Gabi grew up in the northern Utah mountains with an early passion for all animals. As a young teenager—after nearly a decade of convincing her parents—she finally got her own Bichon puppy, Gus, who quickly stole her heart. When she took him in for his first haircut, she immediately loved the notion of making people’s pets feel clean and look adorable. She attended her local grooming academy and worked as a dog stylist through the end of high school and college (go WSU Cougs!). Gabi has now been in the industry for a decade and is dedicated to fostering trust and communication with pet owners, as well as creating a pleasant experience for each pup to nurture a confident lifelong relationship with spa day.

Jessie began her dog grooming career in 2011, but her love for animals started long before that. Growing up, she spent school breaks on her grandfather's ranch and became active in her local FFA chapter as a young adult. Her love for dogs blossomed when she took in a stray retriever mix she named Dallas. Shortly after, Jessie found her calling in the pet care community. With compassion at the heart of her work, she focuses on building trusting relationships to ensure a positive grooming experience for both dogs and their owners.

Before she ever had a name, Penny roamed the streets of Southern California—scrappy, smart, and full of spirit. For the first six months of her life, she ran with a pack of strays, surviving off instinct and grit. When animal control finally picked her up, she was labeled aggressive, kept in isolation, and scheduled to be euthanized.

But fate had other plans.

A woman and her daughter visited the shelter to adopt one of the other street dogs. That’s when they noticed Penny, held alone. The shelter warned them she was unadoptable, but when Penny saw her old packmate, something in her changed. She became alert and responsive. They decided to take a chance.

Penny lived with her first pup parents for five years. She never fully trusted strangers and had a habit of escaping to wander the neighborhood. While she stayed guarded around people, she had a soft spot for other animals—especially cats.

Then one day, I came to visit. As usual, they put Penny away for safety, warning me she didn’t like strangers. But during the visit, Penny barked, scratched, and whined at the door until she finally managed to break free. She ran full speed straight at me—and instead of attacking, she jumped into my lap, tail wagging, and gently licked my face like she’d known me forever. No one could believe it—not even her pup parents.

A few months later, her pup parents, feeling overwhelmed by Penny’s escape antics and unruly behavior, asked if I would take her since she had clearly bonded with me. I agreed without hesitation.

At first, Penny seemed shut down and quiet in her new home. Then I realized she was experiencing nicotine withdrawal after living for years in a home with heavy smoke. As her body detoxed, her personality started to shine. For the first year, Penny would only let me groom her—and for the record, I’m not a professional dog groomer; I’m a graphic and web designer! But she trusted me, and that trust made all the difference. Eventually, my close friend (now wife), Jessie—a professional groomer—gently introduced her to a calm, friendly salon environment. Penny slowly adjusted and came to enjoy the care and attention. Her coat blossomed, and so did she.

She became part of the family—gentle with kids, social with other dogs, and completely devoted to us. I even rescued another dog, Teller, who looked strikingly similar to Penny. They became fast friends, and though Penny sometimes tired of his puppy energy, their bond was strong. When Teller passed away unexpectedly, Penny mourned deeply.

In 2018, we adopted Penny a little sister named Kenzie—a big-hearted pup who ended up being more than twice Penny's size. Penny could hardly keep up with her energy, but she tried her best to teach Kenzie some manners and show her the ropes.

In late 2019, Jessie and I made the big move from Southern California to Spokane, Washington. With her pup parents' blessing, Penny came with us. She thrived in the quieter, greener environment and quickly adapted to her new life.

We had ten unforgettable years together. Penny passed away in 2021, and in the months after, I began drawing her to cope with the grief. One day, while sketching her likeness, the name Penny’s Paw Spa came to me—a tribute not just to her, but to everything she represented: patience, resilience, and the power of a second chance.

Jessie had always dreamed of opening her own grooming salon, and Penny gave us the inspiration to build something meaningful. Our logo honors both Penny and Teller, and our mission is rooted in the love, trust, and care that transformed Penny from an "unadoptable" street dog into the heart of our family.

At Penny’s Paw Spa, we believe every dog deserves to feel safe, clean, and loved—just like Penny did.