December Academy News Story 2015

The month of December conjures up feeling of wanting to be close to those we love, whether we are miles apart or in the same neighborhood, we all long to spend time with family and friends. For millions of shelter animals across the United States it is not only a joyous time where new pets find homes, and holiday dreams come true, but for many animals it’s a sad time of year that passes them by. Those who have never had a holiday with a family, and those who have been neglected by their families. That’s why this month at AGA is all about Rescue Pets!

American Grooming Academy has always been an advocate of rescue and shelter pets. President, Angela Clark has been “foster mommy” to many pregnant mommas, and instructor Kat has a house full of 11 special needs rescues dogs! When AGA first started and didn’t have the client list we have now, all our students had were rescue dogs. The students got to practice and the freshly groomed dogs found homes. No other rescue has been such a great part of AGA, as Wag Again K9 Rescue.

Administrator Deborah Holland remembers the first time she came to AGA. “I couldn’t get there fast enough to have all my dogs in rescue and foster groomed. Many of them needed some heavy dematting, and all of them needed nails, but beauty comes with a price and we are a rescue!” That was a match made in heaven. Deb is an integral part of AGA and many of our staff and alumni have pets adopted from Wag Again K9 Rescue! As part of our yearly donation to rescues this year we are doing something different. We have asked Deb for a Wish List of the items she needs, and we have a Holiday Bin in our reception area for all of the much needed supplies! We are so thankful AGA is giving any customer who brings items from Deb’s wish list a discount on their Groom or Bath package! As an extra, $3.00 of every add on “Santa Paws” Spa package that is sold will go directly to Wag Again K9 Rescue!

Along the lines of our Rescue pets theme, Instructor Kat Marchant made her own donation to Deb and the Homeless pets of Wag Again K9 Rescue. Over two days, her and wife Heather Marchant held a grooming event. With Heather bathing and Kat grooming 15 dogs were beautifully groomed for charity! The pet parents loved having their pets styled and felt good that Kat & Heather donated 100% of the proceeds, resulting in an astounding $550.00!

“We are rescue people. Deb saved our baby girl Binx, and gave us the gift of the last four days our little Riptwisps had. We only wish it would have been more. I need our students to volunteer for their communities shelter and what better way to get them motivated than to be the example?” Kat also spends Saturdays volunteering at local shelters in her area, grooming shelter pets for free, in support of finding them homes.

AGA wants our clients, students and readers to know that shelter dogs come in all sizes and shapes, many of them are commonly recognizable breeds from Golden Retriever to Pugs. Everyday in the U.S 10,000 dogs and cats are euthanized simply because there are not enough homes for all the pets in this country. Curbing puppy litters as well as a moral obligation not to buy puppies from pet stores, puppy mills, or backyard breeders will vastly cut the numbers of unwanted pets. Education and understanding that shelter pets are not “broken” animals is a common misconception in this country.

Pets, all pets have issues, resulting from health, lack of exercise, or confusion from their human counterparts. Owning a pet is a responsibility that is no small task. Instructor Kat Marchant- “Having a house full of special needs rescue animals is not easy, our vet bills are immense, our food bill is about $700 a month, and we only trust a couple of people to be able to watch our very handicapped pets if we were to go out, but what’s the alternative? Kill them? I would rather die, than let anything happen to my kids.”

Our pets rely on us to be their voice, their advocates and their saviors, so make sure the next time you are looking to add a new family member to your pack, Rescued Pets are the best! Visit your local shelter, donate, even walk somedogs, pet some cats be an animal advocate. We all have the power to make changes! Bring your pet in this month for AGA “Santa Paws” spa package.

It includes:

Candy Cane Shampoo, White Snow Conditioner, Candy Cane Cologne, Holiday Facial & Tooth brushing Plus FREE handmade Santa Paws stocking filled with treats! All for only $12.99 and remember $3 of your purchase goes to Wag Again K9 rescue!

Here is a very special wish list from the Wag Again PUPS! Please bring any item into AGA during your visit!