or Shannon Burr Desreuisseau, owner of A Muddy Paw Pet Salon in New Milford, Connecticut, a life centered around animals seemed almost inevitable.

“I grew up in 4-H with cattle, dogs, horses, chickens…what have you, so I’ve always been an avid animal lover,” she begins. “I knew I couldn’t be a veterinarian; I’m not good with blood and I couldn’t handle putting dogs down. Emotionally and mentally, that wasn’t something I could do.”

Shannon assumed she would become a teacher, and even began college on that path. But everything changed when she took a part-time job as a dog bather at Petco. The work quickly became full time, and something clicked.

“I stopped college because I fell in love with grooming,” shares Shannon.

A later move to an independently owned salon, A Muddy Paw, gave her exposure to a wider range of breeds and techniques, as well as the day-to-day operations of a smaller salon environment. In 2017, nine years into her grooming career, Shannon bought the business to run herself and immediately set her sights on improvement.

“I made a lot of changes,” she recounts. “The person I bought it from was very old-school—no credit card processing, one shampoo brand, and everything was handwritten on cards and paper.”

So, Shannon computerized operations, introduced credit card payments, expanded product offerings and created a strong digital presence.

“I leaned into social media and did a lot of charity work and events to get our name out there,” she shares.

A Muddy Paw also offers free grooms for local shelter dogs, which helps animals get adopted and spreads the business’s name. The salon has earned public recognition too, including a local “Best Grooming Salon” award and a feature in the town’s lifestyle publication.

“We have people from all over the state—and out of state—driving two hours to come here,” Shannon notes. “We have about seven vets in town, and every one of them recommends us. We’ve grown about four times the revenue from when I first bought it.”

With the quick success of A Muddy Paw, Shannon bought another local business with a larger building and eventually relocated. The salon even experienced rapid growth during the height of the pandemic.

“COVID was when my business exploded,” she says. “Grooming was designated essential in Connecticut, but not in neighboring New York. We stayed open, and since New York is just 10 minutes from us, we got a lot of clients from there.”

Today, A Muddy Paw includes seven groomers, two bathers and a receptionist. And as the company expanded, Shannon’s husband, Roger Desreuisseau, joined the salon after a career in aerospace manufacturing and quality engineering.

“With the business booming, Shannon needed help,” he shares. “It was too much for one person—not just grooming, but overhead, employees, everything.”

Running a business together can be intense, but the Desreuisseaus make it work.

“We’re literally together 24/7, with five kids on top of it,” Shannon shares. “Of course there are arguments about who does more or less—that’s common in any marriage, plus running a whole business.”

Roger’s background in precision mechanics has translated surprisingly well to grooming.

“I approached grooming the same way—meticulously picking apart each aspect of the groom,” he explains. “After a little while, the speed came. I picked up on everything—quality grooms, learning dog behaviors. Three years into grooming now, I think I’ve come a long way.”

Roger discovered a niche in working with dogs that other salons turned away. His careful, patient approach built loyal clientele and expanded the salon’s skillset.

“I felt bad they were getting kicked out of other places with nowhere to go, and grooming is a necessity for some dogs,” he shares. “After that, the other dogs seemed easy.”

Breed-specific work also became another favorite of Roger’s.

“I’ve gotten meticulous on poodles and schnauzers,” he adds. “We see a lot of German Shepherds—word gets around that we can do shepherds, and we get all the shepherds.”

When talking about her grooming philosophy, Shannon believes strongly in tailoring each groom to the lifestyle of the dog and the family.

“Every pet is unique—just like their owner,” she quips. “I build relationships with both.

“It’s important to know their lifestyle,” continues Shannon. “Are they hiking? Going to the city every weekend? What fits their lifestyle and budget?”

Those relationships extend beyond appointments, as her deep connections have helped the business prosper.

“I become very close to my clients and I’m friends with many,” explains Shannon. “I could tell you their kids’ birthdays and teachers. That connection with the owner as well as the dog is very important.”

The couple suffered a deeply personal tragedy, and the strength of those client bonds was solidified in an unexpected way.

“We lost our son, and my clients reached out and sent GoFundMe donations for funeral costs,” Shannon shares. “Your clients become part of your family—dog and human.”

In addition to their client base, Shannon has built a workplace where communication and collaboration are essential.

“We make sure groomers, bathers—anyone talking to clients—follow the same procedures,” she explains. “That includes handling sensitive grooming situations. If a dog is matted and needs to be shaved for humane reasons, the client knows up front. If it becomes clear mid-groom, we call or message so there are no surprises.”

In an effort to stay on top of the industry, Shannon invests heavily in continuing education for both herself and the staff.

“We go to grooming expos, take classes—I cover those,” she shares. “Everyone must be certified in pet CPR and first aid—I cover that too. I want it to be easy for groomers to get better.”

The flexible culture is another reason why groomers stay on at A Muddy Paw.

“I’m an extremely laid-back boss,” Shannon confesses. “No one is forced into a schedule—everyone sets their own.

“Groomers burn out easily, and I’ll do everything I can to avoid that,” she adds. “If you’re overwhelmed, move your dogs and take a week. We’ll figure it out.”

Today, the salon occupies what once were two separate storefronts, and the large size helps keep things running smoothly.

“There’s a doorway between the two sides and a receptionist desk on both,” explains Shannon. “The space features a calm atmosphere with thoughtful design touches. We run diffuser misters every five minutes so it smells nice—doesn’t smell like dog. It’s decorated in an elegant way and people feel welcome.”

The couple continues to explore new services and growth ideas. Roger hopes to expand into boarding, doggy daycare and training.

“We’ve grown so much, but we keep asking, ‘Can we grow more?’” he adds.

Meanwhile, Shannon envisions private one-on-one grooming rooms and possibly a second location. They are also exploring mobile grooming.

“A friend with a grooming van offered to lease it to us one week a month,” Roger notes.

With Shannon’s love for the challenge and variety of grooming and Roger’s appreciation for the problem-solving side, their partnership benefits the business in multiple ways.

“New products, new classes—there’s always something to learn. I’m never bored,” Shannon expresses. “With our know-how, we customize the salon to fit our needs. Sometimes we’ll grab PVC and build what we need.”

However, they both return to the same theme: community and trust. Which may be why, at A Muddy Paw Pet Salon, people don’t just book appointments—they build relationships.