Grand Opening This Saturday for Waimea Pet Grooming Business

A grand opening will be held this Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Happy Tails To You pet grooming, which recently moved to a larger location within Aina Hou Animal Hospital in Waimea.

In addition to the grand opening for Happy Tails to You, the veterinary hospital will hold an open house featuring free pet seminars and a dog walk around the 11-acre property.

Both companies will be giving away prizes with drawings held throughout the day.

Happy Tails to You opened in April adjacent to Veterinary Associates Inc., also in Waimea.

Charlie Rapoza, owner of Happy Tails To You, a pet grooming salon in Waimea. Photo credit Charlie Rapoza.

Owner Charlie Rapoza said that in the months since opening he has hired additional staff and was looking to expand.

“I wanted to expand and we were able to get a bigger area [at Aina Hou],” said Rapoza, adding “we have a bigger bay for ourselves in a bigger building.”

At the same time, Dr. Brady Bergin, owner of Aina Hou Animal Hospital, has been adding staff to his veterinary practice, which focuses on horses and small animals.

Bergin is the son of Waimea veterinarian and paniolo preservationist Dr. Billy Bergin. The younger Dr. Bergin has become well known in North and West Hawaii for his work relocating the Kona Nightingale donkeys to the mainland.

“The main reason for the open house is to showcase the new grooming business,” said Bergin.

“It’s very professional and a nice addition to our town.

“I also wanted people to see the expansion of our business. We have more going on than many people realize.”

In February Bergin expanded operating hours and hired two additional veterinarians, Dr. Jenny Brundage and Dr. Kehau Noa.

He just hired Dr. Kelleyerin Clabaugh, an equine veterinarian, who relocated to the Big Island from Oregon to accept a position at Aina Hou Animal Hospital.

“I wanted to bring her on board for several years and just recently the time was right for her to relocate to Hawaii,” said Bergin.

“She’s a perfect fit for our team and uses cutting edge modalities. She brings a lot to the table in terms of our equine clients,” added Bergin.

Bergin said that the grand opening of the pet grooming businesses is a good opportunity for the community to visit the animal hospital and meet the new staff.

Each of the veterinarians will be offering a free pet seminar during the open house.

Dr. Brundage will give a talk about preventing pet poisonings, while Dr. Noa will teach a seminar on pet first-aid and Dr. Claubaugh will discuss performance-enhancing diagnostics and treatment for horses.

For more information on Happy Tails To You call (808) 896-5586. For more information on the free pet seminars and Aina Hou Animal Hospital, call 989-6149.