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MEET OUR TEAM

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I Am Proud To Present To You The Most Professional And Dedicated Group Of Groomers And Pet Lovers 
Matthew Harwood Owner/Founder
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Meet Our Awesome Meriden Salon Team:

Experienced & Compassionate Professionals

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Carolyn 
Mgr. / Professional Groomer
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Diane 
Professional Groomer
<img src="Michelle.jpg" alt="professional pet groomer">
MIchele
Professional Groomer
The Meriden Salon Team 
<img src="Carolyn" alt="Ally and her dog">

 Carolyn

Dogfather Manager & Groomer


Meet Carolyn! Carolyn began her career in the grooming world as a brusher/bather. Within only 2 years, she was grooming most breeds. She loved her job so much that she eventually opened her own grooming shop! 

 Carolyn has a true passion for grooming and compares techniques used to sculpting a piece of art. She considers her clients family and looks forward to every day!

Carolyn has three dogs of her own: a senior Yorkie, a small Pitbull, who is currently in remission from Lymphoma, and a Papillon who is young and 
extremely active!

When not grooming, Carolyn loves spending time with her pets, camping and traveling.





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Diane

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Diane! Diane was born and raised in Meriden and currently resides there. She began her career in grooming back in high school where she began showing horses. She eventually began showing dogs as well.

 Diane made her way to grooming school and after graduating, she was excited about her future and career in grooming. Diane takes great pride in her work and loves being creative – she especially loves fun
 poodle cuts!

Diane is a proud member of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program and serves as a farm dog judge annually. At home she has 5 Boarder Collies and a Jack Russell Terrier.

​​​​​​​She also is the proud owner of 4 horses, 4 chickens, 3 cats 2 Bearded Dragons as well as several English Lop Rabbits whom she raises and shows!

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Michelle

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Michelle! Michelle grew up in Cromwell and currently resides there with her husband and two boys.

Michelle’s aunt was a groomer and as she watched her working, she sometimes helped her with bathing the animals. She was eventually taught how to groom and loved it instantly!

What Michelle loves most about her job is that there is never a dull moment and she is always challenged. Also, who wouldn’t absolutely love working with loving animals every day?!

At home, Michelle has 2 dogs – a 12-year-old Puggle named Hennessy and a 5-year-old Shar Pei named Buddha.



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<img src="Michelle.jpg" alt="Rachel and her dog">
Meet Our Super Stratford Salon Team:
Experienced & Compassionate Professionals
Kayla Caplan
Kayla 
Professional Groomer

Samantha St Arnault
Samantha 
Professional Groomer

Kayla 

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Kayla!  Kayla grew up in Monroe and now lives in Seymour.

Kayla has always been very close with her family and she shares a passion for grooming along with her sister and her mom who are also groomers!

She has had many great teachers along the way but her most valued mentor has been her mom who has taught her the most about grooming. 

What Kayla loves most about her job is that every day is different. 

There are some days that can be a bit more challenging than others, but overall, she finds her job extremely rewarding and looks forward to each and every day




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Samantha 

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Sam!  Sam was born and raised in Hamden and currently resides there. 

She has always been very close with her family and was provided constant support to follow her dreams.  With this, she gained the confidence to pursue a career in the grooming industry. 

For as long as she can remember, Sam has had a love for all animals.  She studied dog breeds as a little girl because she wanted to know all about each and every one! 

Sam began grooming approximately 13 years ago and she absolutely loves it.   Working to help pets look and feel their best is an art-form to her and gives her the ability to express her creativity.   

She feels that that grooming is her calling and is thrilled to be part of the Dogfather family.  At home, Sam has one rescue cat named Loki, whom she absolutely adores! 

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Meet Our Amazing Mobile Groomers


The Groom Team Professionals

<img src="Ally.jpg" alt="professional pet groomer">

Ally

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Ashley

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Barbara

<img src="Becca.jpg" alt="professional pet groomer">

Becca

Paul
Jody
<img src="Cristen.jpg" alt="professional pet groomer">

Cristen

Tara
Kassidy
Kassidy
Katherine
kim
Kim
<img src="Ally.jpg" alt="Ally and her dog">

Ally

Dogfather Groomer



 Meet Ally! Ally was born and raised in Madison. Growing up in a very caring and hardworking family, dogs were always part of her household. Breeds she has grown up with have included Cocker Spaniels, German Sheppard/Rottweiler mixes and Chow/Husky mixes. Her current best furry friend is a Boston Terrier mix 

named Roxy.


