’ve always been known for my patience, but since I’ve gone mobile, I try to focus on keeping the experience as low-stress as possible,” says McKenna Rimmer, owner of Pawsitively Elegant Dog & Cat Grooming.

“I have clients with a level five heart murmur, and I keep them safe, clean, and calm. They may have a less gorgeous haircut, but they’re happy and comfortable. That’s why ‘Pawsitive’ is in my name,” she adds.

McKenna just celebrated her second year in business on July 6, 2023. “For years, people have told me I should have my own business, but once I had a one-and-a-half-year-old and my husband started an LLC for me, I had the push I needed. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

In the Spring of 2021, McKenna started shopping for mobile grooming vans. “I got in right before the pandemic-related van shortages and expenses increased. I was originally told my van would be a six-to-eight week wait, then it was pushed to a 10-12 week wait. Once I had it, I cut back to part-time at the salon where I worked to build my business on the side. I was up to full-time with my van within three months. I was lucky my boss was kind enough to be generous in that way.

McKenna’s mobile spa serves the Gainesville, Virginia area. “We’re about an hour from Washington, DC; it’s one of the last major suburban areas before Front Royal, Virginia, with plenty of shopping and golf communities. I was lucky to set myself apart right away because I do cats and hand-stripping, and I have a knack for those aging pets who may not be able to go to their previous groomer anymore,” she adds.

McKenna got her start in grooming at very young age. “I always say I grew up tableside. My mom was a groomer, and I spent my earliest years in the playpen next to the grooming table. I started as mommy’s little helper/bather from the age of nine. I’ve always been comfortable with animals.

“Later,” McKenna continues, “I went to college and considered becoming a veterinarian. I was a Biology major. Then my parents got divorced, and things were tough financially. I took a semester off and worked as a baby groomer with my mom in a veterinarian’s office. I’d bathe the dogs, and at the end of the day, I’d groom any dogs left. Then I got a job working for a Master Groomer in Tampa, and I decided if I was going to do this, I was going to do this right. I’ve always worked in the nicer salons in the nicer parts of town.”

Many long-time groomers suffer repetitive stress injuries as they get older. Additionally, because mobile pet grooming vans tend to be smaller and a one-person operation, it makes sense to limit pet size. McKenna only grooms pets under 45 pounds.

“There aren’t that many mobile groomers who take dogs up to 45 lbs. in my area. Many of them only take 25 lbs. There’s no assistant in the van, and as the dogs get older, it can be harder for them to get in and out of the van. And the tubs and tables are a bit smaller in the van. I want to prolong my career, and I have physical limitations,” she says.

“With cats, I groom in my lap a lot or against my body somehow,” she shares. “I really have to read body language and pay attention to cues. I stay calm, and that seems to help. Some cats are nine years old, have never been groomed, and are matted. I find a big part of it is keeping them in contact with me. After the bath, I can wrap them in a towel and cradle them in my lap so I can get every cat dry, and they don’t freak out.”

McKenna usually grooms six to eight pets in an eight-hour day, which can include as many as four cats in one day.

Keeping with the customized experience theme, she uses different types of dryers according to the pet she is working with. “I have four or five different dryers in my van depending on what I need for the day, including one that’s quieter than a human dryer. I have also different tools and tricks. It really depends on the cat.”

She says she’s glad cat owners are overcoming the stigma that cats groom themselves. “If they see the bath water, they know that’s untrue. Now there’s more awareness and programs devoted towards teaching pet owners about the importance of cat grooming.”

McKenna says her favorite part of pet grooming is making a difference. “I like it when the pet is excited to see me. I like the response and surprise from the owners when their dog is happy and smells clean. I can take a pet who’s nervous, and because I’m calm, they can relax and maybe even enjoy it,” she concludes.