After graduating Montclair State University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities, I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. One thing I knew for certain was that I always had the desire to work with animals from a young age. So, I decided to venture off into a field that had nothing to do with my chosen college major, because I knew animals were my passion. I began working as a bather at Just 4 Paws Pet Spa before the Academy was in existence. After my first day, I knew I found the perfect career for me! I was quickly promoted to Erica’s grooming assistant and she began teaching me how to groom. In the process, I became the Academy’s first unofficial graduate!
I learned so much over the months I spent working alongside Erica. I gained all of the knowledge and skills I needed to groom beautifully, but I also learned something else that is far more important; that we as groomers are pet guardians. From the moment a pet parent drops off their baby to the moment they leave, they are the groomer’s responsibility. Through my training, I learned how to perfectly embody what being a pet guardian means. From reading a pet’s energy to creating their personalized wellness plan, I was guided through each and every step. Once you graduate from Just 4 Paws Pet Spa and Academy, you will leave feeling fully prepared to enter the grooming industry as a compassionate, knowledgeable groomer.
-Angela Gastaldi
I really hit the jack pot with Just 4 Paws Pet Spa and Academy. The staff and trainers are gifted and can work with any animal and produce a stylish hairstyle on dogs and cats, it’s truly amazing! I think everyone should know about Just 4 Paws Pet Spa and Academy because they are so kind to the animals and really make it their spa day. The animals leave clean, beautiful and above all else happy! It’s an absolute joy to learn with the team at Just 4 Paws.
-Melissa Urzua
My experience with Just 4 Paws is incredible. I’m Brazilian and I worked in an accounting office in my country, but I knew it was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. When I arrived in this country, I started working with animals in a regular pet shop. They groomed beautifully, but the animals were being mistreated in order to achieve a perfect haircut. I knew I had to find a place that believed in treating animals with love and kindness above all else. This is when I met Just 4 Paws and started my story here as a bather. This is such a wonderful place and working here only made me fall more in love with animals! They treat all the animals with so much love and dedication. I became fascinated by the art of grooming and knew this was the right career path for me. Rose and Erica taught me how to groom. They gave me all the of the knowledge I needed to groom properly and safely, while giving lots of love to the animals at the same time. Becoming a groomer is the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. I love my profession and owe everything I know to Just 4 Paws!
-Renata Azambuja