OCOEE, Fla. – If you are looking for an emerging career or job change, you may want to consider the pet grooming industry – specifically dog grooming.
A competition in Central Florida brings awareness to the growing need for dog groomers while giving back to the community.
You’ve probably seen photos and videos on social media showing dogs with unusual hairdos, often with colorful colors and designs.
“These groomers love working with dogs and it’s an art form. The dog is their canvas,” said Woody Whitcomb, owner of Woof Gang Academy of Grooming.
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The dog grooming school, located at 9460 W Colonial Drive in Ocoee, is hosting the first annual “Freestylin’ Grooming Championship” with approximately 30 groomers from around the world. The prize for the winning groomer is $10,000, but Whitcomb said his prize is sparking interest in a field that is in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pet care industry, including grooming, is expected to grow by 19% over the next decade in Florida.
“Right now the capacity is lacking in terms of groomers. Many pet owners are waiting weeks to get an appointment. I am a grooming salon owner and one of the things we noticed when we went into business was more in demand from customers than groomers, so I decided to start a grooming school,” said Whitcomb.
One of the newest students is Brianna Maphis.
“I went to the University of Florida, got a degree in construction and worked in that industry for a while. I drove to repair school and got interested,” Maphis said. “I knew I wanted to find something that was profitable and allowed me to be with animals all day and grooming does that.”
The Woof Gang Academy teaches students everything from bathing to shaving and haircuts, even body language.
“They’re animals, so when you have other people’s animals that you don’t know about, we learn safety measures for grooming and ways we can find out where they are,” Maphis said.
Students like Maphis are excited to be spectators for Saturday’s grooming competition for added inspiration.
Pet adoptions are also a topic of the event. A portion of the proceeds from registration will benefit Poodle & Pooch Rescue of Central Florida.
“We will be set up outside the competition day educating visitors and encouraging families to adopt. It’s been hard for us to keep up with the dogs out there looking for families so we’re doing what we can and we appreciate all the support,” said Faiza Steimer, a volunteer at Poodle & Pooch Rescue.
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