Pets get pampered at Urban Paws Pet Spa

Lifelong Port Huron resident Jenny Wagar began her dog grooming career in 2019, completing training and fine-tuning her skills at bulk grooming, the most common animal spa experience. She spent several years in the industry, eventually advancing her skills to work with more aggressive dogs.

Always cultivating new ideas to improve the process and provide a more pleasant pet experience, she ultimately opened Urban Paws Pet Spa in Marysville in 2022.
Jenny Wagar with her dog Gal.
Urban Paws provides various services to dogs, cats, and other pets. The spa started with 1000 square feet, but business growth in just seven months necessitated moving to a larger 3000 square foot space where she now cares for 2000 clients. There is a custom-built tub for extra large dogs and a customized bathing system with a specialized nozzle that creates micro bubbles to clean pores more completely. 

“We use all-natural, soap-free, and plant-based shampoo, conditioner, and facial scrub, and our system dilutes the shampoo as it goes on the dog,” Wagar says. “This is what sets Urban Paws apart from most grooming facilities, who use pre-mixed shampoo that promotes the growth of bacteria,  often causing dogs to develop bacterial infections.” 

After bathing, pets move to the drying room which Wagar says is typically the most dreaded part of the grooming experience for dogs, so she aims to make this as stress-free as possible. Several options are available depending on individual needs. Animals frightened of the dryer sit on tables with gentle blowers while a dedicated groomer remains with them for the entire process. Variable speed dryers make it possible to slowly get accustomed, and work their way to a higher speed at their comfort level.

“This is not an assembly line, all-or-nothing experience,” Wagar says. “Every dog’s experience  is personal and customized based on their individual needs, which our groomers invest the one-on-one time with each client to learn.”

Employee Grace with Shymo.

Wagar believes she has perfected the most calm and pleasant pet spa experience possible, from scheduling to drying to waiting for pickup. “I want our clients to get in and out having enjoyed the entire experience,” Wagar adds.

She has not stopped brainstorming ideas and plans to provide mobile grooming and transportation to and from her spa in the future. Wagar hopes to see the industry regulated with state inspections and holding facilities to a higher standard.

Urban Paws Pet Spa is located at 1160 Gratiot Blvd. To learn more or schedule your pet’s spa day, call 810-294-5151, or visit the Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/Urbanpawspetspa.