A NEWCASTLE Emlyn business will celebrate its first anniversary of setting up on the high street in town with a special open day.

Dog & Bone Grooming will stage the event on Saturday, October 12 for Alpet Poundies Rescue of Croeslan, Llandysul. Between 10am and 2pm, anyone considering a new family pet can come and meet a selection of abandoned dogs looking for a loving new home. Refreshments will be available and proceeds will go to Alpets

Dog salon owner Chris Elwell has strong personal links with the small rescue centre, having offered free haircuts and makeovers to Alpet Poundies’ dogs for many years.

Dog owners will also be able to find out more about Dog & Bone’s expanding mobile service, as the company puts a second mobile grooming salon on the road, for customers who don’t find it easy to travel into town with their furry friends.

Chris has been providing dog grooming services to the local area for the best part of 15 years, initially from his home near Cynwyl Elfed, before taking to the road with a mobile salon in February 2018.

When a former groomer’s premises on Emlyn Square became vacant last year, Chris seized the opportunity to double up with a high-street presence.

Chris had initially resisted the move to a high street, as he favours a one-to-one working environment. But the beauty of the Emyln salon is that it has plenty of room for two safe grooming areas, where dogs can have their own relaxed space without the need to use holding crates.

No one could question Chris’s love of dogs: he currently shares his home with 15 dogs of assorted breeds and sizes, all of them rescue pets who needed someone to give them a second chance in life.

Chris always puts the needs of his canine clients first. He holds a BSc (Hons) in animal welfare and behaviour, in common with colleague Ashlee who now manages the Newcastle Emlyn salon.

As well as highlighting the alternative option of giving a rescue dog a new home, instead of buying an animal from a breeder or pet shop, Chris’s mission is to promote the importance of regular dog grooming for an animal’s health and wellbeing.

“Dog grooming is not just about making a dog look pretty,” said Chris. “Neglected coats can lead to health problems such as skin complaints, infections and poor circulation.”

Demonstrating Chris’s commitment to dogs over profits, Dog & Bone even runs basic introductory courses to grooming for owners, so that they can safely clip their own dogs’ coats if they can’t afford to come to the salon regularly.

“Dogs are not a commodity,” he added. “They share our homes, are part of the family and give us unquestioning loyalty, so it’s only right we look after them properly.”

Dog & Bone has also been growing its team. A new apprentice is currently studying for a City & Guilds qualification alongside work in the salon, while City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma-qualified groomer, Hanna, has also recently come on board.