“Frankly, I got tired of Pueblo,” shared Susan Quillin, owner/operator of Paws and Relax Grooming. “I grew up in Colorado City and when I got a chance to come home, I took it. We live in a nice, quiet, peaceful town and I missed that.”
Susan arrives back in the valley as a third-generation pet groomer, who opened up her new business in the Ace Hardware Mall, unit F, on January 10.
“There aren’t many kinds of pets I haven’t groomed,” she shared in a phone interview last Thursday. “I’ve groomed dogs and cats, of course, but also Guinea pigs and rabbits, just to mention a few.” Susan is loaded with experience, 22 years now. She was trained by Tannis Logan, the original owner of A Dog’s Day Grooming. From there she spent 15 years at Pet Paradise in Pueblo. She opened a mobile grooming business, but decided that brick and mortar was better than driving a trailer around to some of the locations in this area.
The one-person business will brush your animal’s teeth, and uses a specific shampoo and conditioner selected based on your pet’s skin needs.
“I’m not a typical groomer,” Susan shared. “I take a lot of one-on-one time with your pet. Most of my customers are dogs but I will groom any pet. Every pet has individual needs. Even if the breed is the same, they will have differences. For instance, if your pet is older, we will take breaks because the grooming process can be tiring for them. I know I have to please the customer but I always take the needs of the pet into consideration.”
When Susan isn’t working on your pet it’s a good bet she is walking her dogs on the 40 acres she lives on, or spending time with her three children. Susan is a single mom so her hobby is time with her children and her pets.
Susan has been gone for 15 years but being back certainly makes her feel at home. She attended Rye High School and, although much has changed in the valley since then, much has also remained the same.
Paws and Relax Grooming is currently open from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The business can be reached at (719) 621-2023. Susan is also on Facebook.
“I’m back in the valley so bring me your fur babies and I’ll give them the time and attention they deserve,” she summarized. “Let me give your pet the full spa experience! You can trust me with your dogs and other pets. I will take all the time they need and I base what I do on what is best for them.”