Business Profile: Reigning Cats and Dogs, Mt. Kisco
If you’re looking for a place where your dog can have some fun while you’re at work or simply want to pamper your furry friend, Reining Cats and Dogs is the place to go.
The Mount Kisco pet day care and grooming establishment has been thriving in the village for more than 15 years, but a new owner, Amanda Zuckerman, recently acquired the business.
“I’ve had a huge heart for [dogs] ever since I came out of the womb,” she said.
Zuckerman grew up around animals, and her father is the owner of Pleasant Grooming of Armonk and operates the facility with Zuckerman’s brother.
After years of trying various careers, including teaching and retail work, Zuckerman decided to join her family at the Armonk shop and grew to love it. When she and her brother, Tyler, were approached with the opportunity to take over Reining Cats and Dogs, Zuckerman knew it was the right move even though she never imagined that she would enter into the same line of work as her father.
“I always loved dogs … but I never thought I would be doing this,” she said. “I tried so many different industries and I wasn’t happy.”
Zuckerman said what separates Reining Cats and Dogs from similar businesses is the knowledge and experience of the staff. Groomer Veronica Marrocco has been practicing her craft for more than 30 years, with a degree in advanced canine cosmetology from the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists.
Despite years of experience, groomers still frequently attend expos to continue learning, she said.
“It’s the experience, it’s the knowledge factor of all the different breeds and the history and how they’ve changed in evolution,” said Zuckerman. “It’s the education.”
In addition to grooming, Reining Cats and Dogs also offers professional dog training and day care, which is limited to 25 dogs per day to ensure personalized attention for each animal. The facility also has a live web cam, so that owners can check in on their pets throughout the day.
Reining Cats and Dogs also offers cageless overnight stays.
With only 10 weeks of ownership under her belt, Zuckerman said that she hasn’t made any changes to the business yet, noting that she doesn’t want to mess with a formula that has proven successful for more than a decade.
In the future, she hopes to develop partnerships with local animal shelters. A firm believer in animal adoptions, she hopes partnerships will allow the business and shelters to cross-promote events to help homeless animals find permanent, loving homes. In the meantime, owners of adopted pets will enjoy a 10 percent discount on all services at Reining Cats and Dogs.
“There are so many pets out there that do not have a home and it’s really heart-wrenching even thinking about it,” Zuckerman said. “If there’s anything else I can do to help, that’s the smallest thing I can do.”
Reining Cats and Dogs is located at 200 E. Main Street in Mount Kisco. To learn more, visit www.rcdwestchester.com or call 914-666-2121.
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