We aim to make dog grooming accessible to homeless dogs in shelters who do not have owners to take them to the grooming salon. We’ve established relationships with three large nonprofit animal shelters in the country to help these shelters increase their adoption rates. Our plans are to expand to grow a volunteer dog groomer network to help more shelters and homeless dogs across the nation.
Our Beginning
Groom for Love took root when founder Erica Coston ventured out of the sales and corporate world to find a purpose and mission in life outside of working for a paycheck. With a love of cutting men’s hair and a love for helping homeless animals she decided to combine the two and volunteered as Dog Groomer at an animal adoption center in Denver, Colorado. She quickly realized the impact it had on the homeless dogs and the shelter as a whole. She began to see drastic improvements in the shelter dog’s health and demeanor, and thought all animal shelters in the country could benefit. She began inviting other dog groomers to the shelter to help groom shelter pets.
“A homeless dog can be happy and healthy too. A little groomer TLC can go a long way to ‘groom’ them for a greater opportunity to find their dream home.”
— Erica Coston, FOUNDER
Houston was found at a gas station in Houston, TX after Hurricane Harvey. He was sent to Maxfund Animal Adoption Center in Denver, CO with many other storm surviver dogs. He was found with spurs and other storm debris trapped in his fur so bad he had to be shaved down to the skin in multiple spots. He was so sweet like all of them are and definitely displayed more energy and livelihood after his groom. After grooming Houston almost immediately after the storm, he was adopted the following week after his groom.
Coston extended her services to county and private animal shelters and fosters, including Pet Alliance of Orlando and Maxfund Animal Adoption Center of Denver. However, one groomer is not enough to groom all the homeless dogs in need as well as all of the animal shelters and fosters who want to be involved. Word about Groom for Love has been spreading and the organization has been invited to help at multiple shelters around the country. To reach more of the homeless animal population and keep up with this demand, Coston has been working on growing a volunteer pet groomer base and recruiting more volunteer groomers who want to help make a difference.
MISSION
Groom for Love cares for animals at two fundamental levels:
1. The health of the animal- by providing grooming maintenance we aid and/or prevent skin or coat issues, while also helping the dogs feel more clean and comfortable in their kennel as they await adoption
2. The love of the animal- taking time to show they are loved and cared for, giving them the pampering they deserve, with extra rubs and kisses
Both the health and love our groomers provide for the dogs attribute to them looking and feeling good, resulting in them finding their companion sooner than later and increasing the adoption rates at local shelters to make more space for street dogs who need shelter.
VISION
By helping increase the adoption rate through grooming services, Groom for Love works to reduce the homeless dog population which will, in turn, reduce the number of euthanized pets because space will not be as much of an issue.
We would like to help homeless animals by assisting already existing animal shelters, and doing what we can to help increase their adoption rates, so with each upcoming year, these shelters are not at maximum capacity for long periods of time like many of them are, and our world can see less homeless dogs, less dogs rejected from shelters resulting from the lack of space, and less animals being euthanized.
6.3 million
animals a year surrendered to shelters
3.2 million
shelter animals adopted each year
920K
shelter animals are euthanized
Millions of homeless pets need a room at the shelter, and millions of homeless pets at the shelter need a home.
With three shelters and counting, Groom for Love has seen a significant improvement in mental and physical health for the homeless animals in participating shelters. We will continue to strive for these results in helping the pets well-being as our way to contribute to increased adoption rates, increase room for street pets to have shelter and decreased euthanized rates in upcoming years.
Before (three pictured Left) & After (three pictured Right). Pet Alliance of Orlando rescue.
Get Involved
If you live near one of the shelters we have teamed up with, or you’re a Dog Groomer wanting to make a difference at your local shelter, get involved to receive extraordinary love, gratitude and heart-filled moments from helping homeless animals in need.
We accept volunteers upon interview and orientation.
Donations are vital to our growth, as we use them for grooming supplies, grooming equipment needed for the shelters, and all costs inquired in grooming the homeless dogs. Any donations of grooming equipment or supplies are greatly appreciated!!!