By Tim Leeds
Angie Hofeldt has returned to the area to start working in
her career as a pet groomer.
Hofeldt starting working at Annie's Pet Hotel in November.
Hofeldt completed her course work at The Michigan School of
Canine Cosmetology in Lansing, Mich., last October, then
returned to her home near Lloyd. Mary Engelhardt, who owns
and operates the business with her daughter, Annie, said she
wasn't really looking to hire anyone when Hofeldt called
her, but she told her to come in for an interview.
"I thought if this person was willing to drive in from
Lloyd, Montana," she said, " I was impressed by her ability
and her drive."
Hofeldt said she has enjoyed her stay with the pet hotel so
far.
"I like it a lot," she said. "It's a lot more fun doing it
on my own than doing it at school."
She shares in the work at the business with Mary and Annie,
taking care of the facilities and animals as well as doing
grooming. Her training at the Lansing school for
certification included a variety of areas, including cats;
how to manage hard-to-handle dogs; how to recognize, handle
and groom different breeds and groups of dogs; training in
clipper and scissor work, and hand stripping and finishing.
Hofeldt worked at a horse ranch at Middletown, N.Y., just
outside of New York City, from Feb. 98 through Aug. 99
before she enrolled in the Lansing school. She said she has
always loved animals and "messing with hair and doing stuff
like that," so when she researched pet grooming on the
Internet it seemed like a good field to go into.
Mary Engelhardt said she had offered pet grooming herself,
but wanted to offer a more professional service with
professional quality. She said Hofeldt's training, ability
and attitude, and her wonderful way with the animals, has
made her a good addit
