OXFORD — Designer dogs have come to the Oxford Hills.
Anita Loring of Wash & Wag Dog Grooming and her partner, Charlene Delano, are experienced dog groomers who have decided to take on a new service: dyeing dogs and cats for any occasion.
“We’re trying to bring some style to the Oxford Hills,” Delano said.
The women say the process is very common throughout the United States. They believe their business is one of a few to offer it in Maine.
The process takes several hours, depending on the size of the dog. It begins with a complete grooming, then a test patch is done to ensure the color will take and will not cause irritation, much like a colorist in a hair salon would test a new hair color on a client.
The dye, which is a special formula for dogs and cats, is painted on the animal but is not permanent. It will wash out in about four to six weeks. There is no bleaching involved, so only dogs and cats with medium to light hair can undergo the process, Loring said.
“We can do any day,” she said, such as green and red for Christmas or blue and orange to cheer on a favorite football team, pink to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or green for St. Patrick’s Day.
Delano is trying out her favorite: tie-dye, which looks fetching on a long, fluffy cat tail.
“This is what we do and we love it,” Loring said. She markets her growing business on Facebook.
The process is art, she said. “You have a canvas and you work with it. I love to see the reaction of the owners.”
The cost of dyeing runs between $25 and $75, with a separate price for the grooming.
ldixon@sunjournal
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- Anita Loring of Wash & Wag Dog Grooming in Oxford shows dogs with dyed coats, one of her specialty services. Dogs, from left, are Sapoo owned by Steve Mason; Abby, owned by Jennifer Waterhouse; and Phoebe, owned by Richard Smith, all of Oxford.
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