A Mount Vernon pet groomer is expanding to offer walk-in veterinary services.
"We are starting out Jan. 28 with once-a-month service," David Ulery-Hart, owner of Pet Grooming and Dog Wash, told the Mount Vernon News. "You just come in if you need vaccines, wound care, puppy first visits, exams. The doctor will see you for $25."
As a special offer, owners can get their pets fully vaccinated for $81, which includes the $25 veterinarian fee. The business is located at 330 Wooster Road. The telephone number is (614) 260-0834.
Ulery-Hart compares the service to a CVS Minute Clinic, just for pets.
He said he hopes to eventually make the clinic a full-time offering rather than being available only once a month.
"I wanted something different that really wasn't here in Mount Vernon," he said of the decision to expand from grooming and self-service baths to veterinary services. "You can come in, get your dog a shot, give your dog a bath, drop your dog off for a haircut. It just makes it more convenient."
It's sometimes hard to get appointments at local veterinarian offices, Ulery-Hart said.
"This is just a walk-in service and we'll have a doctor ready for you for $25," he said.
Ulery-Hart has been in the dog-grooming business for 22 years. It was a side business until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and he lost his job as a server.
He worked out of his house at first before opening his current location at 330 Wooster Road in September. The opening had been planned for last May but was delayed when a truck crashed into the building he had been renovating.
With the new facility now open, Ulery-Hart has seen his customer base grow, as dogs gained popularity during the pandemic because people stayed home more.
"And owners are taking better care of their pets," he said. "I get a lot of regulars at the dog wash, and they are coming more frequently."
