What happend to Clean Critters?
Bark of the Town purchased Clean Critters and after a short closure and remodel, reopened  June 1, 2013. The current owner, Skylar has known the previous owner Sherry for many years and communicates with her regularly. Even though the shop looks completely different and  there are all new staff members, it is business as usual. Two of the shop cats are still here, Simon has retired and lives with Skylar. 

Skylar has over 20 years grooming experience and has worked with some of the countries top groomers. She has also worked as a veterinary technician, works with local rescue and spay/neuter groups and owns an organic pet bakery. She lives in Arlington with her boyfriend Jeff who is a local police officer. 

Do I have to make an appointment or can I just walk in with my pet?
We book most grooming appointments. Walk-ins are welcome and can usually be accommodated, but it is not a guarantee. For this reason, we recommend booking your grooming appointment in advance.

Will my pet be in a kennel for long periods of time?
Pets are generally not in the kennels for an extended period of time. However, a pet might be in the kennel for a longer period of time if: (1) the pet is responding adversely to table-drying, we might have to resort to cage-drying and/or (2) an owner is very late picking up the pet.

If you are concerned about your pet being in the kennel, we can call you 15 minutes before your pet is ready. Your pet’s kennel time will therefore be minimized.

Do you use cage-driers? I heard of pets suffering heat exhaustion from being cage-dried. 
We do not use any heated dryers, only box fans. A blower is used to table-dry pets after the bath. If a pet behaves adversely to being table-dried, we might have to resort to cage-drying. Rest assured that your pet will be equally comfortable because our cage-driers are not heated and only use cool air.

How long does the grooming take?
We generally ask for about 2 hours for small pets and 4 hours for large. This might be more or less depending on several factors: breed, the type of grooming requested, condition of the pet, behavior of the pet and if it is a high volume day.

Do you use clippers or do you hand-scissor?
Whether we start with clippers or scissors largely depends on the haircut requested. However, to ensure a uniform and natural-looking haircut, every pet is finished by hand-scissoring.

What does “matted” mean?
A pet is considered matted if the hair is knotted or if one cannot easily run a comb through the hair. We DO NOT do extensive dematting. Dematting is uncomfortable for the pet and extensive dematting is irritating to the skin and coat. We use every technique possible to leave the coat as long as possible. 

How often should my pet be professionally groomed? 
We generally recommend that a pet be professionally groomed every 6-8 weeks. This interval can be increased or decreased depending on (1) the quality and frequency of maintenance the pet is receiving at home and/or (2) the hairstyle the owner desires the pet to keep.

Can my pet get a haircut without also getting bathed?
We strive to give every pet an outstanding haircut but we can only accomplish this on a pet that has been properly bathed, blown out, brushed and combed out. Moreover, working on a dirty coat causes damage to our grooming tools. For these reasons, we would not recommend giving a haircut without the pet first being bathed.

However, we do understand that certain pets have special needs where practicality outweighs appearance. If your pet has special needs, please feel free to contact us. If it is possible, we will try to accommodate you and your pet.

How do I know if my pet’s nails need to be trimmed?
If your pet’s nails touch the ground, it is an indication that his or her nails are too long and need to be trimmed.

My pet’s nails are very long. Can you trim them very short?
How short your pet’s nails can be trimmed depends on how long the nail vein, or the “quick”, is. The longer the quick, the less we can trim.

Do you groom aggressive pets or  use any tranquilizers?
We do not groom overly aggressive pets or any pet that has been prescribed a "calming medication" We can refer you to a local veterinarian for grooming. 

Do you use muzzles on the pets?
We prefer to work on pets muzzle-free. However, if a pet is behaving in such a way that he or she poses a danger, we will use a muzzle. It is not uncommon for a pet to nip for procedures like trimming nails so if muzzled it is done quickly to not stress pet. 

Can I stay with my pet during the grooming?
Although we understand the owner’s desire to stay with their pets, we strongly advise against it. Instead of acting as a calming agent, the owner’s presence can actually agitate the pet. It makes the groomer’s job very difficult, if not impossible, if your pet is constantly trying to get to you. It might be difficult to believe, but the pets usually become more calm and cooperative once the owner leaves.

Can I give my input on how my pet’s hair should be cut?
Absolutely. When you bring your pet in for his or her appointment, we will discuss with you the type of haircut you would like your pet to have. We may give you some input if we feel that the haircut requested is not feasible, in which case we will discuss alternatives with you. When you pick up your pet, he or she should have a haircut that you and the groomer discussed and agreed on

I am unhappy with my pet’s grooming. What should I do?
If you are dissatisfied with your pet’s grooming, please let us know. If it is something reasonably remediable, we will do our best to fix it. If it is not remediable, please accept our sincerest apologies. We will put the information in your pet’s records and do our best to avoid the same mistake.