UNITY— Pets owners were saddened in mid-October when the news of Wiggles and Whiskers Pet Supplies were forced to close their doors due to the sale of the space they were in. Yet for business owner, Shannon Heitt, it was an opportunity to fill in another much-needed service for fur-parents in the area.
Heitt had been working with pets in and around the Unity area for the past four years through her retail pet supplies store. Wiggles and Whiskers had become an exciting place for cats and dogs alike to visit, able to choose their own treats or toys. Yet, the sale of the building brought the business to a premature closure.
“It was definitely a shock at first. I was glad to see 4KS was trying to fill the gap with the closure of Wiggles and Whiskers Pet Supplies. I knew right away I wanted to keep seeing all the amazing customers and their pets and with my previous training and experience, it felt like a natural pivot to move into grooming — something that is lacking in our community,” said Heitt in an interview with Â鶹ÊÓƵ.ca.
Heitt had received both instruction and hands-on training in pet grooming, and had groomed in the past, working on her own pets prior to the retail business closure. With a passion about animals, Heitt admitted she was already thinking about expanding into grooming.
“After years of owning and running the pet supply store, it was clear grooming was a natural next step,” she added.
Keeping on brand with the new business venture, Heitt started to create a grooming space that would be both pet-friendly and functional, saying she wanted to create a calm, stress-free and relaxing environment for the animals. She is not the only groomer in the area, but she did say it is a high-in-demand service.
“It’s great to have fellow pet care professionals around to help keep the pets of Unity looking their best and I appreciate their support and advice as I take on this new adventure."
After the installation of plumbing, electrical systems and new flooring, Wiggles and Whiskers Dog Grooming officially opened the doors on Jan. 2.
“We are equipped to groom all sizes of dogs and cats. Our industrial grooming tub is rated to hold dogs up to 250 lbs. and our hydraulic grooming table means larger dogs can easily get on and off the table. As long as the animal is comfortable, we can take care of them,” said Heitt.
Currently, Wiggles and Whiskers Dog Grooming works one-on-one, working with one dog at a time, and provides services such as baths, nail trims, full grooms and more. Heitt is also K9 First Aid certified, giving pet owners added peace of mind.
With the doors only open for a couple of weeks, Heitt has already experienced the vast difference between her two businesses.
“Every animal has its own unique personality, which means I have to adjust the grooming experience to make them feel comfortable. Coming from a fast-paced retail environment, grooming has taught me the value of slowing down. Patience is key — sometimes it takes a little extra time to help a pet feel at ease. We take breaks when needed, and if they need a cuddle while getting dried, I’m more than happy to give those hugs. Each session is a learning experience, whether it’s refining my skills or finding new ways to improve the experience for both pets and their owners,” said Heitt.
Wiggles and Whiskers Dog Grooming is taking new clients and you can call or text 306-393-1079 or visit wwgrooms.ca to book an appointment.
