Dogs and cats get spa experience at Archie Pet Care in Fall River – Fall River Herald News

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FALL RIVER —  We’re in the midst of the dog days of summer, and our pups have had it “ruff” lately, especially with this heat.

Give your furry friends some extra TLC by heading to Archie  Pet Treatment Spa , a recent addition to the city’s South End.

The 1795 S. Main St . shop is bringing a “new concept of pet care” to Fall River-area animal lovers and pet parents, offering basic grooming needs and beyond, according to owner Tauane Alves.

The business, located next to an antique shop and a stone’s throw from Mee Sum Restaurant, has had tails wagging since opening its doors in late April.

A scroll through Archie’s Instagram page shows a pack of happy pooches and felines —  freshly bathed, clipped, fluffed, plus decked in bright bows and  bandanas —  posing for post-spa getaway selfies in the boutique-style space.

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The motto on Archie’s website, “Home is where the dog is, ” speaks in order to Alves’ overall goal —  for her shop to feel like a second home for local four-legged residents.

“They (customers) like how we treat their dogs like our own, ” said 27-year-old Alves, the Middleboro resident and native of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

After moving to the United States in 2018 —  living with family in Leominster before settling in Middleboro —  Alves eventually decided to pursue a career as a pet groomer. She received training through International Association of Professions Career College as well as  certifications, and now has three years of grooming experience under her belt.  

Alves worked out of the basement of her home for a time, honing her grooming skills and cultivating a customer base prior to deciding to open up her own space.

“I always had the dream of working for my dreams and not for the dreams of others, ” said Alves, who is mom to a French bulldog named Stormy.   “I’ve always loved pets, and I was sure it couldn’t go wrong if I experienced the planning and responsibility. inch

She started leasing Archie’s Fall River space in the fall of 2021, and with the help of family and friends have since revamped it inside and out.  

The storefront features a colorful painting of sudsy canines, and often actual canines greeting customers at the window, and the interior includes a wall of clothing, accessories and toys for dogs and cats, a reception desk and separate grooming space.

What sets her place apart from other groomers in the area, Alves said, is that it’s not just your-run-of the-mill pet care experience.  

Over the past few months, Archie Pet Care Spa  has become a go-to for grooming, bathing, nail trims and teeth cleaning. But they also offer your pets some added pampering too, with unique services such as pet massage, hydration masks, hair coloring and  hair restoration.

“We are different because we love what we do, inches Alves said. “(Pets) receive a relaxing bath with top-quality products, massage and affection. They can also play with their own friends. It’s really a fun day. ” 

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And, unlike some other places,   your pets  “don’t spend all day locked inside a cage, ” Alves stated. Archie is appointment only, so rarely are there more than three pets  at on site at the same time.

Having transportation issues? No problem. Archie  also offers what they refer to as Uber Dog.  

“When the customers need, I pick up the dogs or drop off after service, ” mentioned Alves, whose clients include not only dogs and cats, but ferrets and rabbits as well.

A bakery stocked with dog treats and treadmill walk for weight loss and muscle strengthening are also in the works for the future.

While Alves admits “it’s been a challenge” starting up her own business, she is already seeing her efforts pay off, with furry faces both new plus familiar being walked via her doors each day.  

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“Business has been good, I didn’t expect that, ” said Alves, whose clientele includes several regulars. “We have a lot of customers… we are getting busy. ”

Alves, whose team includes two other groomers, said she has enjoyed watching her business grow and getting to know her four-legged clients, each with their own unique personalities.

“It’s so much better working with dogs than humans, ” she joked. “It’s been awesome… I’ve been learning day by day and I’m teaching my employees too. ”

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And Alves hopes this is just the beginning of her journey, with aspirations of someday expanding her pet spa.    

“I hope we grow… and I hope we open a second store. I have faith that everything is gonna be good in the future, ” Alves said.

Archie Pet Care Spa is open Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., and Saturday, from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m.

To learn more about Archie’s services or to book an appointment for your pet, visit https://archiepetcare.com . You can also head to Archie’s Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/archiepetcare/ for a glimpse at some satisfied  clients.