
Kim, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up in New York, I always knew, I wanted to work with dogs. In 1982, my senior year in high school, I took an adult night class offer in Pet Grooming, ended off working Saturdays for the woman that taught the class as a bather fluffer.
After I graduated high school, she offers to train me in the grooming trade but could only offer me 3 days a week, but she had another groomer friend that could train me another 3 days a week. This worked out for about 2 years training under one groomer and working for the other groomer. I loved the experience because both places groomed in different styles 1 more to pet and 1 more to show and I was able to combine both styles and create my own. After one of the stores lost a groomer, I became a full-time groomer and stayed with them for 5 years.
In 1989, I had a chance to run a boarding kennel in Tampa Florida. So after a very cold snowy winter, I packed up for the sunshine and beaches of Florida. I learned running a kennel is 24-hour job and after a year, I missed the lack of freedom off time, so I left the kennel and for the next 2 years went back to grooming full time.
The first year in Florida, I met my husband, who introduced me to training working protection dog. I bought my first working German Shepherd and was hooked for life.
In 1992, we built my first mobile grooming van and I went into business for my self, My first Company Rub A Dub Pet Grooming built a business in Tampa.
In 1994, we bought property in Fort White Florida were we started our training kennel were we worked and trained with many police, military and rescue workers. I learned nutritional needs and worked with health issues with our breeding program and learned how to work with the different personality type of dog we work on it the trade of grooming and training.
Being mobile, I was able to do a 3 day work week In Tampa and build a part-time trade in the Fort White area. After my second van left me 50 miles stranded from home, I gave up mobile and groomed part time at home from the kennel.
In 2002, we chose to move to south Florida my family finally started moving there and being away from them for so long I wanted to be closer. We ended up moving to Palm Beach Florida. I worked as a full time groomer in a local store for 5 year.
In 2006, we opened our store Beach Dogs Pet Salon in Lantana, Florida this year will be 12 years in business.
Has it been a smooth road?
I love the grooming trade and working protection dogs, I tell people I have been blessed to do the job of my heart. I was never a book smart person in school, I learned better by doing and trying things.
The Grooming trade is physical hard work that not only do you need the strenght and pacience to work with diffrent personalities in dogs, but some pet owners can be a challange as well.
One example grooming mobile on a Saturday, at one stop the dogs owner told me, I was a half hour early that I would have to wait for her another 20 minutes for her to dress and get her dog up. Since I had 2 hours scheduled there, I sat in the van and waited. 15 minutes later, she knocks on the door to tell me she could not wake her dog up could I come in and try. Long story shortend, I had to find a way to tell her her dog had probably passed a way 2 weeks ago all the evidence there to see flies, bugs, decomposed. The women was about 60 and petting her dog trying to wake it. I ended up finding a local vet open that was able to help me proof and removal.
Another time putting a dog into the tub turning the water on and got bit in the forarm dog locked on hit an artery and a nerve took 2 people to unlock the dogs bite. Owner called they forgot to tell us the dog was hydrophobic attacked when in water.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I have been told my shop has a friendly welcoming atmosphere. We great people like family, there is an waiting area with a sofa, coffee or tea for the first time owners that are worried to leave their pets. We give a window of time 8:30 am to 12:00 pm for arrival and most grooms are completed with in a 3-hr. window.
We do some crate drying to give dogs some rest periods in between grooming table time. For the people that want to wait, we offer a straight through a package that normally takes a little over an hour. Our plaza is a friendly place with a hair salon, nail spa and many choices restuarants that clients can enjoy while their pets are being groomed.
In the years of grooming and with the experience of training working dog, I have become know to be able to grooming hard to handle dogs the fear dogs and the aggressive dogs. Many of the groomer in the area refer dogs they can’t do. We are also know for our kindness in grooming the older senior dog that groomer in the area find difficult to get done.
I also love and offer training and educating people in the trade. Over the years, I have worked with many good groomers and a few not so nice. I have found training my own staff from bather to groomer works best for me.
They learn by my example and I enjoy their style and confidence grow.
I am a naturalist at heart so we use only natural products. Having worked as a bather, I know the product can be very drying, scratchy and irritating to our skin. So, I know if the products work well for us, it will work well on most pets.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love this city, great weather (except for the a few hurricanes), nice beaches and the variety of people in the area are happy and friendly. The town is very dog friendly with a few planned dog events through the year and outside seating at local restuarants many place offer a dog menu.
Contact Info:
- Address: 119 S 3rd St. Lantana, Florida
- Website: beachdogsalon.com
- Phone: (561) 547-6016
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beachdogsalon/
Image Credit:
Coco my groomer with Max, Malabo a Labadoodle, Simba, Lady dress for St. Patty, Lola
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
