Good Shepherd Kennels adds dog grooming to business model

Noticing a need in the community for additional options, Ernie Berry is adding dog grooming to the slate of services available at Good Shepherd Kennels. Berry said he became aware of the closure of a local dog grooming location, and that some groomers are no longer accepting new clients, and decided that adding grooming services would help the kennel "be as customer friendly as possible." Berry said he knew he needed a unique individual to fill the role of groomer, and sought someone who was self-motivated, able to take the initiative around the kennel, and "be able to have ownership of their job area." Zella Wescott, he said, was perfect for the role. "Zella's phenomenal," he said. "I know a good thing when I see it." Wescott, a student at Harvest Temple Christian Academy in Clyde, said she loves animals, especially dogs, and has been learning the dog grooming trade and helping Berry with other tasks around the kennel. "He (Berry) is a very good teacher," she said. Wescott said she is learning all about the dogs at Good Shepherd Kennels and the keys to their individual behavior. Berry said Wescott is a dog-whisperer like himself. Wescott also is working with both a local groomer and a groomer out of Indiana to be trained as a groomer. Berry said while she continues to train, Wescott already is able to provide some grooming services. Once she is fully prepared for the role, he said, she not only will do grooming at the kennel but will go the clients' homes as needed. Eventually, Berry said, he envisions Wescott taking on an even broader role at Good Shepherd, and training another groomer to work under her. Currently, he said, he is "instilling in Zella the things you can't learn from books," about business operation and working with the dogs. "We have a creative work partnership," he said. Part of that partnership includes revenue sharing with Wescott, paying her a fair wage for her work, and setting aside funds for tuition assistance as she considers her future education and career plans. Wescott even will earn a bonus at the end of the year, he said. Investing in employees is "just good business sense," Berry said. Reflecting on the "warp speed" at which Good Shepherd has grown since opening in 2023, Berry said he now is able to offer rehoming/procurement services, training, boarding, and now grooming at the business, which is located at 3650 E. TR 164, Green Springs. Looking forward, he said the last piece of the full-service puzzle will be to add vet services, which he hopes to do in the future. Pricing for services at the kennel is quite competitive, he said, and are lowest when customers bundle services, such as having Berry provide boarding, training and grooming at the same time.