A big blue van, with a dog in a tub surrounded by bubbles, pulled up on Skid Row next to a homeless man. A man popped his head out the van’s window and asked him if his dog would like some grooming.
The man looked puzzled at first. Then he looked at his matted dog, who hadn’t had a bath or haircut for God knows how long, and nodded.
An hour later, the dog emerged from the van looking like a completely different dog. His dirty, matted coat had been washed, trimmed and brushed until it was soft and shiny. His eyes seemed brighter, and he walked out with a new sense of confidence, his tail held high. Before leaving, he was also given some treats, which he happily devoured.
Outside the Hollywood Mobile Grooming van, several other homeless people were already waiting for their turn. Chuck Rubin, who owns the company with his wife, Yael, has been volunteering his services at dog shelters and on Skid Row through their nonprofit, Hollywood Rescue Grooming Inc., for the past 11 years. During that time, the Rubins and their crew have provided free grooming to some 5,000 dogs.
The couple, who immigrated from Israel to the United States, launched their business, Go Hollywood Grooming, in 2001 with a single grooming van. Twenty-five years later, their small business had grown into a fleet of luxury mobile spa vans serving Los Angeles, as well as a full-service store in Burbank. But the couple didn’t want to provide their services only to those who could afford them. They also wanted to offer grooming to those who needed it the most — dogs at shelters and dogs living with their owners on the streets.
“Sometimes the owners are really afraid to let us take their dogs, even though they can wait right outside the van,” Yael said. “We tell them they can come inside and watch us work. The dogs feel better, too. You can really see how much they enjoy the treatment and how relaxed they become. You give them love and attention, some treats, water and gifts and you get kisses in return.”
But isn’t it difficult to let them go back to the harsh conditions of living on the streets with their owners? I asked.
“First of all, some of the dogs on Skid Row are treated better than some other dogs,” Chuck said. “Their owners are always there with them, and they take care of them to the best of their ability. These are their babies. These dogs are all they care about. There are also many organizations that provide them with free food and other supplies. They may not have much, but they do their best to take care of their dogs.”
The idea for the nonprofit came after a company approached the Rubins to give a makeover to a homeless dog in terrible condition. The dog was so severely matted that they had to shave him down completely. When they finished, the transformation was so remarkable that the video of the transformation went viral.
The experience made the Rubins realize how much they could do for dogs whose owners could not afford grooming. But as a for-profit business, they couldn’t accept donations to provide free services. So they decided to establish a nonprofit, Hollywood Rescue Grooming Inc., allowing them to raise money and use it to groom dogs in shelters and those living on the streets with their owners.
At the shelters, the grooming does more than make the dogs look and smell better. Many of the dogs are eager for human touch and attention, and after a bath, haircut, treats and plenty of affection from the groomers, their entire demeanor can change. They seem more relaxed, happier and more comfortable around people. Looking and feeling better can also give them a better chance of being adopted.
Chuck has seen it firsthand.
“I’ll never forget the first time we came to a shelter and groomed a cocker spaniel,” he said. “He had been watching people come and go, passing by his cage, and no one picked him. We were right there at the shelter, and after we groomed him, a couple came in looking for a dog and adopted him. That’s when we knew it really works.”
In total, 89% of those shelter dogs were adopted within days of receiving their grooming, the couple said.
Once a year, the Rubins and their crew hold their big “Santa Paw” event, bringing together volunteer groomers, veterinarians and photographers for a day of pampering shelter dogs and sending them into the holidays looking — and feeling — their best.
For the Rubins, the volunteer work is also part of the training they provide to their groomers. Working with dogs they might not encounter in a typical grooming salon gives them hands-on experience dealing with dogs that can be fearful, nervous or unfamiliar with being handled.
“We want our groomers to know how to approach a dog and understand what the dog is telling them through its body language,” Yael said. “We’ve been doing this since we started the business, so our groomers know that giving back is part of what we do.”
On Sept. 24, the Rubins marked 25 years of grooming dogs at a gala held at the Sun Rose Hotel in West Hollywood.
For the Rubins, it was a milestone that brought their journey full circle – from running a single grooming van to building a business that has made giving back an integral part of its work.
The gala, hosted by pet foster advocate Kate Steinberg, also raised money for an additional mobile grooming truck and a dedicated staff to serve shelter dogs.
For more info, gohollywoodgrooming.com
