Shortly after Cassie Bratton left her abusive relationship, she was laid off from her job at a medical equipment company. With no income, limited skills and declining confidence, she struggles to care for her three children. Enrolling in a dog grooming training program changed his life.
How To Become A Dog Groomer Through The Program
Pawsperity, formerly The Grooming Project, is a Kansas City-based nonprofit that recruits parents struggling with issues, such as substance abuse recovery, unresolved legal cases and domestic violence, and trains them for a career in the pet grooming industry.
“Working with animals every day is a great way for students to learn to control their emotions,” said Abby Jaskolski, director of communications. “They take the emotional regulation they learn at school and apply it to how they interact with their children at home.”
A Dog Groomer Shortage
Natasha Kirsch, whose mother is a groomer, founded The Grooming Project in 2016 to offer multiple career paths for struggling parents. But as the demand for groomers has grown over the past few years, following an influx of pet parents, the nonprofit has made grooming its main focus.
Five experienced pet grooming instructors, including two Pawsperity graduates, train students for 6 to 9 months and upon graduation, students have multiple job offers in the region. Cassie works full time in Missouri for a grooming salon run by Pawsperity called The Salon. She plans to stay there for a long time and learn the logistics of running a doggy daycare and working in dog therapy.
Dog Grooming Is More Than Financial Stability
“The gains we’re seeing are incredible,” said Abby of the 103 students who graduated. “Women will come to us with their heads down and the stress on them is heavy. By the time they leave, they are proud of their accomplishments and excited for a career.
Abby doesn’t see demand slowing down anytime soon. Large pet brands that offer grooming services have inquired about employing Pawsperity graduates in stores across the country.
Pawsperity recently moved to a larger facility to offer market grooming and doggy daycare services to the public, which helps fund the program. And the staff plans to double the number of families they serve this year.
Abby says, “It’s a new mental space for our students to operate in, and the joy and excitement that comes from that simple change can be incredible to see.”
To learn more, visit www.pawsperity.org
Featured Image Credit: Pawsperity
