By Lisa Lucke

Terry's Grooming, a business offeringall-breed, full-service dog and cat grooming, caters to man's best friends that are in need of just about any grooming procedure: scissor trims, flea and tick control, medicated baths, skin and coat conditioning, ear cleaning, toenail clipping, de-matting, comb-through, de-skunking and more. However, owners Terry Suchernick and Aaron Simpson don't stop at four-legged friends.

For birds, there is wing clipping, beak and talon trimming, and bathing. Terry's Grooming also attends to the grooming requirements of rabbits and other small rodent pets, hard to handle or special needs pets, and even the occasional farm animal. Have a bunny with protruding teeth? Terry trims them and offers drug-free teeth cleaning for all animals, which comes with a free dental exam and quote.

Suchernick, originally from Southern California, feels that animals have been the great love of her life, and has the resume to prove it.

With more than 20 years of experience in grooming, and a lifetime of commitment to animal rescue and welfare work, Suchernick has held apprenticeships with several dog and cat show groomers in the southern end of the state, in addition to Production Grooming Master Dennis Lyons, and professional trainer and handler Bobby Darufshnar. She holds a Veterinary Assistant Certification and served as a cruelty investigator for several years with the California State Humane Task Force.

In addition to having gained valuable experience through the years in animal handling and grooming, Suchernick taught handling classes at the National Grooming Association and at trade shows throughout Southern California. She has worked closely with many animal welfare groups and shelters as a volunteer and disaster rescue handler.

Terry's Grooming in Pioneer is not Suchernick's first experience with business ownership. Previously, she owned and operated two pet and grooming shops: Terry's Grooming in Burbank, and The Pet Parlor in Studio City.

"Animals of all kinds have always interested me, inspired me and been my dearest friends," Suchernick said.

The two-room storefront of Terry's Grooming is cozy, with barn doors that open to a customized space that she and Simpson renovated themselves and includes new plumbing, floors and a tub.

Most visits to Terry's Grooming take only an hour or two, so typically clients do not need to leave pets for the entire day. Multiple pet discounts and special rates for service animals and pets of emergency personnel are available.

Terry's Grooming is open six days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays the store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday by special appointment only. Walk-ins are welcome. Terry's Grooming is located at 26624 A Highway 88 in Pioneer, next to the STP gas station. For more information, call 295-4564 or e-mail anniemaulgal@tripod.com.

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Lisa Lucke