Precious Pets Grooming Salon pampers Sewickley's animals

As a barber, Janice Kushma did her first haircuts on people. Her clients these days are furry and four-legged.

She transformed her scissoring skills to pets, where animals are treated like royalty — Kushma owns Precious Pets Grooming Salon in Sewickley.

“I have always loved animals,” she said. “They are all my babies. I give them hugs and kisses. Pets come first here.”

At Precious Pets, Kushma greets each pet by name. She often remembers an animal’s name before its owner’s. Over her life, she has owned seven animals, including dogs, cats and a horse, which led to her passion for pampering her furry friends for 40 years.

The experience is what Kushma calls a “spa day” for animals. They can lounge in an area created just for them and get a bath. With three grooming stations in the front and one in the back of the Sewickley shop, each pet gets his or her space and one-on-one attention. Precious Pets also welcomes cats.

“Pet owners trust that we will take good care of their animals,” Kushma said. “And we take that responsibility seriously. Pets are family.”

Kushma partners an animal with the same groomer every time because then the groomer gets to learn the animal’s tendencies. Each groomer knows the animal’s body and what they are comfortable with and what they like and don’t like, Kushma said. Because she lives close by, she is in the shop most days.

Kushma learned grooming at Plush Pup in Point Breeze. She began working some Saturdays at the Canine Commissary in Sewickley until it closed. In April 1985, she opened her salon.

Over four decades, she has gotten to know many pets and owners. She’s made friends with her clients and is the first one to greet an animal as it enters the salon. She will hang holiday cards on the wall — if the card has a photo of the pet.

Kushma created a colorful waiting area because she loves bold and bright hues and that puts everyone in a good mood, even the pets.

“We want this to be a happy place,” she said.

Pet owner Angelina Rippole of Sewickley stopped by to pick up her dog Pickles, a goldendoodle.

“He looks so good,” Rippole said. “I would highly recommend Precious Pets. I love the people who work here.”

Kushma said she hires the best groomers, such as Natasha Setzenfand, Autumn Craven, Angel Sulkowski and Kelly Palmer. She encourages employees to spend quality time with the animals, which is why she doesn’t schedule too many in one day. One of her main focuses is on how the groomers handle the animals.

“I have never met another person like Janice,” Setzenfand said. “For me, what is most rewarding is the relationships we have with the people and their pets. We bond with the animals.”

At each appointment, the animal receives a bandana or bow. Kushma said in this business, it’s easy to become attached and that when a pet passes over the rainbow bridge, it’s definitely emotional.

“It breaks my heart when we lose an animal,” Kushma said. “My heart is over the rainbow bridge with them.”

Kushma has connected people with dogs through local animal shelters.

Her business is old school — there are no computers at Precious Pets. Everything is handwritten in the files. She invites pet owners to call her at 412-741-8629 about availability.

“I love Sewickley,” said Kushma. “I love the people here. I love the history here. This is the best job in the world when you have the best people working for you. If you love what you do, then it’s not work. People hear about us through word of mouth. Each pet we care for is precious.”