There’s nothing like a good haircut to make you feel like a brand new person. And the same can be said for a dog too. For shelter dogs, it can make all the difference in the world. A good haircut can not only improve their mood and their health, it can increase their chances of being adopted.
Enter Mark Imhof, a volunteer groomer for Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC). Mark is an NYU MBA former businessman turned dog groomer. A few years ago, he wanted a career shift and to work with animals. After getting his grooming training and certification, he decided to use his skills to help transform shelter animals and make them become more adoptable.
Many times the dogs Mark sees at the shelter have been neglected. They are dirty and have terrible matts in their fur, something that is uncomfortable – even painful – for a dog.
“Imagine tying all your hair in knots as tight to your scalp as possible so no comb could be pulled through the hair without ripping hair out. THAT is matted fur,” explains Mark on his Facebook page. “It is very painful for a dog and quite difficult for a groomer to work through, but that is the groomer’s job to help the dog.”
This is why grooming a dog can bring about a complete transformation and improve a dog’s chances of being adopted. “[A} dog’s personality and demeanor can change after a grooming,” says Mark. “A badly matted dog may be cranky, may bite a lot, and often is considered unsocial.”
“Now, please put yourself in the position of the dog with matted hair and imagine yourself in pain every time you move,” writes Mark. “Would you be a pleasant person to speak with? I don’t think I would.”
“Cleaning and grooming such a dog can increase adoptability as well as improve a dog you own to be more sociable.”
Check out more of the before and after pictures of the dogs Mark has groomed. Some are available for adoption! In many of the photos, the dogs go from frowning beforehand to smiling afterwards!
In addition to grooming dogs at the shelter, he bathes them too. When Mark isn’t volunteering at the shelter, he runs his own grooming/dog care business, Mark The Dog Guy in New York.
Share Mark’s important volunteer work with your friends and family!
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