Video by Cooper Slough
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Dog grooming might not be a service everyone needs, but for those who do, it is a necessity. Now one of the top groomers in Hays has completed its move to 700 E. Eighth, allowing for more space for the popular business.
“We’re really happy here,” owner Bunnie Bowen said. “We’re on the corner of Eight and Riley.”
During the weeks following the move, Bowen and her small staff have already taken advantage of the much larger space.
“They can’t believe how spacious it is,” Bowen said. “In the space that we were in before, which is about a quarter of this size. Sometimes there was four of us working there all at one time.
“That got a little bit crazy.”
The new larger space will help the staff be more comfortable as they provide services to dog owners throughout northwest Kansas.
While the business works with dogs, for Bowen, it’s all about keeping clients happy – dogs and their humans alike.
“It’s a little bit different than other industries where you are just working with humans,” she said. “The dog has to be happy, and the human has to be happy as well.”
Good service is something Bowen is extremely familiar with. Before her ownership of Fur is Flying, Bowen worked in retail, working with well-known business like Macy’s and Dillard’s after completing a business degree at Rockhurst University in Kansas City.
“I always like to say that I always had clients that barked at me and now I have a few that bite as well,” she said.
While working with dogs all day might seem easy, Bowen said it is a serious business working to keep dogs looking good and being healthy.
“Although people think we play with dogs all day, we’re earning a living here,” she said.
That seriousness, however, does not stop the staff from having a little fun at work.
“It is a fun job. We say there is not a day we don’t laugh,” Bowen said. “There is not a day where something happens that we’ve never seen before.”
That is likely due to the numbers of new customers the business sees daily.
“The majority of the clients that we get are referrals,” adding she sees one to two new clients each day.
Tools of the trade
One of the most surprising aspects of the business might be the tools used – something Fur is Flying takes pride in.
“None of it is really required,” Bowen said, but said having good equipment means providing a better service. “When I was opening my business, it was very important to me to have all state-of-the-art equipment.”
That equipment includes an electric lift table, several types of blades and clippers, and a custom-built grooming tub, which also made the move from the old location.
“It’s just like any other job. You have to have the best tools in order to do the best work,” Bowen said.
Products used on the animals and by hand drying also factor into the way Fur is Flying does business.
The products used are professional grade and can’t be found at Hays retailers, Bowen said.
Tips for new dog owners
As a professional dog groomer, Bowen also has insight for new dog owners and the best ways to keep them looking their best.
“Often the biggest mistake that they make is that they don’t brush their dog often enough,” Bowen said. “That makes our job a whole lot easier.”
Working with a dog’s paws early on also helps keep a dog looking sharp.
“A lot of dogs are a little bit shy about having their nails or their paws done, but if owners start from the very beginning working with their paws when they’re a puppy, that makes it a lot easier to do,” Bowen said.
Through the business, Bowen also helps customers with guidance on best practices for dog grooming.
“We’re always here to rectify a bad situation and to work with them and educate them as to how their dog should be taken care of,” Bowen said.
For more information about the business or for information on how to schedule an appointment, visit the Fur is Flying webpage by clicking here.