Jon started his dog grooming career much earlier in life than most of his colleagues. At the age of 13, he took an after school job at a local show dog kennel, owned and operated by 4 time Westminster champion Peter Green. Jon started out doing simple tasks such as feeding the dogs and cleaning up after them. While with “The Green Team”, Jon learned a variety of advanced grooming techniques. Though Jon was young, the more seasoned groomers made sure his work always met their standards. To practice Jon would volunteer his grooming services to friends, family and the local Humane Society.
Jon decided to take his skills to the next level. He attended The New York School of Grooming. The instructors at the school recognized Jon’s talent and he completed the program in half the time of other students. He returned to the Lancaster area and was subcontracted by 5 different grooming shops in the area. In 2006, Jon became a partner in Lori’s already established shop. Shortly thereafter Jon also opened another shop in the Blue Ball area that will eventually become part of the Total Dog and a Little Cat.
Jon isn’t all about grooming, he also enjoys his leisure time with Erin, his fiancee', and his English Bulldog, Sergeant Pepper and Shih Tzu, Mrs. Beasley. Jon also takes pleasure in attending dog shows, going to the movies and listening to the Beatles and collecting Beatle memorabilia. Jon also has another collection…tattoos. So far he has a mermaid, a jungle woman, a sea turtle, a star fish and of course his Bulldog, Sarge.
Grooming was not Lori’s first career, but it is her calling. After a local Reading manufacturing facility closed its doors where Lori was a Tactical Marketing Manager, she had to find a new job. While looking, Lori began spending more time at Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue where she volunteered. Since there where not a lot of job openings for production planners or tactical marketers, Lori decided to make a career change. She decided to follow her passion for dogs. She wanted to have a grooming facility where people would feel comfortable about leaving their pet. A place where they knew their dog would receive the same loving care they received at home.
Lori attended a local grooming school and practiced on dogs from the Animal Rescue League and friends dogs. She began working at a local upscale boutique grooming dogs and eventually took over the grooming portion. The grooming business grew steadily however after some health problems Lori needed to leave grooming full time. This is when Jon entered the picture. They became business partners, an unlikely partnership a 19 year old and a 50 something (and no, he is not her son!). It works, his young ideas and her business background.
After finding out that it was the carpet in the shop that was making Lori sick, the flooring was changed. She began to think about going back to grooming full time but she wanted to add doggie day care. As fate would have it, the old Adamstown Fire Hall became available to rent. This location provided Lori and Jon with enough room for grooming and day care, thus the move and the birth of The Total Dog and a Little Cat.
Outside of grooming, Lori looks forward to spending time with her 2 daughters Amanda and Emily, enjoys attending Hershey Bears hockey games with her husband Larry and loves spending time with her 3 Golden Retrievers – Bailey, Buddy and Sadie, her Schnoodle - Cody, her Carin Terrier - Karen and her cat Binky (who thinks he is a Golden Retriever).
2992 N. Reading Rd. (Rt. 273) - PO Box 33 - Adamstown, PA 19501 - 717.484.1667