Paws Around the Town 

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the benefits with mobile grooming?  The price is higher than my previous groomer.

The price for mobile grooming generally runs about $20-$55 more per pet.  For that additional cost you get the added benefits of convenience and a less stressful grooming experience for your pet.  As the pet guardian you will not be making two trips to the salon to drop off and pick up your pet.  You will not be waiting for hours for your pet to be ready.  After a few appointments, prior arrangements can be made to gain access to your pet, and you will not even need to be home for the grooming appointment. Your pet will also benefit from a less stressful environment with personal, one-on-one attention.  There are no barking dogs, no cages, and no wait time.

How do I schedule an appointment?

During normal business hours, it is difficult to answer the phone due to attention on driving and appointments.   Texting and emailing will most likely get a quicker response.  Please leave the following information:  Your name and address with zip code, your pet’s breed and age, the last time your pet was professionally groomed, frequency of appointments, if you or your pet have specific concerns, for example, anxiety, disabled, senior, or aggressive tendencies.

Do you have evening or weekend appointments? What about a holiday appointment?

Paws Around the Town offers limited appointments on Saturday.  Evening, Sunday and holiday appointments can be made at an additional charge.

What type of payments do you accept?

All grooming fees must be paid at the time of service.  Cash or check is preferred. Returned checks will be charged any and all service charges and may be recovered electronically.   All outstanding fees must be paid before another appointment is made. At that time, services will be on a cash only basis.  Credit or debit card payments are available depending on wifi strength.

What if I need to cancel my pet's appointment?

Please notify Paws Around the Town as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.  Paws Around the Town requires 48 hours notice for cancellations.  This will allow for an opportunity to fill this time slot with another client’s pet.  Failure to provide notice of cancellation will incur an additional fee of $50.  If Paws Around the Town arrives for your appointment and the pet guardian is not home and prior arrangements have not been made to access the pet, there will be an additional $65 charge, which must be paid prior to your next appointment.

What happens if Paws Around the Town needs to cancel an appointment?

On rare occasions, Paws Around the Town may need to cancel an appointment due to weather conditions, road conditions, equipment or mechanical breakdowns.  Every effort will be made to contact you in advance to reschedule your appointment.

What time will you arrive for my appointment?

Paws Around the Town will give you an open window of 1-2 hours for an arrival time. However sometimes situations arise that disrupt the schedule.  These include traffic, weather, mechanical difficulties, or needing more time with another appointment.  You will be called or texted when the arrival time changes beyond our control.  To help stay on schedule, please take your dog out to potty and have your cat in a carrier before the grooming van arrives.

Do I have to be home for you to groom my pet?

Initially, yes.  Prior arrangements can be made in the future for grooming to be done without your presence.

Does my pet have to be up to date on his vaccinations?

Yes. Rabies vaccination is required by law and MUST be provided in writing from your veterinarian prior to appointment.  Although your pet will not come in contact with any other pets during service and the equipment is sanitized between appointments, it is strongly recommended that your pet be fully vaccinated for your pet’s overall protection.

How often should I get my pet groomed?

Your pet will benefit from regular grooming.  Regular bathing and brushing the coat will keep your pet clean and tangle free.  This will help distribute the natural oils in the coat which will help maintain skin and coat health.  On the average, dogs should be bathed/groomed every four to six weeks, cats every 6 to 8 weeks. Of course, this varies on the owner's ability to do daily brush outs. It is also dependent on your pet's breed, overall condition and length of the coat. It is best for your pet to maintain a regular schedule and since appointments are more limited with mobile grooming than at a groom  shop, you may wish to schedule out at a set interval to hold your appointment on the schedule.

Does frequent bathing harm my pet's coat?

No. Paws Around the Town uses high quality shampoos and conditioners.  These are formulated to improve the coat condition and not dry it out. Please advise us if your pet is sensitive, so that we can  use hypo-allergenic products.  If your veterinarian has prescribed a medicated shampoo, please provide at time of service.  There will be an additional charge to accommodate for the additional time the shampoo needs to be on your pet.

Do you express anal glands?

No.  Paws Around the Town does not express anal glands.  Your pet should be able to perform this function on their own.  This is a medical treatment and best left to your veterinarian.

Ear cleaning is included.  What about ear plucking?

At this time, Paws Around the Town will only perform ear plucking at the pet guardian’s request and any subsequent issues resulting from ear plucking service will be the pet guardian’s responsibility. Ear plucking can result in problems to a healthy ear.  It is best you consult your veterinarian for your pet’s ear health.

Can my you file my pet’s nails? 

Paws Around the Town offers nail filing on request for an additional charge.  Due to safety concerns, filing will be done by hand with a nail file and NOT a Dremmel. 

I think my pet has fleas.  Can you treat them? 

Due to inconsistency in weather conditions, it is recommended that you maintain your pet on flea control year round.  Paws Around the Town does offer a flea bath for an additional $25 which covers the bath and fumigating the van for the protection of other pets.  A flea bath will only treat the fleas on your pet.  It is highly recommended you acquire appropriate flea control as well as treat your home and yard as needed.  A pet found with a heavy infestation will not be serviced and returned to their home for the pet guardian to seek immediate veterinary care.  

My dog was skunked.  Can you help?

The compounds/oils that are secreted in a skunk's spray can cause several symptoms, such as swelling and redness of the eyes, sneezing, skin irritation, vomiting and overall discomfort.  Since the mobile van is a small enclosed space, we can not service freshly skunked pets.  This is to ensure a safe, clean and pleasant environment for all clients and staff.

My pet sheds all the time.  Should they be shaved?

Shedding is part of the normal process for coat growth.  Regular grooming can reduce the amount of shedding and help maintain a healthy coat. Paws Around the Town offers an additional de-shedding treatment to help with excessive shedding.  Abnormal shedding can be a result of poor diet or a medical condition, such as thyroid deficiency.  Please consult your veterinarian.  It is the policy of Paws Around the Town to NOT shave or clip down short hair or double-coated dogs, such as labradors, golden retrievers, shiba inu, pugs, etc.

My pet is matted, but I don’t want them shaved?

Matting is painful for your pet.  The skin under the matting is potentially unhealthy and irritated.  Potential problems found under matting included:  Hot spots, fungal or bacterial skin infections due to trapped moisture, hair loss, parasites, or self-inflicted injury due to pet biting or scratching at themselves to relieve the discomfort, to name a few.  It is Paws Around the Town’s goal to offer the most pleasant and pain free grooming experience for your pet. If your pet is matted, it will be clipped down. We will use the longest length possible that penetrates under the mats while still maintaining comfort for your pet.