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PET SPA A perfect destination for pets to get their makeover and be pampered silly. PRIYA SHETH and MRINALINI SUNDAR

A Yorkshire Terrier or a ‘Yorkie’, walked through a glass door. Wearing a blue jumpsuit with hair neatly tied up in a bow and a diamond collar to add to the effect the Yorkie seemed to be a dog with two tails.  Suddenly a car stopped; two pugs jumped out and scampered inside. In a span of two minutes another car came by with a brown collie who turned his nose up at a mongrel passing by. He trundled in to partake in a “pow wow”.

Not frequently have we seen dogs run into a veterinary clinic with such enthusiasm. Why were they so dressed up? Where were the dogs coming from?It was not a restaurant, or a shopping complex but a pet spa! Lending their services to all breeds of dogs and cats, Kabbs Pet Spa and Boutique is one of its kind in Chennai. With internationally trained professionals and top notch spa facilities, Kabbs provides pets with a unique, unforgettable experience. The light wallpaper with a stack of jazzy toys and an array of clothes, food packets and photo frames of well groomed dogs and cats made up the ambience of the spa.

New ground

Gone were the days when a veterinary clinic was the only place dogs could get cleaned up. “I wanted to start something new and Chennai had no pet spa so my partner Sidney Sladen and I set up Kabbs,” said Sundar Ramaswamy, the “top dog” in Kabbs Pet Boutique and Spa. “As the pet spa industry is not big in India, we went to Singapore for training. It was important for us to know the right grooming and safety procedures,” he added. Right from basic grooming to full styling and aromatherapy, Kabbs helps have the pet looking elegant, smelling delightful and feeling pampered.  “A session of basic grooming includes brush and bath, clipping of under paws and sanitary clips, nails clipped and grinded, ears cleaned and excess hair removed.” explained R Sundar.

The products used in Kabbs are organic and environment-friendly. “All the products we use are of high quality. They are global brands like Karlie (Germany), Rogz (South Africa), Isle of dogs and Hunter which are chemical free. As they are not available widely in India, many pet owners prefer to send them here,” added S V Srinivasan, from Kabbs. While most owners send their pets twice a month to the spa for basic cleaning, some send their pets for regular aromatherapy and massage sessions. “My dog Mac loves going to the spa. I send him there every week and he enjoys the massage sessions,” said Pradeepa Bhaskar, owner of Mac, a black Cocker Spaniel. The animal lovers who come to Kabbs like to push their boundaries and want quality service to the pets.  “We have four different aromatherapy treatments. They are called Calm Canine Essential Oil Blend, Fear or Separation anxiety blend, hyper sexuality essential oil blend and Immune-boosting essential oil blend. Animals have their own preferences and identify what they really need by licking. In case they don’t like the fragrance of a particular product they turn their face away,” revealed Srinivasan. Ironically, dogs have strong opinions and preferences that make up their personality

Worth it?

Not only does Kabbs offer world class spa facilities but also give pets funky accessories and clothes that suits their personality. Bright pink paw paint, electric blue highlights, bling bone collars, hooded jumpsuits and tent houses are some of the things that add spice to the pet’s life. “I have visited the store and find the fluorescent wire balls and the *dude’ T-shirts really cute accessories. The funniest toy of all was the plastic chicken dressed in a bikini,” said Rama Vishvesh from Saidapet.  This may seem a dream come true for pets, but everything comes with a price. Owners have to spend exorbitant amounts for a one hour massage or grooming session. “The prices vary according to the breed of the dog or cat. They start from Rs. 400 and go up to Rs. 2,700. We also have monthly and weekly packages. We surprise dogs on their birthdays with special birthday packages,” added R Sundar.

Although the spa ensures that the dogs get that extra care, how much of all this does the dog actually need? Ridiculous as it may sound, birthday packages are beyond the pet’s understanding. With prices so high, naturally only a select section of society can afford these grooming sessions but Kabbs claims that anyone who is an animal lover seeks their services.Looks like it’s worth living a dog’s life!

Priya and Mrinalini are students of Asian College of Journalism.

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