Pampered Pets / Imagine Pet Spa offers full service grooming, spa options – Monroe Evening News
NEWPORT – Sydney Kontur is in the business of pampering pets.
The 23-year-old owns and operates Imagine Pet Spa, located at 5071 N. Dixie Hwy.
Kontur started as a groomer when she was 16. She was a dog washer before learning how to groom.
“I offer full-service dog grooming options including wash with shampoo and conditioner, berry facial wash, gland expression, if needed, hand blow dry, brush out, paw pad trim, sanitary trim, nail trim with a Dremel, whatever kind of haircut is wanted, and ear cleaning,” Kontur said. “Other services include de-shed baths for dogs or cats that are really shedding badly. I also offer some cat grooming options. I wash and dry cats, do their nails, ear cleaning, and any scissor trimming that is necessary. However, I do not shave cats.”
Appointments are required but some walk-in services are available such as nail cutting, ear cleaning, face, paw pad and sanitary trims.
The new business also offers spa options like nail polish painting, exfoliating mud baths, paw bath bomb treatment with paw balm, and hot oil soaks.
It’s estimated 70 percent of U.S. households own a pet, according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, and owners are concerned with the wellness of their pets beyond a high-quality diet.
Pet owners are focusing more on their pets’ health in a holistic or pampering way.
“This is a one-on-one grooming salon. We do not take in a bunch of dogs at once. We work one at a time, so each dog gets the individual attention that they deserve while also not rushing them through. Quality is very important to me. Quality will always come before quantity.”
Kontur said the benefits to having a pet groomed regularly is to maintain healthy skin and coat and prevent matting. Regular visits can help detect issues with ears, skin, and teeth.
“As a groomer, I am always paying attention to any changes as far as health goes, so I can then relay that information to the owners. This is especially prevalent for new lumps and bumps,” she said.
According to Kontur there are pros to being a groomer, like getting to know the dogs and their owners on a personal level and using her creativity to groom pets.
“Grooming truly is an art form,” she said. “(I enjoy) seeing dogs make improvement with the grooming process over time, watching them become less fearful the more you work with them and being patient with them.”
Kontur is the only groomer working at the pet spa. She is certified in CPR/first aid and has AKC, skin and hair certifications.
When asked about how often a dog should be bathed, she replied, “Well, technically speaking, a dog’s skin goes through keratinization every 21 days. New skin cells grow during this 21-day period. And at the end of the 21 days, they form keratin. As this happens, the skin cells are dying and sloughing off. This is what causes the dander and, also, any unpleasant smells on your dog’s coat.
“To prevent dander and to keep a healthy skin and coat, monthly bathing is the best thing to do. I am currently learning to become a certified pet aesthetician to learn even more about the skin and coat of a pet.”
Imagine Pet Spa
Owner: Sydney Kontur
Address: 5071 N. Dixie Hwy. in Newport
Services: By appointment. One-on-one full-service pet grooming offering spa options like nail polish painting, exfoliating mud baths, paw bath bomb treatment with paw balm, and hot oil soaks.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday