Writer / Julie Yates
Anyone who knew Haley Brown while she grew up in Fishers knew she was an animal lover. During her childhood years, her family home was always filled with various pets. Besides having horses, there were always cats and dogs. There was even more exotic four legged creatures like guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets. Although she excelled in math and was adept in gymnastics as a cheerleader for Fishers High School, her affinity for animals made it no surprise that she chose a career as dog groomer.
Brown studied Wild Life Biology at the University of Montana and considered going to veterinarian school. However, after realizing some of the tragic situations a vet might encounter, she felt like her heart might be too soft to fulfill all the duties required. With her gentle nature and ability to work with animals, pet grooming seemed like the logical choice for Brown’s dream job.
After working as a groomer assistant at a pet salon for two years, Brown was hooked. She graduated from the Carmel Animal Arts Academy and went on to work in a veterinarian’s office before she found out about mobile grooming. With encouragement from her mother, Lynne Driscoll, Brown began to make her vision of opening her own mobile grooming business a reality. Together, they came up with the name Indy Zoom Groom and found a company outside of South Bend that converts vans into pet grooming salons on wheels. Brown used the proceeds from selling her car to purchase a brand new one ton van and had it outfitted with the most modern pet grooming equipment available, complete with custom graphics on the outside.
When the business opened last month, it was off and running with many appointments already booked. According to Brown, there are several advantages to having a mobile service come directly to the client.
“Pets are more relaxed during the grooming process because they can see and smell their own yard from the van, versus hearing the barking of other dogs in a vet office or conventional grooming salon,” she stated. “Having the Indy Zoom Groom van come to a home provides pets with a one-to-one personal experience that they just wouldn’t get in a kennel.”
Fees are based on the animal’s breed and Brown is knowledgeable about giving huge dogs, such as standard poodles, a show cut in addition to giving small, short haired dogs a trim. While not adverse to handling cats, Brown admits that they would have to be the mellow variety. One of her funniest stories is how a cat she was grooming once adhered itself to the ceiling, holding on with its claws.
At the present time, Indy Zoom Groom is concentrating on serving the Fishers and Geist area. In the future, Brown is hoping to expand the business. Meanwhile, she is thrilled to be doing something she truly loves.
For more information on Indy Zoom Groom, visit its website at indyzoomgroom.com.
