Groomer Mitzi Eiler recently began grooming at the Thunder Road Veterinary Services in Maynardville. Grooming was not something she planned on doing as a career, but a turn of events changed her vocational goals.
The new groomer has been in this profession for nearly 15 years. She began her work here in Union County in April, after working at PetsMart. While working in Oak Ridge (where she’d worked for almost 17 years), Mitzi was taking her pet to be groomed when the opportunity to be trained as a groomer was presented. She took the chance to do something she says she now loves.
“I fell in love with it. It’s like therapy for me.” She says, “I’ve always been an animal person since I was just a little girl.” Mitzi and her family have a love for animals that motivates them to care for them, give them a home and give them the TLC they need. Even her children love animals, and despite the financial burden of owning animals, there is always room in their hearts for animals in need.
Coming to Union County was an unplanned development that came about from her husband seeing an advertisement on Facebook for an opening in a grooming position at Thunder Road Vet. Due to circumstances surrounding Covid-19 making her current position unavailable, Mitzi decided to take the job and as she says now “the rest is history.” She absolutely loves working in Union County and cherishes the chance to work with critters.
Mitzi has not moved to Union County but still resides in Oak Ridge, from where she commutes every day.
Mitzi says she wishes they were busier, but not a lot of people realize grooming services are offered at Thunder Road Vet. She states that word-of-mouth is a great advertisement because owners are more likely to take their pets to a place they have heard good things about from someone they know. So try it out! Spread the word and help a small business become greater than it already is.
When speaking of the vet, Mitzi says “Dr. Williams is great!” she says he does an awesome job with the patients he sees.
Thunder Road Veterinary offers grooming services for all dogs and even cats. Something unique about them is that they are able to care for animals that need a little extra attention, like sedation, due to aggression or anxiety. Sometimes this needs to be done when the groomer is shaving, de-shedding, or nail trimming, or doing a paw trim or a clip comb.
When the Halls location opens, better things will be available, such as bigger boarding facilities, and the surgery center. Grooming will be offered at that location as well.
Mitzi says her favorite part of the job is interacting with the dogs. What she especially loves is when a dog is mischievous at the beginning and by the end of the groom it has warmed up and is better behaved.
Part of the grooming process may include treating for fleas and ticks, shampoos and other options.
Bring your dog or cat to Mitzi at Thunder Road Vet and let her get them looking like the beautiful creatures they are! She will be not only make them look great, but also gives them the affection they love.