By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new dog groomer in Hay seeks to add a little color to the life of you and your pet.
Kayla Reese of Doggone Cute uses semi-permanent hair dye to create all sorts of designs in dogs' fur.
On dogs that don't require haircuts, the dye will last up to six months. On dogs that require regular cuts, the hair will grow out more quickly.
The dyes are vegan, fruit based and non-toxic to animals. They contain no ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. Reese often uses hair dye meant for humans as it is easier to get shipped than the dye made specially for animals.
She said she sees grooming as a form of art.
Her own dog, Dodger, is a beige German shepherd mix and she regularly uses orange and black dye to transform Dodger into a fox.
"When I have this guy turned into a fox, everyone thinks he's the cutest thing," Reese said. "They want to come over from way across the block and give him attention.
"When I do the color, it's a little bit of a bonding thing too."
Dodger doesn't seem to mind. Reese brushes on the color just as she would with a human, lets it set and then rinses it out in warm bath, which Dodger seems to really enjoy, she said.
"Dogs are dogs," she said. "They don't really care what they look like. It's just really kind of fun.
"If the dogs are good for grooming, they just sit here and let them do whatever you want to them anyway. It gets them more attention. They like that too."
Reese, 30, has been a groomer for nine years. She opened a storefront June 7 at 810 Main in Hays.
"I've always loved animals and wanted to do something with animals," she said. "I looked into being a vet, but I didn't think I could deal with putting the dogs down myself and dealing with all the injuries."
Reese provides a full line of grooming services, including, bath, brush, cuts, teeth brushing and nails.
Keeping up with grooming keeps tangles out of pets' fur. Keeping nails short helps keep from pushing the dogs' toes at weird angles. If nails get too long, it causes problems with how the dog's foot sits. This can cause problems with the way they walk and worsen issues with arthritis.
Nail care is important for indoor and outdoor dogs, as dogs that are on grass also will not naturally wear down their nails like a wild canine would.
She is still doing some remodeling to her space and hopes to add retail sales of grooming supplies, such as combs and brushes, and other dog supplies, such as leashes.
Reese said she looks forward to operating downtown, with the increased foot traffic. She also lives just a few blocks from the shop, which makes it a convenient commute.
Doggone Cute is open by appointment. You can reach Reese by phone or text at 785-342-5464. You can also message her on Facebook.
You can usually catch her between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.