Ally found her true love and passion for grooming while working in Clinton at a local pet store. She has always loved all animals, but this experience solidified it for her. She was trained on how to handle each dog and make every pet look their best! Now being mobile, being out on the road is very exciting for Ally. She loves her clients and truly takes pride in giving every pet the very best care. She feels that with every groom, she is able to bring out a pet’s true personality.


In addition to grooming, Ally also spends her time volunteering as a Firefighter with the Madison Hose Co. #1. When not working, she loves volunteering and spending time with Roxy whom she rescued from a high kill shelter located down south.


Another fun fact about Ally . . . is that she is also a talented snare drummer with the 

Deep River Fife and Drum Corps! ​​​​​​​

Ashley

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Ashley! Ashley grew up in Meriden and has lived there her whole life. She has one brother who is four years younger whom she considers her best friend and loves more than anything in the world! Ashley is very family oriented. She comes from a beautiful and supportive family and enjoys spending time with them.


Ashley had been working at one of multiple jobs she has held over the years when she realized she wanted to do something different, something she had a passion for. While working as an Instructional Assistant, she realized she needed a change. Although she loved her job, she felt she needed to take a path that would continue to help her grow professionally. Ashley’s own family used The Dogfather and, in fact, were the ones who informed her that they were looking for new groomers! Before she knew it, she started with the business and has loved every minute of it. Ashley feels very fortunate to have found something she truly loves to do.


Ashley loves both seeing her regular clients and meeting new ones. She has developed such strong connections with her clients that she considers them her extended family. What she loves most about her day is seeing the dog’s reaction to the van when she arrives. She loves their excitement! After the grooming is complete, she is thrilled to see them feeling so happy and smelling great!


Ashley has a sweet pup at home named Gizmo who is seven years old. She adopted him in 2018 and could not imagine life without him. She also has a Beta fish named Bubbles.

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Barbara

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Barbara! Barbara has been part of the Dogfather team since 2013. She was born in North Haven and previously lived in Wallingford. Currently, she resides in Meriden.

Barbara has always had a love for animals. She had worked in the corporate world for over thirteen years and once she left, she knew she wanted to do something different.

This is when she decided it would be extremely fulfilling working as a full-time pet groomer. Barbara headed straight to grooming school where she received her professional certificate in becoming a groomer. She was excited to get officially started!


Barbara values the daily interaction with the animals she encounters. She finds it not only rewarding, but fun. She is most proud of being able to learn all the different types of cuts for all the different breeds. She sees it as art and loves being able to witness the outcome of her accomplishments when completed. She loves her job and can’t imagine doing anything else.


Barbara’s home includes Blossom, an almost two-year-old Chihuahua, four cats – Scarlett, Jinx, Oliver and her newest addition, Felix! She also has a Chinchilla and two parakeets!

At the end of her workday, Barbara really looks forward to spending time with all her beloved pets.




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Becca

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Becca! Becca was born and raised in Shelton and currently lives in Naugatuck with her 3 children, 1 dog and 1 cat. 

Becca began grooming when she was 18 years old.  She stopped grooming for a short period of time to try something new, but then decided to come back because she realized it is her true passion. 

Since being with the Dogfather, she has loved every day of her job.  What she loves most is meeting new pets and their pet parents. 

She finds great joy in the reaction after a grooming is complete.  It is very rewarding for her.  






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<img src="Rachel.jpg" alt="Rachel and her dog">

Jodi

Dogfather Groomer



Meet Jodi! Jodi grew up in Southington and then moved to Bristol, where she still resides.  

Growing up, she always had a passion for animals and one day made the decision to attend grooming school.  Once she did, she completely fell in love with grooming and knew this was her calling.  Immediately, what she loved most was the creativity she was able to express through her work as well as being able to help animals each day and make them feel their best.   

After graduating from grooming school, Jodi began her career as a professional groomer.  She absolutely loves it and can't imagine doing anything else.  

At home, Jodi has two small children who are her pride and joy.  She also has a cat who is extremely precious to the family.  His name is Benjamin Button Nose.
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Jody
<img src="Cristen.jpg" alt="professional pet groomer">

Cristen

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Cristen! Cristen was born and raised in Connecticut, growing up in East Haven and has lived in many shoreline towns. Currently, she resides in Clinton with her husband and 2 daughters. 


