At right: Katti Gamble of St. Ignace, who started a new dog grooming company in her home, combs the hair of her own Shih Tzu, Mazie, until it is silky smooth. Ms. Gamble takes dogs of all shapes and sizes and said she loves working with animals. Katti Gamble, a St. Ignace resident and a 2004 LaSalle High School graduate, has always had a love for dogs and other animals growing up, and she said she always dreamed of having a golden retriever.

Not only does Ms. Gamble now own three dogs, a chocolate lab, a golden retriever, and a Shih Tzu, but she also has dogs and their owners standing in line to see her. She started a dog grooming business, Katti's K-9's, about six months ago, and said the response has been so good that her next open appointments are in mid-November.

"I am definitely getting more experienced now," she said. "I have built up some confidence and I really enjoy it."

After taking online classes through Penn Foster Career School in Pennsylvania, Ms. Gamble received her pet groomers certification and her first set of tools -- brushes, combs, clippers, and other grooming implements.

Joni Grogan, who also does dog grooming, helped by showing Ms. Gamble the basics and gave her hands-on instruction that she said cannot be gained through a book or online lecture.

While learning these skills, Ms. Gamble groomed her own three dogs and eventually offered her services to local pet owners free of charge until she was more confident.

"That is kind of how I started," she said. "I practiced on my own dogs."

She splits her time between working at George's Body Shop during daytime hours and her pet grooming business in the evenings. Ms. Gamble hopes someday it will be her full-time job.

"I would love to make it a permanent job," she said. "I enjoy every minute of it."

Since she started, Ms. Gamble said she has groomed more than 100 dogs, some of them repeat customers. She takes all shapes and sizes of dogs and said she may consider adding services for other animals in the future.

The grooming services include baths, and care of ears, nails, eyes, and feet, de-shedding, gland releasing, brushing, flea baths, and flea and tick collars.

Customers should expect to book an appointment two or three weeks in advance, Ms. Gamble said, because she is so busy. Customers have thanked her for saving them trips to other groomers further away in Petoskey or Cheboygan, she said.

"A lot of people have said it's nicer and more convenient for them to stay here in town," she said.

The grooming services are usually a package deal, Ms. Gamble said, but pet owners can make special requests like ribbons and bandannas and she is willing to do only portions of the services if the customer asks.

Someday, she said, she would like to expand the business to include daytime appointments, other types of pets, a drop-off and pick-up service, kenneling, and doggy day care.

Dog owners interested in Ms. Gamble's services may contact her at (906) 430-1575.