Wednesday, September 08, 2010
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| 7/27/2010 8:22:00 AM |
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New Teays Valley business offers ease in pet washing
Carolyn Harmon
For The Putnam Standard
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| Belly ScRubs, a self-service pet wash and dog center, of Teays Valley, offers a 24-hour pet washing service. Photos by Carolyn Harmon |
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HURRICANE - Devney Friel-Schenk and Phil Schenk, of Pinch, wanted a business of their own.
About four months ago they celebrated the grand opening of Belly scRubs, in the Teays Valley side of Hurricane.
"I like it because it was a plan that we had that came to be," Devney said. "It's just as good as what I envisioned; I thought that was kind of neat."
Belly ScRubs is a bright and cheery self-service pet wash and dog center. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And while the business is self-serve, Devney and Phil like to be on hand several hours a day.
New customers often need demonstrations or explanations of how the two K9,000 Dog Wash Systems work.
After they use the machines once, it is just like clock-work, Devney said.
The machines are coin-operated, much like car wash machines, with a setting dial using a shower head, soaper and mist jets. The settings include Berry Clean Shampoo, rinse, conditioner, bathe, and blow dry. The dryers have two speeds. In addition, heaters are located in the back kennels for drying pets.
The difference between the two machines is that one offers Tropiclean's Oatmeal and Tea Tree Shampoo for dry skin, and the other offers Neem Shampoo for flea itch relief. All of the ingredients of each product are natural and posted for users to see.
To start the machine, it takes $7 cash or a $10 credit card charge. The buyer receives 1 minute and 24 seconds per dollar spent. For the last minute a disinfectant setting allows the operator to clean the tub for the next pet. In addition, Devney cleans the tubs all of the time.
"The cleaner we keep it, the better for safety and health issues," she said.
The machine is good for all animals, Devney said. In addition to dogs, Belly scRubs have had ferrets and cats. One dog weighed 250 pounds.
"There is no weight limit that I know of," Devney said.
Kennels in the back allow for pets to wait while customers bathe another animal, shop in the dog retail center, or have a snack while watching television. Snacks are also offered to the dogs.
Some retail items include natural dog products, such as Innova, Fromm and Honest Kitchen foods; remedies for itchy skin, matted coats, odors, and eye and ear problems, stiff joints and bad oral hygiene.
Devney said she does not sell a product unless she has tried it herself, on her own dogs.
So far, Belly scRubs is bathing about 15 dogs daily; mostly repeat customers. They are expecting more.
Paul researched Putnam County and discovered that it has had a 62 percent increase in dog licenses in the last three years. Teays Valley is also the fastest growing population, Devney said. In addition, people are cleaning their animals more often, these days.
"When I was growing up, my parents had a dog that was not allowed on the furniture," Devney said. "Today we allow dogs on our furniture. Today dogs just rule."
Belly scRubs is located at Unit 1, 4000 W.Va 34, on the Teays Valley side of Hurricane.
They are looking for a dog groomer.
For more information, log onto www.bellyscrubs.com or call 304-965-3446.
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