People who adopt dogs from a shelter will not only get their dog's first bath free, the owners of Woof and Wash in Mount Kisco will also show the new pet owners how to bathe and groom their adopted dog. Jason Leito, one of the co-owners of Woof and Wash, says that dogs who have spent some time in shelters typically have a "shelter smell". Once they are cleaned up, they feel better and can more quickly adjust to their new surroundings and a fresh new start in life.
Owners of newly adopted shelter dogs need to bring their dogs with their adoption papers (to prove they came from a shelter) to Woof and Wash to get their dog's first bath "on the house" -- and to learn how to properly groom and bathe their dog the next time.
Woof and Wash opened their doors in June, 2007, after realizing that although facilities for bathing your own pets can be found in other parts of the country, Westchester County had nothing like it. They discovered quickly that it was a big hit, as word quickly spread. Jason says that "People like the convenience of dropping by to wash their dogs in a clean, comfortable, dog-friendly environment."
He says that about 85% of all their customers drop their dogs off to be bathed and/or groomed, coming back in a few hours to retrieve their clean and happy dogs. While you can bathe your own dog (and bring your own shampoo and conditioner, if you prefer) Woof and Wash also has a variety of shampoos and conditioners for every type of coat, as well as waterproof aprons and plenty of clean towels.
You may treat your dog to a full range of grooming services, including a full spa session that includes special coat treatments, facials, and paw soaking. Or you can do your own bathing and grooming, if you prefer. Both owners Jason and Erica Lagoutte can assist dog owners with all their grooming needs and advice for those who prefer the do-it-yourself method.
While you can drop in most any time if you plan to bathe your own dog, you may find a waiting list if you want a grooming appointment or to drop the dog off to be bathed by one of the staff members. Appointments often require at least a week advance notice, says Leito, because they are always busy.
They get many area breeders, who bring 4 or 5 of their dogs to be bathed before shows, as well as pet owners with 5 or 6 dogs who want an efficient way to get the job done. De-matting is their most frequently requested service by far, says Leito. Woof and Wash is seeing more and more "doodle" dogs -- poodle mixed with various breeds such as Labrador Retrievers -- whose coats require daily brushing. "These dogs need a minimum of 10 minutes a day with the brush, to avoid tangled mats that are hard to untangle." If owners can't or won't do the brushing, they'll end up paying for three hours of intense de-matting, which is charged by the hour.
Erica has recently started taking all the clean hair that is cut from the dogs they groom, and collecting it for donation to a company for keeping the waterways clean from oil spills such as the one in the recent Gulf oil disaster. Matter of Trust is the organization that gets their donations currently.
Woof and Wash is open every day but Monday, and is planning more ways to support Westchester pet owners in the future.
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