LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC News) — If you’ve ever turned the corner on First Street in Liverpool, you’re sure to have heard the happy customers of this local business before you reached the door.
Furrever Friends is a minority-owned shop that’s been in business for 10 years. They offer services from nail trims and bathing to the traditional hair cutting.
Manager Courtney Parsons used to be a groomer at Petco. She left four years ago for one big reason.
“They were more focused on quantity rather than quality for grooming,” said Parsons.
The quality of every dog they groom is what Furrever Friends is all about to associate Jessica Salomone.
“It’s like they’re our own, especially our regular ones,” said Salomone. “I have my hands on them more than their own veterinarian does.”
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Local dog groomer shows more commitment to customers than just cutting hair.
Nester: When you turn the corner on First Street in Liverpool, you’ll hear the happy customers of this local business before you even see the door. Furrever Friends is a minority-owned shop that’s been in business for almost 10 years. Manager Courntey Parsons used to be a groomer at Petco. She came to Furrever Friends looking for a change from her previous environment.
Parsons: They were more focused on quantity rather than quality for grooming.
Nester: And quality is what it’s all about to dog groomer Jessica Salomone.
Salomone: It’s like they’re our own, especially our regular ones. I have me hands on them more than their own veterinarian does.
Nester: For the employees of Furrever Friends, their job is more than just cutting hair.
Salomone: One dog that’s here today as a matter of fact, whenever he comes in and leaves, he gets excited and he’ll pee a little bit. I noticed there was a little blood in it. And I told them and they took him into the vet that night and he had kidney stones.
Parsons: When we see little things like that with dogs and they know to go to the vet and check it out, that’s like the big like, we did that. We told them and they got it figured out and the dog’s okay now.
Nester: And Furrever Friends knows the hard work is all worth it.
Salomone: You get peed on, you get pooped on. It’s very hard work, mentally and physically, but I wouldn’t do anything else, I love it.
Nester: Jessica Nester, NCC News
The employees of Furrever Friends create lasting relationships with regular customers, making them see their job as more than just cutting hair. Salomone recalled a story where their due diligence alerted the dog owner to a problem.
“One chihuahua, whenever he comes in and leaves, he gets excited and he’ll pee a little bit,” said Salomone. “I noticed there was a little blood in it and I told the owner. They took him into the vet that night and he had kidney stones.”
“When we see little things like that with dogs and they know to go to the vet and check it out, that’s the big, like, we did that,” said Parsons. “We told them and they got it figured out and the dog’s okay now.”
No matter the struggle, Furrever Friends knows any struggle is all worth it to watch happy, wagging tails.
“You get peed on, you get pooped on, but I wouldn’t do anything else,” said Salomone.
In addition to dog grooming, the business also accepts cats for the same services. A second location of Furrever Friends opened in Manlius in 2022.