Get personalized pet care at Groomer 19 & Friends in Liberty Station

Groomer 19 & Friends grooms dogs of all sizes and cats by appointment in its convenient Liberty Station salon.

Situated in the former Naval Training Center at 2751 Roosevelt Road, the salon is equipped with electric lift tables and tubs to make grooming easier, as well as providing a self-wash pet area.

Angie De Santiago, owner and lead groomer, noted her business distinguishes itself through personalized pet care, as well as offering dedicated appointment times to minimize waits while developing personal connections with clients. “I’ve been doing this for almost two decades, 11 years in Point Loma,” said De Santiago. “So I have a lot of the same clientele. I’ve been grooming a lot of their pups since they were 3 months (old). I’ve had a love for animals since I was little and I love what I do.”

Concerning caring for client’s pets, De Santiago noted: “It’s really about treating the animal with respect, letting them know it’s OK to be washed, be clean. That’s how we treat dogs here from start to finish. They’re never kenneled. They’re not staying here for hours. It’s not stressful. Dogs come out, and they’re happy. Some of them come running in and they go straight for that groomer.”

Regarding grooming frequency, De Santiago noted most pets are on a four- to six-week visit schedule. “The fluffier they are, the more they come to see us, (sometimes) even before the four to six weeks,” she said noting they also handle dirty dogs from outside activities like playing at the beach.

On Groomer 19’s website, groomer19friends.com, it’s noted grooming appointments typically take 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stipulating pets can be left longer if necessary, while acknowledging “our goal is to not require pets to stay for an extended time beyond their service.”

The salon recommends dogs be groomed every four to six weeks, pointing out that dogs not groomed regularly require additional time, skill, and product to make up for the length of time between grooms.

The way the grooming process works explained De Santiago, is that the pet gets bathed and blow-dried before getting their ears cleaned, nails trimmed, and/or their hair cut.

Why get your pet groomed? The simplest answer is that it’s good for them. “Skin and coat is a very important thing,” said De Santiago adding, “We have a lot of dogs nowadays who have skin issues, allergies. Getting cleaned more often helps with whatever is going on as far as environmental allergies, or helping with itchiness. We also have this thing called Thera Clean, a special bath that helps with pups suffering from allergies. They soak in the tub for 15-20 minutes and the bubbles just help give a deep clean. We have a lot of dogs that take advantage of that.”

What’s best about being a pet groomer? “Getting all the love from all the animals that come through here,” answered De Santiago, pointing out that her Liberty Station salon is also ideal in that clients can come in, drop off their pets, and hang out or shop while they’re being groomed. “We get a lot of them (clients) that come here (Liberty Station) for the whole day,” said De Santiago. “It’s a win-win situation.”

GROOMER 19 & FRIENDS

Where: 2751 Roosevelt Road, #103, in Liberty Station.

Hours: Mondays-Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Info: groomer19friends.com, 619-535-1786.

Grooming services include:

• A bath with high-quality shampoos and conditioners designed to match every pet’s individual needs.
• De-shedding services, if your pet is a double-coated breed.
• Ears are thoroughly cleaned.
• Glands are checked and expressed if needed.
• Nails are trimmed and sanded with a Dremel to ensure they are as short and smooth as possible without getting them too short.
• Dogs needing haircuts — Poodles, Bichons, Shih Tzus and such — receive the cut appropriate for their breed, with concessions made for the owner’s preferences.