Fetch Dog Grooming and Boutique has been serving the people of Merritt and their canine companions for a decade, and now has a new owner at the helm ready to keep your pups looking their best.

Robyn McMillen has taken over from original owner Valerie McDonald, who opened the grooming salon and retail store in 2011. McMillen describes herself as both a people person and a dog person, making her perfectly suited for operating Fetch. 

“I am very caring and love to make people laugh,” said McMillen. 

“I’m happy being around people, but I also enjoy spending time watching movies. I love being outdoors, hiking with my two dogs Theo and Ava, horseback riding, camping, and spending time with my family and friends.” 

McMillen, who grew up in North Vancouver and originally moved to Penticton before relocating to Merritt three years ago, has spent many years grooming dogs both big and small, and welcomes a multitude of breeds with a variety of styling needs to her salon. 

“I have been grooming dogs for about ten years,” said McMillen. 

“I took two years off to work with children that have autism, which was very rewarding and taught me a lot of patience. When I moved to Merritt, I found myself back in the grooming industry. I started working at Fetch Dog Grooming & Boutique and have loved it since the first day.” 

McMillen credits her enjoyment of the work to McDonald, who felt that McMillen was the one to carry on her work.

“The previous owner was amazing to work for, which inspired me to want to be the kind of boss she was,” explained McMillen. 

“She decided to retire and asked me to take over her little shop which I couldn’t refuse. I knew buying this business was an amazing opportunity that I needed to do so that all of our clients were able to continue getting their dogs groomed. All of the clients and their pets that I got to know over the past few years have been so amazing.”

According to the Canadian Animal Health Institute, which surveys pet owners each year and determines just how many Canadian households own a dog or cat, dog ownership has been on the rise since 2018, increasing from 7.6-million to 7.7-million. 

Merritt is itself a dog-friendly community, with many residents having a four-legged companion, so it is no surprise that McMillen had to bring in an additional set of hands to keep up with client demand. 

“Since I have bought the shop, I have hired a second groomer named Chloe, who has been taking on new clients,” said McMillen. 

“She has been a great asset to my team, very patient with all types of dogs, and cares for their wellbeing just as much as I do,” McMillen continued, noting that she hopes to expand the shop’s retail section and also to have at least three groomers on staff in future. 

“There are many different kinds of schooling someone can take to become a groomer; some are between two and six months,” said McMillen, who hopes to find passionate, qualified people to fill the groomer positions. 

“It takes a long time to really get comfortable grooming the breed specific grooms. It is definitely better to get hands-on experience over doing a course online. I don’t necessarily have a favourite breed to groom, but I enjoy grooming the Terrier type dogs, the shedding dogs, and the dogs that get a cute fluffy haircut. My favourite part about this job is seeing the customers’ reaction when they pick up their happy dogs!”  

If you are in need of pet products such as food, grooming supplies, toys, treats, pet garments, harnesses or leashes, or a variety of other items geared towards your furry family members, or if you are looking to schedule a grooming session for your dog, you can stop in at Fetch at 2144 Quilchena Ave. in Quilchena Square or connect with them via Facebook or their website at www.fetchgrooming.com.