The groomer, Lisa Allison, opened shop on Lake Street in the small mall just south of the Homer Electric Association in November. But as Mo probably realized soon into her shampoo, dry and trim job, Allison has experience in these matters.
In high school, a work-school program allowed her to split shop and academic time toward completing her high school diploma. Through the years, she continued to work for Tarma Grooming, her mother’s shop.
Yet, while pursuing another dog interest as a breeder-handler — she has four purebred poodle champs of her own — Allison often was told about Homer’s need for more dog-grooming services.
In early November, Allison opened the shop and began commuting from Soldotna to Homer three times a week.
The schedule allows for eight-10 dog appointments per day. The shop is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Saturday. On days in between, she said she promptly returns phone messages from those wanting appointments.
Presently the shop offers baths, grooming and trimming for all size and breeds of dogs. She doesn’t do cats.
“I’m scared to death of them,” she said.
The bathing area in the back shop is fitted with a ramp so large dogs can walk into their tub.
“That way I’m not lifting a big dog,” Allison said. “And I don’t mind if dogs bark — that’s what they do to show stress or to talk.”
All dogs have different personalities, a distinction Allison welcomes. In other words, not just your well-behaved are welcomed there.
“It just cracks me up to see their different personalities. Some are hyper, some are shy, others are busy, busy, busy,” she said.
Since she’s new to Homer dogs, Allison says she’s likely breaking them in to her style. “They are getting to know me.”
Mo, owned by 13-year-old Sydney Sligh of Homer, is a mix that involves poodle, cocker spaniel and Shih Tzu. She came from a pound in Ketchikan several years ago and moved with the Sligh family to Homer. This is her second time coming to Allison for grooming.
After Allison finishes the trimming that evens out Mo’s bangs, and has taken the shag from her fur, Mo gets a new green holiday bandana tied around her neck — a gift from Lisa Ann’s Grooming.
When Sydney Sligh’s mom comes to claim Mo, the dog seems proud. A day at the grooming shop doesn’t appear to have caused stress — rather Mo walks out as relaxed as if she’d had a massage.
Naomi Klouda can be reached at news@homernews.com.
We encourage you to add your comments. To prevent spam, comments with links are manually approved during the normal business day. Please be respectful of others with your comments, bear in mind anyone in the community may be reading your comments.
