Hugs and suds

In a wake of white fur, 80 pounds of ebullient retriever trots across a driveway in Kilauea to greet David and Kathie Gissing — bringers of suds, hugs and things that go buzz.

“Being groomed is very stimulating,” said Kathie Gissing of Paws of Paradise, a mobile pet grooming service based out of Kapa‘a. “It’s a massage for dogs.”

Strider, a 6 year-old Golden Retriever has received regular grooming since he was a puppy. David opens the side doors of the purple paw-printed, white van and Strider hops into the pristine interior of this salon on wheels — equipped with a deep bathtub, electric grooming table and hand-held dryers.

David invites Strider to jump up to place his big paws on the side of the bathtub.

“Dogs get comfortable with the process,” Kathie Gissing said. “It becomes a tool for socialization. So even at a vet they get used to being handled.”

Scrubbed with all natural products, toweled off and blown dry, today Strider will also receive a coat and nail clipping.

The Gissings bought Paws of Paradise in December 2002 a year after moving from Colorado to Kaua‘i.

“As crazy as it sounds,” Kathie Gissing said. “I woke up one morning and I’d dreamt that night I was grooming dogs. I turned to David and said, ‘I think I’m going to be a groomer.’”

She left her career as a veterinarian technician, received a groomer’s license and CPR certification for animals, then did a two-month apprenticeship with island groomer Jo King, whom she bought the business from.

David Gissing left his work in landscape maintenance to join his wife in their mobile salon.

“I could not do this alone. It really is a 50-50 operation,” she said. “David’s my Bath Captain and I’m the Clip Commander.”

Living, working and breathing (hair) together has only strengthened their years of marriage, David Gissing said.

“Working in close quarters improves your marriage,” he said. “We had to learn to respect each others’ space. I’ve worked with a lot of people and would rather work with Kathie over any of them.”

When the Gissings finish Strider, they start on his brother Sam, who is equally enthusiastic about the process. Before Strider and Sam they groomed three other clients on the North Shore and will finish the day with an ewok-faced pooch named Barney. On average they groom eight to 10 dogs a day — large breeds taking 90 minutes and small, 45.

“If you’re fortunate, you get to groom a dog its whole life.” David Gissing said. “We get to know these dogs so well. They’re part of our family.”

A Pets of Paradise evaluation includes checking ears, eyes, skin, coat and how the dog smells.

“We do pretty much everything but taste them,” she said.

“We do eat a lot of hair,” David added as he swept another feathery ball of Strider’s fur from his cheek. “We hope someone discovers one day that dog hair is a secret ingredient to longevity.”

Kathie Gissing’s love affair with animals started early. Her now 90 year-old grandmother encouraged her as a girl to do volunteer work.

“I ended up with animals because of her,” she said. “I volunteered at the Denver Zoo.”

Giving back plays an important role in Kathie’s life. As a volunteer at Kilauea Lighthouse and Kaua‘i Humane Society, her life revolves around all creatures feathered and furred.

“We’re proponents of education, care and exercise,” she said.

Occasionally the Gissings offer basic grooming classes at KHS. Tips for coat and skin care include fresh water rinses after ocean swims and thoroughly brushing sand out of the coat. Most important though is diet.

“Feed them good food,” she said. “Good food means a good coat, skin and eyes. I’ve noticed that dry food dries the coat out and it makes them shed more.”

Shedding can also be reduced by using a conditioning shampoo and adding omega 3’s to the diet. One benefit of utilizing a groomer is having another set of eyes and hands on your dog.

“Sometimes we are able to detect problems that need to be addressed by a veterinarian,” Kathie Gissing said. “Because we hand dry them we see right down to the skin.”

The Gissings have been asked to groom cats on occasion.

“We have cats. We love cats. But we don’t want to wash a cat,” David Gissing said.

“We have washed bunnies,” Kathie added. “And once we washed a Guinea Pig named Henry.”

In six years on Kaua‘i they estimate having washed hundreds of dogs.

“We’re the lucky ones,” David said. “We get paid to play with people’s dogs all day.”

To learn more visit pawsofparadise.com or call 821-2486.

•Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.