We have been taking our poodle to the petsmart grooming salon in Santa Cruz, CA for about five years now. I have to say that Lynsey (the manager) is an absolute Godsend! I can hardly put to words how much we appreciate her skill and the amazing level of care that our dog receives during his appointments with her.
We found Lynsey about five years ago. Our dog is a tiny toy poodle and had been playfully smashed by a larger dog resulting in the shattering of his front left leg. He was in recovery from a major surgery and we had to limit his activity and play. He could not be groomed on his usual schedule due to the frequent visits to the surgeon and, he developed a lot of nervous habits, including rubbing his face on us and his bedding. So, he ended up with what was essentially a large matted dreadlock of fur covering his face and eyes. He was already in a tremendous amount of pain from the surgery and the matted dreadlock from rubbing the overgrown hair on his face couldn't have been comfortable for him. I was desperate to find someone who would be willing to help him...Lynsey to the rescue! She let us bring him in and help restrain him while she shaved the matted fur off his face. Then, because of her huge heart, she cleaned the rest of him up too.
If you have ever felt that your heart would burst from the kindness of another person, know that my husband and I felt every bit of that as we watched Lynsey skillfully and loving take care of our baby. There are not words to capture the gratitude that we still feel for her willingness to help our boy when no one else would. Needless to say, Lynsey has continued to care for our boy since that fateful night, through several more surgeries and his eventual amputation, she's always taken extra care to make sure that he is comfortable and that we are completely informed of any issues. Being a poodle and having not been able to get him in for grooming on a regular schedule in that first year when we were trying to save his leg, there were times where he ended up with mats and she would always inform us when he needed to be shaved down. Her expert opinion is something that we are always grateful for. Since his amputation, he has been able to maintain a regular schedule for grooming. Now he gets to visit his "girlfriend" Lynsey every 6-8 weeks.
He can be a little difficult, smart and stubborn but, you would never know it from watching him with Lynsey. We often hear from other salon customers how well behaved he is and, we're like, "what? our poodle, no way!" But she has the confidence of someone who truly knows what they are doing. She is kind and professional and we simply don't know what we would do without her.
I am a neurotic high strung incredibly judgmental pet owner who spends ridiculous sums of money on the care of all my pets - you know the type & you might even be just like me. That being said, I couldn't be happier with Lynsey's work and I am always comforted leaving my dog with her knowing that he will get the absolute best care. Also, the little mohawk that she gives him is on point! Our dog doesn't have a groomer, he has a stylist and, she is the best! read more