Business & Tech

A Motherly Approach to Grooming at All 4 Paws

The owner of All 4 Paws pet grooming in New Lenox says building relationships with the customers and the pets is key to quality service.

An animal lover and expert veterinary technician, Wendy Cinnerella, owner of , brings her passion and professionalism to the fore when it comes to four-legged pets in need of some tender loving care.

As an independent in the dog/cat grooming business for six years along Route 30, Cinnerella takes a motherly approach to tending to the needs of pets. At All 4 Paws it's not just about primping animals—putting bows in their fur or styling for a pet parade. It's about satisfying the basic grooming needs of the pets that enter their store.  

For Cinnerella and her chief grooming partner, Melissa Krupa, every pet is special. No one breed is better than another. However, each breed demands special attention.

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Shar peis or pugs have loose skin, so when bathing these animals it takes a gentle examination of the underlying folds to ensure that it gets a thorough cleaning. And dogs with droopy ears, such as beagles, foxhounds or bloodhounds, require a careful touch when it comes to caring for their ears.

It's not just about understanding the anatomy of the animal, it's about making sure that dirt and bacteria don't build up, Cinnerella said.

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Pet grooming goes hand-and-paw with maintaining the animal's health care. A lot of times, pet owners tell the owners that they can't get the animal to sit still long enough to bath them completely or to trim their nails.

Many pet owners don't have the background in pet training that allows them to take the reins and steer the animal in an exercise of authority. Because the animal isn't accustomed to having its paws touched, it naturally gets nervous and pulls away.

On the other hand, Cinnerella and Krupa know just the right way to navigate those waters.        

"Owners come in and say, 'You'll have to put a muzzle on him,' but I haven't had to do that yet.'" If an animal starts to squirm excessively, "Wendy and I work on it together. It's a team effort."

As for cats, a lot of people believe that the feline can accomplish its own grooming. "Yes, that's true to a point," Krupa said. Still, cats can't trim their own claws. Some get very squeamish when their owners attempt to clip them.  And bathing a cat helps to ensure its overall health.

Cinnerella insists on building customer relationships. Because customers liked the way the pair interacts with the pets, many asked them to provide doggy daycare. They have up to eight dogs a day that stay during the week.

"They become like brother and sister," Cinnerella said.

A lot of them become shop greeters. They come to the gate sporting a wiggly, tail-wagging style, which tells our people clients that this is a comfortable spot. It conveys the same sentiment to the pets too.

Cinnerella has small mixed breeds and a couple cats at home. Krupa has an orange Tabby that cozies up at night next to her Australian shepherd and regularly sneaks up on her pit bull-rottweiler.

Frequently pet owners will ask Cinnerella an Krupa which breeds they prefer; however, the answer is always, "we like them all."


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