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SALT LAKE CITY -- Dog owners now have a way to wash their dogs kind of like their cars. It's a new doggy wash right next to a car wash in Salt Lake City.
At Kenny's Car Wash, at 624 S. 300 West, you pull into a bay to wash your car. Next door at Paw Paw's Self Serve Dog Wash and Boutique, you put your dog into a bay to wash him.
Owners Bob and Julie Gempeler showed us how it's done with their Portuguese water dog, Raffi. He climbed up the ramp into the stainless steel bay, was tethered to front, and quietly enjoyed the water and blueberry shampoo. Julie wore the apron that's provided.
"Mom and dad don't get wet. The dog's happy when they are all done. They get a treat, and they are on their way," Bob explained.
The Gempelers say the dog wash bays were all the rage at a recent car wash convention in Las Vegas, so they decided to give it a try.
They have several bays for different size dogs, with prices ranging from $12 to $17. In the back is a grassy area for dogs to do their business. They also have locally made treats, toys and leashes for sale.
"One-stop washing and shopping," Bob explained.
When you are all done, you can give your dog a towel-dry or use the no-heat, but high-pressure blow-dryers next to the bay. After a few shakes, Raffi sat still for his blow-dry finish.
Bob says they haven't had a big grand opening yet because they want to see how things go and if customers will come. So far, they have heard great things from people who have come by, including a couple who come often from Tooele to give their dog a wash.
Julie says people have been surprised by how their dog handles the bath.
"They're going, ‘Oh, she's going to be horrible. She's going to be horrible!' But then they say she was so good, she was better than she was at home," Julie said.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
