Owner Gina Drawbaugh talks with customers at Gina’s Pet Salon in Hillcrest.
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ith a single question, “Do you want to go see Gina,” Abby and Libby jump up, ready to head to their beloved groomer’s newly opened shop in Hillcrest. “They’re so excited,” says their “mom” Betty Ratcliff of West Little Rock. Betty was just as excited as her black and white Shih Tzus when she found out her longtime groomer and friend Gina Drawbaugh was opening Gina’s Pet Salon at 2017 Kavanaugh. “They’re crazy about her,” she says of her babies. Lily, a six-year-old Maltese, also “loves” Gina, who has been in the business for about 30 years. Whenever Debbie Baer, Lily’s mom, mentions “Gina,” she says, “Lily cocks her head and wags her tail.” Both she and Betty describe her as a dog whisperer. Gina’s mother-in-law, and backup phone receptionist, Mary Magee says, “She’s really very talented and has a special way with dogs.” When opening her Hillcrest shop, Gina says, “I decided I wanted to create a calm environment for the dogs so they would feel comfortable.”
Dogs get pampered at new pet salon 20 HEIGHTS & HILLCREST • 2011
With that attitude, it’s not surprising that she’s achieving her dreams. Unlike some big-box pet grooming shops—marked by lots of barking and whining and trembling dogs—Gina’s shop is quiet, even though she often has a dozen or so regulars awaiting a bath, pedicure or comb-out. She’s received a warm welcome from nearby businesses and local residents. “Our reception has been nice and positive. I feel very fortunate,” Gina says. After only a few weeks, faithful, longtime customers started finding out about Gina’s summer opening, and they are calling to book appointments. Gina says she’s grateful to a “I wanted to number of people who helped get create a calm her dream off the ground, including her mother-in-law and her mother environment Connie Risse, who alerted her to the for the dogs so vacant Hillcrest building that has they would feel served a lot of purposes. Joan Morton, a friend and fan, comfortable.” created and continues to maintain a not-so-small garden in front of the shop, and there’s the work of friend and interior designer David Peterson, who took her shop from ordinary to amazing using brightly-colored walls. “He did a wonderful job,” says Gina, standing at the front door near a large original painting by local artist Kendall Stanford.