Think your pet deserves the spa treatment?   Watson has just the place...

Robin Tynes-Grantham opened Bark Avenue Pet Salon part-time in November 2004 and opened the salon full-time in May of this year.“You gotta love it to do this,” Tynes-Grantham said, who got into the pet grooming business to keep her busy and because of her love of animals. What makes them the “go-to” place for pets? According to assistant Christie Almand, who grew up showing dogs at places such as Westminster Kennel Club and Crufts in England, “we are really a pet salon. We take time with them and we make sure it’s quality,” Almand said.

The salon, located at 7701 Impson Drive in Watson, offers show trims, designer pet cuts, creative coloring, aromatherapy, luxurious spa packages and a bed and breakfast.“The need for this in this area is tremendous,”Tynes-Grantham said. “When done, we call someone to come get them, just like at the beauty parlor.”There are no set hours for the salon as services are by appointment only and Tynes-Grantham said further expansion is planned. Boarding is offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week and dogs have their own bedrooms, complete with bed, TV, stereo, etc.

Although she's now in her dream job, Tynes-Grantham didn’t always work with animals. She started her career as a banker, but a stroke in 2000, coupled with the pressure to relocate, had her re-evaluating her career. “It finally dawned on me the happiest I ever was was working at Sherwood Forest Animal Hospital as a vet tech in college,” she said. “I was too old to be a vet. I wanted to work with dogs.” So the pet salon was the solution and she attended the International Academy of Pet Design in Atlanta for training.

Tynes-Grantham is also an animal activist, trying to make sure pets are taken care of properly. She is working to get the state to make it mandatory for pet groomers to have a license “because dogs are getting hurt.” There are no license requirements now to open a shop except to have a business license. “It should be more like a barber/beautician,” Tynes-Grantham said. Certified by the American Red Cross in Pet CPR and first aid, Tynes-Grantham is a member of the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists and the National Dog Groomers Association of America. She eventually hopes to teach pet CPR. Beside providing free grooming at the Denham Springs Animal Control, she teaches children how to care for pets at Live Oak Library. She is also trying to form a committee to build a dog park, similar to one in Baton Rouge that was transformed from a BREC park.

To help with the dog park or for an appointment at Bark Avenue, call 664-9974 or: