The Lake Orion Pet Centre has been a fixture in the downtown for 50 years, recently undergoing extensive remodeling. It also boasts a champion decorative pet groomer who provides – colorful – options for spritzing up your pets.
Owner Sharon Scharr opened the business 51 years ago in 1965 with her mother, Betty McNeil.
The front of the building originally housed the Lake Orion Veterinary Hospital, with the dog grooming business in the back.
Now, the LO Pet Centre has remodeled and operated out of the front of the building for the past two years, specializing in boarding and professional grooming for all dog and cat breeds.
Cheryl Grain, who joined the Pet Centre in December, has been grooming pets for nearly 13 years, decorative grooming for four years and doing competitions for two years.
“Coming up with a design is really not an easy thing to do with a dog,” Grain said, noting that the color work alone can take four days over a three-week time period, and carving the design into the pet’s fur can take hours.
“She loves it, I love it. I couldn’t do what I do if she didn’t like being on the table,” Grain said, adding that her Standard Poodle, Empress, has stayed on the table waiting for more pampering even when Grain has finished.
Grain said several customers have requested decorative pet grooming: a little pug gets its fur dyed, “booty bling” on its backside, and gem stone earring with water soluble glue.
Two years ago, Grain took first place in the Novice field at a competition in Wilmington, Ohio, with a monster-themed design.
She and Empress also finished third at the All-American Grooming Show. Grain has a black standard poodle with whom she does runway competitions.
For more information: 248-693-6550; lakeorionpets.com.