Pet Grooming and Boarding
Published: March 7, 2018
Say hello to Maron,
…and Lukio,
…and Choco-chan.
And this is Momi-chan.
They are all guests at Comfy House PET SALON WISH, making the most of what the establishment has to offer. First there is Maron, an aging Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, here for her regular shampoo and trim; whilst Lukio, a friendly, excitable Yorkshire terrier, is staying over at the hotel; as is Choco-chan a magnificent-looking Maine Coon cat. And Momi-chan is a shy Chihuahua from a dog shelter, who is being looked after by the owners of WISH, Mr. and Mrs. Betsumori, until an owner can be found for her.
Comfy House PET SALON WISH, located in Toyo 6-chome, close to Kiba Park, was started by the Betsumoris in December, 2007 and offers shampoos, trimming, nail clipping, ear cleaning and treatment of the dog’s nether regions.
A shampoo and blow takes about 90 minutes, depending on the length of the dog’s coat, whilst a shampoo, blow and trim takes about two and a half hours. The staff at WISH can handle up to 15 animals a day, taking great care and showing tenderness to their charges whilst working on them.
I was surprised by the vast array of scissors and clippers used in trimming a dog’s hair. Mrs. Betsumori explained that more so than a human being, a dog’s hair differs by species and by parts of the body; hence, a pair of scissors for every occasion.
Each “customer” has his or her photograph taken after grooming. This is then posted on a “mischievous kids’ gallery”, which is changed every month.
WISH also provides accommodation for up to seven dogs and one cat, with different-sized kennels available, depending on the size of the dog and how large a kennel a dog’s owner wishes to hire. The sole cat, however, gets a room all to itself. Accommodation is usually for between 2 nights and 1 week, although longer stays can be arranged, as well as for staff keeping an eye on a dog for a few hours.
Owners can bring their own food if their pet has any allergies or is just plain fussy, but otherwise the Betsumoris provide meals, along with walks twice a day. And there is no need to worry about how you are going to get your pet to WISH; the salon operates a “pet shuttle” service and will pick up and return your loved one on request.
And for the discerning owner, WISH sells high-quality food. As Mrs. Betsumori points out, owners these days are clued up about different products and brands and only want the best for their pets. To meet this requirement, the salon sells a wide range of dog food, such as “Jirokichigohan”, human grade chicken-based and beef-based meals,
… Kia Ora grain-free dog food from New Zealand,
…and Solvida organic meals from the United States.
And don’t forget the healthy snacks!
Mrs. Betsumori cares for her canine customers’ health as well as their appearance, and even admitted to taste-testing the food before recommending it to her customers’ owners—how about that for quality control? From the condition of their customers’ coats, the Betsumoris are able to tell whether a change of diet may be needed or whether weight management is called for, whilst older canines may require food more fitting their age.
There are also birthday cakes, beautifully designed and containing ingredients suitable for dogs. Looking at them, I thought of all the time and effort which goes in to making these creations, and suspected that our doggy friends likely don’t take the time to appreciate the artistry, but will instead wolf them down quickly.
A selection of dog apparel is also sold. This is popular and welcome for small dogs in the cold winter season.
And let’s not forget Momi-chan, the Chihuahua, who was taken in by a charitable organisation called Dog Shelter. WISH provides food and grooming for the charity’s dogs and has a room available for one of them until a caring, permanent home is found. WISH also sells goods on behalf of Dog Shelter, with the proceeds going to benefit the welfare of the dogs.
And if all this is not enough, Mrs. Betsumori admits to currently owning three dogs and one cat. So, if your dog’s coat looks in need of a shampoo or trim, or you are going on a trip and looking for somewhere to board your dog or cat, why not consider Comfy House PET SALON WISH?
Story and Photos by Jeremy Hutchinson
