TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Getting Help When Man's Best Friend Needs A Bath

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 1, 2008

Washing a dog, especially a big one, is messy. The dog shakes. Dirty, soapy water splashes on the walls. Your knees, your back, or both, hurt from kneeling next to the bathtub. Then there's the big lump of dog hair in the drain.

That's what was on the minds of Francisco and Gloria Gamero when they opened their first dog wash 15 years ago in Santa Clarita, Calif. They now have three U-Wash Doggie locations.

In Portland, Maine, Mark and Greg Goodwin got the idea after hearing from a friend about a dog wash in the Baltimore area. Their Portland Dog Wash features combs, shampoos, conditioner, perfumes, towels and hair dryers. There are eye wipes and ear wipes and even dental wipes with a minty scent.

•There are more than 70 million dogs in the United States.

•Dogs account for a good chunk of the nearly $3 billion pet owners spend each year on grooming and boarding, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

•On average, self-service dog washes charge 30 percent to 50 percent less than the cost of a professional groomer.

Business, Page 6

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT