Dwila's Pet Grooming
Box 82 site 16 RR2 T1P1K5 Strathmore, AB, Canada

More of my adorable clients and I LOVE a good nail trim

Today was for the boys

Tuesdays are for mowhawks and tattoos

I had some good lookin' ladies in the salon today!

How is this even my job?

I might have the cutest clients ever booking for the middle of August!

I love this so much!!

My first babies back in the salon and my baby at the end

Hello to all my lovely friends and clients! I would like to give you all an update on my plans for future grooming . I’m updating a few of my policies (some due to Covid19, and others due to my new grooming situation with my son) so please read below: 1. I am no longer offering pick up and drop offs This service was great when I didn’t have a baby in a car seat in the back. I do not have child care (and I don’t plan on getting any in the future), because I love having my... little man in the shop with me Please arrive on time for your appointment, and let me know if you are running late. 2. I can no longer take any agressive or unpredictable dogs, and dogs I feel aren’t a good fit with having a baby in the salon. I’m actually really sad about this one. I pride myself on being able to handle/rehabilitate dogs who have had a bad experiences in the past. However, my son is in the salon with me, and his safety is my number one concern. If your dog has shown any kind of aggression towards me, OR my animals in the past, I’m sorry to say I can no longer accommodate them. If I feel uneasy in any way about your dogs being around my son, I won’t be booking your dog in. I will however recommend another wonderful groomer for your needs 3. Price increase. Don’t freak out! It’s only a small increase. I have tried to increase my prices for the past 4 years and kept chickening out. It’s finally time! Small dogs (25lbs and under) - $5 increase Medium dogs (26lbs-40lbs) - $10 increase Large dogs (41lbs- 79lbs) - $15-$20 increase XL dogs (80+lbs) - $20-$30 increase. COVID-19 policy changes: I have set up a kennel on my deck for you to place your dog in. I will be standing in the door watching. Please take your leash and collar with you. Once you leave the deck, I will close the gate, let your dog out and we will discuss the haircut from a distance. I have hand sanitizer on top of the kennel for you to use once you’ve closed the kennel. I will also be sanitizing the entire salon and my equipment every day following your dogs groom. If you, or any member of your immediate family is sick, please reschedule your appointment. I will only be grooming one dog per day (or one household) for the foreseeable future, so I will be encouraging you to pre-book your future appointments. And with that I am officially taking appointments! Message me here, or text me at 4039347966 Thanks again for your patients and stay safe out there! Dwila

This is too funny!! In all seriousness though, it’s not as easy as we make it look, and it can be dangerous if not done properly. Your pup can wait a little longer until it’s safe for me to open again. I will not be opening until I feel it’s safe for me and my family. Stay safe and healthy everyone!

Hello to all my lovely clients! It’s been a while since I made an update, but I feel it’s time with everything going on. I had planned on coming back to work at home part time, in February. However, I was suffering a lot with postpartum depression and anxiety that I needed more time. I’m doing much better with my mental health now, and I appreciate everyone who checked on me during that time I’m finally ready to get back to work! That being said, because of the Covid-19 o...utbreak, I have decided to shut my doors until it’s safe again. I’ve been staying connected with groomers around the world, and we are NOT safe. 3 groomers on Vancouver island alone have come down with it. They were all following the right steps to protect themselves. I’m heartbroken that I want to work, but I can’t for the safety of those around me. If you are in desperate need of anything grooming related, a vet will be able to help you. I can help with any grooming questions you might have (Am I brushing properly? How do I trim toe nails? Etc.) during this strange time, but I can’t physically help. I have lots of resources to help you as best I can. Please stay safe, stay home, and stay positive. We are all in this together! - Dwila P.S. Enjoy this picture of my little man to brighten your spirits

This is adorable!!

So horrible! A reason cats are so expensive, and lots of groomers don’t groom them. My condolences to this woman’s family and friends.

