December is the month of giving all around the world! Here at American Grooming Academy we thrive on giving back all year long. American Grooming Academy is not only a grooming salon and educational facility, but also a staple in our community at helping homeless pets find their forever home! This month we are going to celebrate AGA efforts in the fight against homeless and abandoned pets.
American Grooming Academy has a secret…..did you know that our students give back to their community on a daily basis? That’s right! Although our client list is over 8,000 strong, American Grooming Academy dedicates one day a week to different rescues in our area. Students learn at American Grooming Academy 6 days a week. On any given day we are grooming pets from one of our partner rescues. How does it work? When american Grooming Academy opened, we knew we wanted to give back to our community. We also knew that we wanted our student to be able to express their creative side when learning styles, patterns, and new looks.
We started to call rescues, to offer free grooming services. Our rescues bring pets into American Grooming Academy, and our students get “Artistic license” to do basically whatever they want, always having the goal in mind to get the pet adopted. What do they do? Well AGA’s stance is “whatever gets attention!” many dogs leave with mohawks, tasseled ears, and certain parts dyed bright, or holiday colors. AGA believes that if someone looks at a pet with a spectacular hair cut, there is more chance of a fur-ever home. One of the other amazing parts of grooming shelter or rescue dogs, is that sometimes the worse looking dog becomes the cutest. We have many times in the last five years, shaved a matted, discarded pet and found a beautiful, loving pet underneath the dirt and grim, revealing a pet that would have been otherwise overlooked. By giving our students the chance to learn, local rescues a place to bring pets for help, and our community a “second” look at these homeless pets, we believe everyone wins! Especially some great looking dogs and cats!
Wag Again K-9 Rescue
When American Grooming Academy instructor Kat started calling rescues early in AGA history, it was literally like “pulling teeth”:
“I could not get anyone to take me seriously…I would say, ‘We are a grooming academy and we would like to groom your rescue dogs for free!’ Many said ‘We’ll get back to you’. I was dumbfounded and a little discouraged.” -Kat Marchant
On the eleventh call Kat made, Deborah Holland answered. She is the director of Wag Again K-9 rescue. “ Free grooming, yes, absolutely. What day do you want me there!” Deborah asked Kat and within two days, Deborah and her pups came in for some much needed grooming. That day, many years ago, a bond was made that has lasted to this day. Not only has American Grooming Academy groomed for Deborah’s pups, students have fostered, adopted pets they fell in love with, and donated money and time to help Deborah excel in her mission of helping homeless pets. Director Angela Clark, has fostered many litters of puppies at her ranch, and instructor Kat has adopted two chihuahuas from Wag Again. Many of Deb’s pups have been adopted and taken back to their homes all over the country by our students and assistants. Here at American Grooming Academy, besides our students education, we feel most passionate about helping homeless pets! Makeing them smell and look good is our way of saying thank you to people like Deborah, who dedicate their lives to helping the neglected and unwanted! Deborah and her freshly groomed pets can be found every Saturday in front of American Grooming Academy and every Sunday in Old Town Temecula!
America’s Family Pet Expo
Every year in Orange County America’s Family Pet Expo places thousands of homeless, abandoned pets in loving homes. With anywhere from 20-40 rescue organizations and shelters present at the four day event, many American Families come out to find their just right forever friend. Every year since our first year, American Grooming Academy has made the trek from Temecula to Orange County, with our fully functional, self contained grooming salon mobile.
Angela Clark, Director of AGA takes the van down as well as student volunteers, and grooms any pet who gets adopted the weekend of the show! Whether it be nails, a bath or a full on style, the AGA van is on hand to make furbabies beautiful for their new home. Over the years many students have adopted from the expo, as well as helped groom and bath. Along with other partners who donate shampoo, time or supplies, AGA loves going to the pet expo. It’s one of the highlights of the year. This year AGA will have our beautiful van out and ready to meet the pets and their new parents, we can not wait for the spring to come!