New Jupiter Company Brings Grooming to Your Pet
New, specially equipped van makes experience pleasant for pets and owners

October 16, 2005 — Bright-Eyed Pets brings a whole new meaning to curbside service.

This new mobile pet grooming company owned by Tim and Jessica Vogel, lifelong pet owners and successful entrepreneurs, is fast becoming the alternative to on-site grooming, especially for pet owners who struggle with taking their dogs to be shampooed and clipped.

“My red tick hound, Wichita, won’t get into the car without a fight and the two basset hounds are difficult for me because I have osteoarthritis,” said Darlene Cash of Jupiter Farms. “Wichita sheds a lot and having BE Pets come here every two weeks helps a lot with the shedding problem. It’s been a big help with the bassets, Wilbur and Wili, too, since the groomer with BE Pets makes sure their ears are clean.”

Vogel said that the full-sized BE Pets van is equipped with a tub, with massaging shower and shampoo dispensers, and a grooming table, where Janice Irving, a certified master groomer, trims toenails, cleans teeth, clips and grooms the dogs. They use a special vacuum with the grooming clippers so that it siphons away the pet hair, keeping the facility clean.

“This is the best grooming situation I’ve ever had,” said Irving. “The space is very efficiently designed and everything is spotlessly clean.”

The van carries both fresh water and “gray water” tanks and its own generator, so that it is completely self-contained. In addition, after each dog is groomed, the area is thoroughly sanitized so pets are kept as comfortable as possible and are not exposed to health threats.

Vogel and Irving work together as a dog grooming team. Jessica Vogel, who created the company’s logo, signage and Web site, is part owner and runs her own graphic arts business.

The couple moved to the Jupiter area four months ago from the Washington, D.C. area where Tim had worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Flexcar and Jessica had owned a graphic arts studio. After doing research, they created Bright-Eyed Pets, and ordered the specially designed van to accommodate the one-the-road grooming service. Irving, said Vogel, was the first person they hired, and they are pleased they were able to get someone with her experience. The van isn’t just transportation and a grooming station, but has become a very visible way of advertising the company, since there are refrigerator magnets on the back of the van, with a “take one” sign above them. Business has been so good over the past six weeks that they have ordered a second van to serve the Jupiter, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens areas.

BE Pets charges between $65-$85, although a “show cut” for a standard Poodle, for instance, can be more expensive. Dematting, tooth-brushing, flea and tick treatments are extra, as is toenail painting. But toenail clipping is part of the fee.

BE Pets travels throughout the area during the week, and grooms dogs on an appointment only basis.