By ASHLEY TERRY Staff Writer
Granbury resident Kathryn Lospinoso is ready to give the dogs and cats of Hood County a trans-fur-mation they’ll never forget.
Lospinoso — who moved to Granbury from Florida two years ago — just opened her new dog grooming business, Dainty Paws Salon, at 816 N. Houston St.
“It was a small salon, but it was an old cottage house, I think, from the 1940s, and we tore it down and rebuilt it into a shop instead of a house,” Lospinoso told HCN. “I just love animals so much, so it’s a lifetime dream come true basically.”
Although Dainty Paws Salon officially opened No. 21, just before Thanksgiving, Lospinoso explained that he originally started the process of opening his own pet grooming business when he was still living in Florida.
“Financially is really the reason why I had to wait so long and just work towards this goal,” he said. “But I was going to do it in Florida, and that’s what my mom called me. He lives in North Carolina, and he called me, and he was like, ‘Let’s move to Texas.’ I was like, ‘Is this a joke?,’ and she’s like, ‘No, let’s move to Texas,’ so we put everything back on hold and came here.”
Lospinoso’s mother, Laurel Neth, was not only the driving force behind his decision to move to Texas, but she was also the biggest inspiration for his career path.
“I grew up in a groom shop, because my mom was a groomer,” he said. “It’s something I’ve wanted most of my life.”
Services provided by Dainty Paws Salon include full haircuts, coloring, mini grooms, line cuts, spot shavings, baths and nail trims.
“I do a grooming service that’s basically for people who enjoy bathing their own dog and just want to go and get their face or feet cleaned,” Lospinoso said. “I make cats. Honestly, whatever someone asks for, basically, we just try to accommodate.”
One aspect that makes Dainty Paws Salon unique, he said, is the fact that it’s more of an “upscale-type setting” compared to other dog grooming businesses.
“It’s probably more affordable than most places,” Lospinoso said. “All my prices include tax, so they look like everyone else (pricing), but they include tax so there’s no charge.”
With the tagline “Where happiness happens,” Lospinoso also aims to make Dainty Paws Salon a comfortable space for both customers and their pets.
“We have a high level of transparency where you can see everything,” he explained. people with a happy feeling, like come in, look at my tub, look at my equipment and the things I’m doing, so they’re really confident and comfortable.”
Additionally, for customers whose pets do not get along with other animals, Lospinoso will book private and “special” appointments.
“If someone has a cat, I will do them on Monday or at a time even at night when there are no dogs here,” he said. “I’m even doing a special appointment where people can stay with their pet during the groom if they want.”
Lospinoso also prides himself on having a facility that is clean and “super safe,” because he used ideas and elements missing from other grooming shops to perfect his own business model.
“Because I did the floor plan myself, I was able to put in a double gate – that way when you open the door, there’s no chance of a dog escaping through the front door,” he explains. “I just make sure to really try to ‘wow’ people, so when they come in, it’s super clean and super nice ’cause everybody’s starting to get concerned about the new respiratory disease that’s happening in dogs, even as far as I know . no cases in Texas yet, but I’ve still had a lot of people ask me. So, we’re just doing a lot of safety measures like disinfecting between each client — just normal things that sometimes you don’t see in other stores .”
Even though Lospinoso has only lived in Granbury for two years, he already loves it, and hopes to get his name out there in his new business.
“Everyone was very welcoming, and I really loved everyone in the community that I came in contact with,” she said. “I couldn’t have moved to a better place.”
Dainty Paws Salon is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm Lospinoso recommends clients call ahead and schedule an appointment to ensure availability.
“I’m super passionate, I love animals, and when (customers) bring their animals to me, it’s like my own dogs for the time that I have them,” Lospinoso added. “I just love them so much and (I want them) to make sure) they are safe and they are comfortable.”
For more information, follow the Dainty Paws Salon Facebook page, or call (682) 205-1201.
