Moscow shuttle service takes pets for bath, trim job at shop

Palouse Pets owner Donna Wright trims the fur on Sophie’s paw.

Abby, a white toy poodle, gets her belly shaved during her grooming day at Palouse Pets in Moscow.

Sophie, a pomeranian mix, gets her ears daintily cleaned along with a saucy trim of her coat. Palouse Pets owner Donna Wright carefully pulls apart the little dog’s now-trimmed toes, running her fingers between the soft pads to check for any slivers.

Doggie paradise, you say?

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A long-time pet shop in Moscow, Palouse Pets, is now offering a pick-up service around Whitman County to compliment their regular grooming service.

Wright bought a van last month which she, and eventually her employees, will use as they pick up dogs around the county.

For $10, Palouse Pets will drive out to your home when that route comes up, and carry your dog back to the store. A small dog runs about $35 for grooming, Wright said, and the fee goes up based on the condition of the dog’s fur and their size.

“There’s a big difference between bathing a Great Dane or a Pyrenees, which might have a ton of hair,” Wright said.

Wright has routes planned for St. John, Rosalia and Palouse.

Wright said she began the van service to reach people who could no longer drop their pets off. Many of the customers are senior citizens.

Most people who have their dogs groomed do so every four or six weeks.

At Palouse Pets three adjustable grooming tables sit behind the counter.

The bath is a HydroSurge bath. The dog is placed in the bath and the water, like in a hot tub, is circulated around the dog.

“It’s like a massage for the dog, but it penetrates the coat,” Wright said.

Pet shampoo is different from human shampoo. Wright said it helps the animal retain their oil but removes dirt. Human shampoo is designed more to remove oils, she said.

The grooming station also takes on cats. When asked how you coax a cat into a gyrating tub of water, Wright gave a little snicker.

“Very carefully,” she said. They don’t give most cats a bath when they come in, but they do do a lot of trims. One is called a lion cut, which looks exactly like it sounds.

Tuesday morning, pet groomers were working on three small dogs at the shop. A white toy poodle, Abby, was patiently letting the groomer lift her up by the front paws to shave her belly.