GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Pet grooming is their business, and business is good. 

At Groomindale’s Pet Salon in Georgetown, the schedule is always full.

“It’s always busy this time of year,” said Cynthia DeGroote, owner and operator of Groomindale’s. “It seems like this year, though, we are swamped. We are way more busy than usual.”

DeGroote is now booking appointments three weeks in advance instead of what used to be a week. That is because she suspended walk-ins after the COVID-19 pandemic required social distancing and capacity restrictions.

The increase in business at Groomindale’s and other pet salons can be attributed to several factors, such as the preponderance of “pandemic puppies,” which are pets people adopted or bought due to spending more time at home because of COVID-19. Other factors include pet owners having more time to focus on their pet’s hygiene and correcting at-home grooming experiments that went awry. 

DeGroote anticipates staying busy in the foreseeable future since it is recommended dogs receive a haircut and bath every four to six weeks.

“It’s important this time of year because haircuts keep them cool during the summer,” she said. “Fleas and ticks come out when the weather gets warm. A cut keeps them from getting matted fur.”

Staying open during the pandemic meant DeGroote has had to employ even more deep-cleaning protocols than are already required at a pet salon, which extends the amount of time it takes to complete a full-service grooming appointment.

Cynthia DeGroote, owner of Groomindale's Pet Salon in Georgetown, looks over Blue, a 4-year-old standard poodle, during his appointment. (Brandon Roberts/Spectrum News 1 KY)

“More precautions are just necessary,” DeGroote said. “We don’t allow people in the shop right now, so everything is curbside drop-off and pick-up. We try to use our leashes and collars instead of the ones the owner brings from their house. Before we cut their toenails, we swab the dogs’ feet with alcohol. We do anything to keep ourselves, the pets, and their owners as safe as possible. So many groomers have shut down during the pandemic, but I’m not going to shut down, and I have to do what I have to do to make sure of that.”

It was nearly 7 p.m. on a weekday when Pam Finley arrived to pick up Blue, her 4-year-old male standard poodle.

“We are supposed to close at 5 p.m., but that’s not been happening lately,” DeGroote said. “I’m lucky my clients understand that to stay open, accommodate everyone and make sure we are all healthy, it’s going to take a little longer.”

The pandemic has had a profound financial effect on the pet-grooming industry. Business trajectory and analytics firm Research and Markets reports that amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for pet grooming services estimated at $7.9 billion in 2020 is projected to reach $11.2 billion by 2027. The pet grooming services market in the U.S. was estimated at $2.1 billion in 2020.