Love this town we call home

Here’s why Alberta’s ban on vets performing ear cropping, tail docking and dewclaw removal matters. It’s never just about the issue at hand, it’s how that issue... came to be, the forces tied to it, and what it means for the future. In a time when animal rights extremists are everywhere and Adopt Don’t Shop is being shoved down everyone’s throat, let’s take a second to look at what’s actually going on here. You have greyhound racing banned in Florida, and the average pet owner cheers that those poor dogs aren’t being forced to run anymore. You have timed dog sports like agility and lure coursing banned and the average pet owner cheers because those poor dogs don’t have to perform for peoples’ entertainment anymore. You have states banning hunting and field trials and the average pet owner cheers that those poor dogs aren’t being forced to work with cruel hunters anymore. You have a province trying to ban certain training tools and training styles and the average pet owner cheers because they would never use those cruel methods on their pet. You have every province except for one that’s banned crop and dock and the average pet owner cheers because dogs shouldn’t be mutilated to suit owner’s preference. You have places trying to impose mandatory spay and neuter by six months old and the average pet owner cheers because breeding shouldn’t be happening and adopt don’t shop. You have PETA showing up at dog shows putting dogs in danger, but the average pet owner cheers because those poor dogs shouldn’t be forced to participate in beauty pageants and have no life. The average pet owner isn’t going to care when the AR extremists push for dog sports to be banned because we’re making dogs compete for our entertainment. They won’t care when dog sledding is banned because those poor dogs have to pull that sled so far in the snow. They won’t care when service dogs are banned because those dogs are forced to work all day. They won’t care when it’s next to impossible for a responsible breeder to produce a litter because of regulation, because people should be adopting instead of shopping. They might start to notice when all that’s left are poor representations of the breeds, the ones being produced from the backyard breeders who don’t care about the regulations and restrictions that pushed ethical breeders away. When these puppies grow up to be sickly dogs riddled with the health issues the ethical breeders would have tested for, or lack the correct temperament that the ethical breeders worked so hard for by working and showing their dogs. They might start to notice when their only option for adding a dog to their family is a shelter dog with more baggage than they are prepared to handle. By the time the AR extremists start pushing to end pet ownership (which is absolutely PETA’s goal) and the average pet owner takes notice and is shocked and appalled because they love their dog so much, there will be nobody left to fight for them. All of the breeders, hunters, dog sport competitors, mushers, service dog handlers, breed preservationists, etc are already gone because the average pet owner turned their back on them. So no, Alberta banning ear cropping, tail docking and dew claw removal may not have any impact at all on the life of the average pet owner, and they may support it, but it’s never just about one issue. Maybe the average pet owner needs to look down at the labrador, golden retriever or German Shepherd at their feet and think about what went into developing the breed they love. The herding and hunting and working that AR extremists want to end. It all ties together and is a slippery slope and it’s going to end with you, average pet owner. Not written by me, author unknown. But all too true. Picture of my purpose bred, health tested and intact purebred show and working service dog.

Sad days here. I miss her so much

Wanna know why veterinarians are killing themselves at 4.5X the average public rate? Because when we hustle to get the dog in back and assessed, a pain injectio...n into them so they are comfortable, radiographs taken to ensure there are no broken bones or compromised body wall, send said radiographs to a BOARD CERTIFIED RADIOLOGIST for review, carefully clip and disinfect any open wounds with extreme care and caution because our patient has no concept that we are there to help them, all with a smile for you and get you out the door in an hour...we’re fucking crooks. Our doctors go to school for 8 years. They rack up over $200,000 in student debt. They complete internship years from hell and some go on to do three to five year residencies to become board certified specialists. They work 12, 14, 16 hour shifts under the worst conditions imaginable. Their patients can’t tell them where it hurts so they have to use their hands and born intuition to get to the root of the problem. Our patients die on a daily basis. Some days in the double digits before lunch. Our nursing staff gets bit, scratched, bruised, kicked...and that’s just from the patients. Then we deal with verbal abuse from upset owners and called every name under the sun. Our knees and backs hurt and give out a little more every day from crawling around on the floor with our patients and lifting them onto exam tables and x ray tables because we can’t ask them to step up and hold out their arm for a blood pressure. The prices reflect a quality of life we attempt to provide for staff. Wages that we can work full time at and make ends meet. Most of us still struggle despite carrying the professional burden of being a nurse, CNA, janitor, and hospice provider all in one. Our prices are so our employer can provide decent health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, a 401k plan, and paid time off so we don’t have to choose between rent and groceries if we have to take a sick day. All the while providing a standard of medical care that gives our patients the absolute best chance at a comfortable and safe recovery. Not to mention the overhead of providing sterile equipment and supplies for every patient, and the cost to keep our building running and staffed 24 hours a day. But sure. We’re fucking crooks. You paid for nothing, meaning nothing was wrong with your dog who could have been maimed or killed. You paid for knowing your dog didn’t require immediate life saving surgery. You paid for knowing your dog wouldn’t need orthopedic surgery and pins places and plates screwed to her bones so she could walk again. If you think veterinary prices are outrageous, ask for an itemized invoice of your next trip to the emergency room. We have no insurance companies or government programs to subsidize us. We have no college partnerships or endowments from wealthy families trying to escape tax season. We run purely on a free market, capitalist model. Our bottom line determines the quality of life for our staff and the standard of care we can provide for our patients. But it’s okay guys, because we’re just crooks.