I am embarrassed to admit that I have neglected to take Zinnia to a professional dog groomer in the three years she’s been with us. I firmly believe that dogs need actual grooming once in a while – to keep their nails healthy, get rid of excess and old fur, and wipe the dog clean of ticks, bugs, and the residue of the pasture and the swamps where she loves to roll.

Part of the trouble was that there aren’t too many groomers around here, and I couldn’t find one that felt right for us. The last groomer we had was unhappy with me since I forgot a couple of appointments, and she didn’t like to have to call and notify me.

I was upfront with Kiley about my dyslexia, as I have learned to be. We worked out a good system for my remembering and for her reminding me of appointments.

Three weeks ago, I came across the dog groomer I was hoping for.  She had finally put a sign up that said “Ruff Around The Edges.”

I called and learned she had been open since February.

Her name is Kiley Merecki; she grew up and still lives and works on a dairy farm with her father in Hebron, N.Y. She opened her small salon in a tiny rental office a few miles from our farm.  I drive by her salon several times a day, but I had no idea it was there.

Her business is called Ruff Around The Edges. There is nothing rough about her.

I took Zinnia there today for her first-ever grooming. Farm people know animals as well as anyone on the planet. We connected right away.

Kiley grew up with animals from dogs to barn cats to dairy cows; she knows how to handle them. The usually calm Zinnia was nervous when I left her in this strange place with so many dogs smells and a stranger. She tried to come out with me and looked worried when Kiley got her up into the bathing tub.

When I returned in an hour, the two had fallen in love, and Zinnia seemed spotless and happy and was enjoying some treats. Kiley said she was no problem at all, “she’s a doll.” Kiley brushed her (I couldn’t believe the hair on the floor), trimmed her nails, bathed, and scrubbed her. A lot of cruds came off as well as a ton of hair; Zinnia is often in our pasture and the swamps and mudholes of the woods.

Kiley is as warm and friendly as her portrait suggests. And as competent.

She understood that the first visit could be scary and confusing for Zinnia; she was gentle yet confident with her.  Zinnia was uneasy but trusted Kiley right away.

When Zinnia balked at jumping into the big aluminum tub – she had never seen anything like it – Kiley talked with her, picked her up quickly and skillfully, and got her into the tub. Zinnia gave me one last pleading look, and then I just left,  as I learned to do when we dropped our daughter off in summer camp.

(Portrait, Kiley Merecki.)

People lie, but cameras don’t. Kiley is just as friendly and confident as this photo suggests. How great to see people get to do the work they love. I wish her every success, I think she is already having some.

I love doing business with people like Kiley; it’s tough for single young people to start a business around her; in just a few months, Kiley is booked nine weeks ahead (she makes room for emergencies), and I signed up for bi-monthly grooming through January. She is a farmer through and through and still helps on the farm.

This story is always stirring for me.

It takes a lot of drive and courage to stick your neck out like that in a small town, where very few small businesses work for long, especially when there is only one person to run them.  She signed up for grooming classes, rented a space, and started grooming. Buying that bath and table had to be a big investment for her. It is already paying off.

I doubt she will be too available for much longer; there is a huge need for someone like her here; she is the right person to fill it. I love her smile, professionalism, and sense of animal communication. It was impressive.

She is the person I want to groom my dog. I have never left Zinnia with anybody, this was a snap. I wasn’t anxious for a second.

I told Zinnia that Kiley is joining our world and will hopefully be with us for a long time. She is already thinking of expanding to a bigger space. Zinnia seemed quite pleased with herself and stopped scratching, as she does after swamp treks.

Farm women and men are the best handlers on the earth when it comes to animals, they know which tone of voice to use, they are soothing and gentle, and they use treats for calming and bonding.

Zinnia has a much whiter coat than I’ve seen for months. She really needed this grooming.  I’m lucky and happy to have found Kiley, I’m attaching myself like glue.