Best Pet Grooming
Petsmart
READERS' AND STAFF PICK: Petsmart is a full-service pet center, with a doggie and kitty beauty salon in-house. Drop off Fido or Fluffy at the grooming center, and not only do you not have to wrestle your reluctant pet into the tub, you can watch through a window as he is transformed from mangy mutt to magnificent beast. Prices usually correspond to breed, but if your beloved pooch doesn't fit into one category, bring her in for an estimate. Medium-sized dogs usually run about $25, and cats start at $30, depending on fur length. Cats are groomed only Monday through Thursday at Petsmart's two locations. We've seen pooches' dreadlocks tamed and sweating pussycats trimmed for the heat, but it's not all about function. One of our dogs came back fresh and clean with complimentary blue bows on his ears. You can also complete your dog's toilette with a spritz of human-smelling perfume (we hear Polo is popular), or just be satisfied with a clean-smelling, shiny, happy dog who's welcome in any lap.
4740 E. Grant Road
3931 W. Price Club DriveREADERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Park 'N Bark, 7941 E. Lakeside Parkway, but they'll come to you.
CAT'S MEOW: We like Barkie's Classic Clips, 2111 S. Sixth Ave., for the atmosphere--John Waters couldn't have done better. Would you trust Divine with your pet? We did and our mutt never looked better. This place is some kind of canine heaven, complete with every beauty aid your pet needs for a total makeover (including tick dips!). While your pet is being fawned over by the wonderful Barkie's ladies (ours loves that part), relax with a romance novel in the crusty waiting room (there's quite a large selection of used ones on sale), or step outside on South Sixth and take in the neighborhood. Sitting on the curb in front of Barkie's while dogs are howling in the distance, and watching the patron's of the liquor store across the street stumble about under the noonday sun, qualifies for some sort of best-bet people-watching as well!
CAT'S MEOW: To all of you who waste money on clipping and poofing the fur of your poodle or other type of annoying little dog--get a life! Or better yet, get a cat. These superior creatures are self-grooming, and on the whole, look a lot better on their worst day than any poor puppy that has been perfumed and prettified.
