The VIP’s (Very Important Pets) of the Kenai Peninsula are wagging their tails and purring about the new Tarma’s Grooming salon across from Spenard Builders Supply on Funny River Rd. in Soldotna. Leslie Bacthelder, owner of Tarma Grooming has been grooming dogs for 36 years and is happy to be at the new spacious location (formerly Tail Waggers) after being at the Red Diamond Center since 1983. “I started grooming when I was 15 years old taking my grandmother’s poodles to a shop in Anchorage where they taught me how to groom and I ended up working in Anchorage for several years before moving down here to Soldotna and opening my own shop, virtually everything I know and do I have learned through hands on experience,” Bacthelder, now a certified master groomer told the Dispatch. Leslie now has a Tarma Team of groomers who she has all personally trained, “All of the groomers working at Tarma have been trained by me. All have learned how to handle dogs carefully, how to work with older dogs and puppies. All of the girls have dogs of their own and most show them or do performance events with them, it’s what makes them professionals and know precisely what the breed is supposed to look like,” she said.

The calmness of the VIP’s you’ll find at Tarma’s Grooming & Boarding is also a testimony to the professional handlers, “I think they enjoy it and love coming here for the attention and they know and are proud of good they look when they leave. All of us who work here love dogs and they know that,” said Bacthelder. You don’t have to have a show dog to take advantage of Tarma’s services, if your best friend has become a bit shabby during this long winter break up and is deserving of a little clean up and make over, Tarma’s is the place to go, “We accept any dog because with a little patience and affection with our team here if more than one groomer is required that’s fine so there really isn’t any dog that we won’t try, and when they are done they feel and act so much better and happier,” she said. There are also regular maintenance programs offered, “We call it our Very Important Pet program or VIP where you can bring you dog in once a week for a minimal price that keeps you dog always looking good if you don’t have time to brush them a home. We also do creative styling and dying, ear rhinestones & feathers in lots of different colors, nail polish, nail caps and glitter if you want an Alaskan Hollywood look we have all kinds of bling and fun stuff.” Learn more about Tarma Grooming & Boarding with a visit at their new spacious location or log on to www.tarmagrooming.com.