 Cristen has always loved animals growing up, and one day decided to attend grooming school. In 2008, soon after graduating, she began working for Dogfather Mobile. In 2017, she decided to take a bit of a break to be a stay at home Mom and just recently decided to return! 


Cristen is very excited to be back. Her part-time status keeps her enjoying doing what she loves, while balancing her many Mom duties! Cristen loves many things about grooming, especially bringing pets back to their parents after a grooming and seeing the looks on their faces and being so happy with their fresh new smell. 

 She also enjoys the bond she has made with her clients. It is very rewarding. 


 Back at home, Cristen and her family have a 10-year-old Pomeranian, a hamster named Hammie and a fish tank full of fish! When not working, Cristen enjoys hiking, enjoying good food and listening to her dad’s band. She also recently just started playing guitar.


Kassidy

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Kassidy! Kassie grew up in Whitehall, Pennsylvania before moving to Connecticut.  She currently lives in New Haven.  Kassie always knew she wanted a career working with animals. 

She worked as a vet tech for some time and then decided it wasn’t for her.  Ultimately grooming was what she wanted to do and today she absolutely loves the career move she made. 

What Kassie loves most about her job is meeting all the different pets every day.  She loves building the bond with both them and their pet parents. 

There is no better feeling for her then seeing a pet as well as their mommies and daddies beaming after a grooming. 

​​​​​​​At home, Kassie has a cat named Momo who may think he is a dog…he actually brings his leash and harness over to her daily wanting to go for walks! 

Katherine

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Katerine! Katherine was born in Hamden and currently lives in Meriden.  She has two brothers and two nieces and her parents are her heroes! 

Katherine began working with animals at a young age and has always had a passion for helping them.  She studied small animal science in High school and worked at a pet store.  She also spent some time working in an emergency animal hospital. 

After college, Katherine realized pet grooming was for her.  She is never happier than when she has a pet brush in her hand. 

What she loves most about working for the Dogfather is being able to help pets feel amazing and seeing how happy their pet parents are after a grooming.  She loves giving nervous pups the confidence to see how awesome grooming can be. 

​​​​​​​In her spare time, Kathrine loves working out and hiking.  She has a Chow named Cinnamon.  


Kim

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Kim! Kim was born in Connecticut and lived in Thomaston for most of her childhood.  She then moved to North Carolina for a bit as well as other areas, but returned to Connecticut

in 2012.  Kim has worked for large organizations but feels Dogfather is the best fit for her.  She loves to learn and continues to attend various grooming trade shows to see the latest and greatest! 

Kim loves being a groomer and the best part of her day is seeing how happy pets are when they are done being groomed.  She says that going to work every day doesn’t feel like a job.  She loves it so much and is so passionate about her work. 

She is so happy about that fact that she is helping to make every animal feel their absolute best! 
At home, Kim has two cats – Bubbie and Tiger!

Paul

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Paul! Paul grew up in Meriden and still resides there. 

He comes from a very close family and everyone is in close proximity to each other which he loves. 

Paul has held various positions over the years, mostly in the technical field.  It didn’t take him long to discover that his true passion was grooming. 

Paul really loves his job and looks forward to each day.  He very much enjoys the pets he meets each day and takes great pride in caring for them. 

At home he has a shih tzu named Gizmo.

Tara

Dogfather Groomer

Meet Tara!  Tara was raised in East Haddam. 
She grew up with a very supportive family and is still very close to her parents who are her #1 fans and continue to stand behind her and encourage her to follow her dreams. 

Tara has always had a passion for animals. Growing up, she always had family dogs and would manage to bring home various animals that needed homes. 

Tara’s first job was working for a dog boarding kennel.  This is where she learned she wanted a career working with animals.  During high school, she owned and operated a Rabbitry for seven years.  She showed, had a successful breeding program, and educated with her Mini Lop and Flemish Giant rabbits.  Fun fact….. at one time she had 70 rabbits!  

Following graduation, Tara attended grooming school.  From there, she went on and gained more experience working in a veterinary office as a veterinarian assistant and dog groomer.  She then moved on to mobile grooming where she has been working as a mobile pet groomer for 5 years.  No matter how large or small, dog or cat, Tara takes great pride in her work.  She believes she excels most at recognizing a dog's body language and works to make each grooming process a positive one.  
 
Currently, Tara resides in Farmington Valley with her two dogs, Oliver (Bich-Poo) and Aspen (Bichon Frise).  Outside of grooming, she enjoys hiking, weight lifting, kayaking, fishing and reading.




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Tara

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​Of Professionals"

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