Lee Ann is the owner of City Dogs, as well as a groomer. She has been a Bellingham resident since moving here to attend Western Washington University in 1980. Her passion for dogs led her to a career in professional grooming over 18 years ago. In 1997, she opened City Dogs Grooming at its current location. She has a special affinity for standard poodles, terriers and rare breeds. She shares her home with her husband, 8-year-old daughter and 4 dogs. Lyn has been with City Dogs for over three years as a bather -brusher and receptionist. She developed exceptional handling skills through her experience in veterinary clinics and boarding facilities. She always greets each dog personally each morning when she arrives and her upbeat personality charms the four-legged clients as well as their guardians. She lives in Ferndale with her two children. Ashley joined City Dogs this fall, bringing three years experience in professional dog grooming and salon management. Her grooming knowledge coupled with her intelligence, sense of humor and wonderful customer service skills have been a welcome addition to the shop. Maria has been a member of the City Dogs staff since relocating to Bellingham from California in 2006. While there, she received rigorous training in a high-volume shop which she combines with her eye for detail and an incomparable work ethic. She is an exceptional bather-brusher who continues to work with us on an on-call basis while raising her 2 year old son with her husband here in Bellingham. Melissa Hickel City Dogs is very fortunate to have found Melissa soon after she moved to Bellingham. Born and raised in Federal Way she recently moved here to be closer to her sisters and attend the vet tech program at Bellingham Vocational Technical College. Her training in a vet clinic and in kennel management surpassed the skills required for the entry level position of bather-brusher. Her previous experience combined with her amazing sense of animals and enthusiasm about all aspects of dog grooming have facilitated her rapid transition into a groomer apprentice position. Christie Howard Christie has been an enthusiastic and loyal client for years. She is a highly skilled critical care nurse with a full-time position at a clinic in Everett. She often mentioned her desire to learn to groom but it wasn’t until she appeared at the shop without an appointment, professionally attired and resume in hand that we realized she was serious. She has become a wonderful addition to the staff, working one or two days a week . She is committed to understanding why as well as how to do things.