Rising Stars: Meet Amy Bessette of Kettering

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Bessette.

Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had a deep love for animals — even as a little girl, I was the one rescuing strays, volunteering to pet-sit, and choosing animals over just about anything else. That passion followed me all through school and led me to attend Miami Valley CTC, where I studied pre-vet tech.

During that time, I had the opportunity to job shadow at a local dog grooming salon — and that’s where everything clicked. I fell in love with the transformation process. Taking a scruffy, overgrown pup and turning them into a fresh, happy, confident dog was incredibly rewarding. But even more than the makeover, I loved building trust with each dog and making them feel safe.

After graduation, I worked at several grooming locations throughout the Miami Valley, gaining experience and refining my skills. Eventually, I found my home at Poochie Bath Grooming. What started as a job quickly became family. I spent 10 years there growing, learning, and pouring my heart into the business.

When the previous owner retired, my husband and I were honored to take over. It felt like a natural next step — not just owning a business, but continuing something we truly believe in. Today, our focus is simple: always put the dog’s best interest first. Every appointment is centered around safety, patience, and creating a calm, easygoing experience. We want every dog to leave not just looking beautiful, but feeling comfortable and cared for.

For me, this isn’t just a career — it’s something I’ve loved my whole life.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road — but every challenge has helped shape who we are today.

Like most small businesses, there were growing pains. Early on in my career, working at different locations meant adapting to different management styles, expectations, and environments. Not every place was the right fit, and learning to navigate that while still building confidence in my skills was a challenge.

Taking over Poochie Bath after 10 years as an employee was a huge transition. Going from groomer to business owner is an entirely different world. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about grooming — it was about payroll, scheduling, maintenance, customer communication, regulations, and making tough decisions. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t always see.

There were also emotional challenges. When you truly care about animals, the hard days hit differently — nervous dogs, elderly pets, or situations where you have to prioritize safety over convenience. We’ve had to set firm policies to protect our groomers and the dogs, even when it wasn’t the most popular decision. But safety will always come first.

Balancing business ownership with family life has been another adjustment. It takes teamwork, patience, and long hours — especially in the beginning.

That said, every struggle has made us stronger and more intentional. It’s taught us resilience, communication, and the importance of staying true to our values. At the end of the day, knowing we’ve created a safe, caring environment for dogs and their owners makes all the challenges worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the owner and head groomer at Poochie Bath Grooming, and my work centers around providing professional grooming with a strong emphasis on safety, patience, and the overall well-being of each dog. From baths and de-shedding treatments to full grooms and breed-specific cuts, my goal is always the same — to send dogs home looking beautiful and feeling comfortable.

I specialize in working with dogs that may be nervous, elderly, or new to grooming. Building trust is a huge part of what I do. Grooming isn’t just about the haircut — it’s about reading body language, knowing when to slow down, and making the experience as low-stress as possible. I also love transformation grooms — taking a scruffy, overgrown pup and giving them that fresh, polished makeover is incredibly rewarding.

What we’re known for is putting the dog’s best interest first. Safety isn’t just a phrase for us — it’s our standard. We’ve created an environment that’s calm, structured, and focused on protecting both the dogs and our groomers. Every policy we’ve put in place is rooted in making sure the experience is smooth and secure.

What I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built in the community. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and watching puppies grow into seniors under our care is something I don’t take lightly. Taking over Poochie Bath after being there for 10 years and continuing its legacy with my husband has been one of my biggest accomplishments.

What sets us apart is heart. We don’t rush dogs through an assembly line. We pay attention to detail. We communicate honestly with pet parents. And we treat every dog like they’re our own. For us, it’s not just about grooming — it’s about creating a safe, positive experience every single time.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I definitely didn’t get here alone.

First and foremost, the previous owner of Poochie Bath deserves so much credit. She built the foundation of the business and trusted me enough to grow within it for 10 years before handing over the reins. Watching how she operated, how she cared for clients, and how she ran the salon gave me invaluable experience that you just can’t learn from a textbook.

My husband has also been a huge part of this journey. Taking over a business is not a small decision, and he stepped into it with me fully. From helping behind the scenes to supporting long hours and big decisions, he’s been my steady partner through it all.

I’m also incredibly grateful for the team members I’ve worked alongside over the years. Grooming can be physically and emotionally demanding work, and having coworkers who truly care about the dogs makes all the difference. A strong team creates a safe, positive environment not just for the pets, but for each other.

And of course, our clients. Their trust means everything. Many of them have followed my journey for years — bringing their puppies, then their adult dogs, and eventually their seniors. Their loyalty, referrals, and kind words have helped our business grow more than they probably realize.

Lastly, my family and early mentors who encouraged my love for animals deserve credit too. From supporting me through Miami Valley CTC to believing in me when I decided to pursue grooming instead of a traditional vet tech path — their encouragement gave me the confidence to follow what truly felt right.

Success in this industry isn’t a solo achievement. It’s built on trust, teamwork, and a community that believes in what you’re doing.

Pricing:

• $14 walk-in nails w/ Dremel (Upon request )

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Poochiebathgrooming.com
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