PERU — After 20 years of breeding dogs and a lifetime of caring for them, Traci Virgin has started her own grooming and daycare business, which officially opened Monday at 8:30 a.m.
The business, known as Small Wonders Grooming and Daycare, is built right into Virgin’s home, which runs adjacent to her husband’s business, Virgin’s Auto Electric Service.
Virgin said she decided to start her own grooming business since “there was a call for it in the area.”
“I know some people have been waiting a month to get their dog groomed at different businesses,” Virgin said Friday afternoon. “I’ve just always liked dogs and grooming. It seemed like the right time to start my own business.”
Virgin is currently attending the A+ Pet Grooming Academy in New Gloucester, a 400-hour course that teaches students how to groom cats and dogs.
“I started in October and still have another 150 hours to go until I graduate,” Virgin said. “I’m going to school one day a week and keeping my business open two days a week.”
Small Wonders Grooming and Daycare will be open Mondays and either Tuesdays or Thursdays during the summer, depending on how many people bring their dogs in, Virgin said.
“The drop-off time for the animals is at 8:30 or 9 a.m.,” Virgin added. “I work two days a week at my husband’s garage doing bookkeeping, so once I graduate, I’m hoping to keep the business open three days a week.”
Prior to the grand opening, Virgin constructed a dog grooming station and daycare center in the back room of her house, complete with a grooming table, a large sink to bathe the animals, several kennels and grooming tools.
Virgin said she grooms cats as well dogs.
“A lot of people don’t do cats, so there’s a lot of money to be made in them,” Virgin said. “The only types of dogs I don’t do are Newfoundlands or other large dogs. I’m just not equipped to handle them.”
Even before opening Small Wonders, Virgin said animals have held an important place in her life. She currently owns two pugs, 6-year-old Sunny and her daughter, 1½-year-old Mugzy, and has been raising pugs for 10 years.
“I’ve always loved animals,” Virgin said. “My grandmother had every animal imaginable. Plus, I’ve been breeding dogs for about 20 years now. I used to breed cocker spaniels, but I’ve switched to pugs and springers now. I also have a cat that I adopted from a woman I used to take care of while working in the home health care field.”
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- Traci Virgin of Peru officially opened her pet grooming business, Small Wonders Grooming and Daycare, Monday morning at her home. Virgin stands underneath the business’ sign with her English springer spaniel puppy, while her two pugs, Sunny, left, and Mugzy, relax on a bench.
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- Traci Virgin of Peru shaves the fur from Buster, a poodle, Monday morning. Virgin’s new grooming business, Small Wonders Grooming and Daycare, had its grand opening Monday.
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