Rover Makeovers
Rover Makeovers
Road closure prompts alternate access for pet groomer’s clients
One of the very cutest and cuddliest things that makes life worth living is a pet. Everybody’s had one at some point in their life. For me, it was my beta fish, Hoho, that I had from age four until age eight. Even though I was young, I still remember how that little fish made me feel, and how important he was to me. Hoho gave me something to do. He gave me something to work for, the feeling that I always had company, and of course something to love.
Okay, I know it’s a bit much over a fish. But pets sure can work wonders for their humans. I’m sure it’s no surprise to know that the most popular pet in the country are dogs, with an estimated 61.5 million households owning one. A close second are cats (obviously) bringing love to 11.1 U.S. households.
Living in Ellicottville, a very active town, it’s important to keep your pup or kitty groomed so that they can look their best and feel ready for their next adventure. If you really love your furry friend, you’ll certainly trust him/her in the hands of the groomers at Rover Makeovers.
Rover Makeovers is a family-owned pet groomer located on Elizabeth Street in downtown Ellicottville. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday at 10:00am and are available by appointment only. Owner Teresa Wagner has been an animal lover all her life. Her family home was always filled with the hearty barks of her several dogs, and her grandparents owned a farm full of animals as well. Teresa’s favorite type of dog is a Shih Tzu, and if you need proof, she’s owned five!
“My favorite part of grooming is meeting such a diverse collection of personalities and their pets. It becomes like family. And I do believe a dog takes on the attitude of its owner,” Teresa said. Her most memorable moment was when she helped clean up a dog that had spent 10 years tied outside. “He was nippy at first, but once we started getting mats off of him, he was kissing all over us!”
Twenty years ago, Teresa interned with a groomer and began performing her own services when she gained enough experience. “I started with a few clients out of my house, and then eventually moved the shop into this space 15 years ago,” she said.
Teresa has definitely reached a tricky obstacle 15 years into her business, with road construction blocking off the entire road that Rover Makeovers is on. Teresa quickly used her 15 years of business-owning expertise to find a solution, and told me all about it. “It’s been tough. It just has. But, the neighbor that lives behind the shop (on Washington Street) has let us use his driveway so people can walk through the backyard and into the shop. So he pretty much saved us!”
Teresa’s positive spirit and the grooming family she is surrounded with every day has massively helped her get through the trickiness of the driveway situation. And when I say family, I mean literal family. Both her own daughter and a longtime family friend work alongside Teresa in the shop, meaning they to have the magic Wagner touch! “Well, it has to be somebody I trust but also somebody who’s an animal freak like me,” Teresa added with a chuckle.
Teresa has confidence that the girls will take over Rover Makeovers in the future when she decides to retire; another plus to having family as your coworkers. “But… I’ll always have a say, no matter what. It’s just what I do!” added Teresa, in the truest mom fashion.
Teresa hopes you’ll call into Rover Makeovers to schedule your animal for some TLC. Reach them by phone at 716-364-2302. You can also find more information on Rover Makeovers and further booking instructions on the Rover Makeovers Facebook page.