Putting Their Best Paw Forward

If you think you’re spending too much money on grooming, you are!

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By Paul Lonardo

CATS ONLY SUNDAY’s stress free grooming for your kitty!

Christine Nickell and Jules Martins are passionate about dogs, but at Village Paws in Smithfield, a pet grooming business they started together, the residents of the community enjoy a mutual benefit.

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“Dogs have always been an important part of my family growing up,” said Jules, who was nine years old when she rescued her first dog and took it home. She’s had a passion for rescues ever since.

Originally from Framingham, Mass., when Jules moved to Rhode Island in 2000, she already had extensive experience working with animals. When people ask Jules how long she has been grooming dogs, she likes to tell them that she groomed for Noah on the Ark. While it hasn’t been quite that long, Jules got her start in the business in 1978.

In 2011, Jules and Christine established a successful dog grooming business in Foster, before opening Village Paws in Smithfield, in 2017. The Foster business was sold shortly afterward, and Village Paws became the sole focus. The business took o right away, and with success and growth came opportunities to help animals, as well as the community, in a number of ways.

The Kibble Closet, run by Kristene Hebert, was something that was actually established in 2015. Through donations of pet food, this service provides free dog and cat food to pet owners who are struggling to feed their pets. If anyone would like to donate material goods, including pet food, cat litter, pet beds, and blankets, or if you are in need of pet food or supplies, contact Kristene, or drop by Village Paws to find out more about this program.

Village Paws will often hold charity dog washes, donating the proceeds to local rescues, the Kibble Closet drive, or for purchasing backpacks and other school supplies for children.

“Village Paws has been such a wonderful platform to do charity work,” Jules said. “I like to say that we are giving for a living.”

Anytime they hear about someone who needs help, whether it is pet related or not, the owners of Village Paws will do everything they can to help out.

The owners recently teamed up with Meals on Wheels to provide pet food for pet owners who are homebound. Village Paws receives donations from Little Rhody Rescue, a non-profit dog rescue and quarantine facility located in Chepachet. Any over ow they generate goes to Friends of Homeless Animals, a local animal rescue organization, as well as to a sister rescue organization in Mississippi. So, the generosity is spread around.

Every Christmas, Village Paws adopts two families that the whole community gets behind to help, ensuring that these families have a nice holiday dinner. Gift certificates for grocery stores are donated and there are ample presents provided for the children and adults to open.

“There’s nothing better than to help someone who is less fortunate than you,” Jules said.

One of the things Jules and Christine are most proud of is that they’re able to o er discounts to veterans, those with disabilities, and senior citizens. They pride themselves on having really reasonable prices for everyone.

Village Paws is a full-service groomer, which includes nail trimming. One thing that they o er that you likely won’t get anywhere else is free nail trimming for your pet, if that is the only service you are seeking, with 100% of all tips collected going to various charitable endeavors within the community.

“If we have the money, we donate it to anyone who needs it,” Jules explained. “It’s something that Christine and I love to do.”

While Village Paws is open every day, except for Sunday and Tuesday, their hours will vary, and that is dependent upon their customers, not them. Appointments are encouraged, but Jules and Christine understand that dogs do not recognize 9-5, so if a special situation comes up, where you have to drop your pet o earlier or you have to work late, the ladies at Village Paws will accommodate you.

“We understand that life happens,” Jules said, “so we’re very exible with our time.”

If someone wants to stay while their pet is being groomed, that’s something that they welcome.

“We take the time to develop a rapport with pets, as well as with people,” Jules said. “We try to remain a stress-free environment for the animals and their owners.”

One Sunday each month they have what is called a Dog-Free Day, where they will groom cats only, so that their feline friends can get clean and trimmed, without the added worry of having dogs around them.

These are all the things that Village Paws does for pets and their owners. The relationships that Jules and Christine have developed over the years with both pets and people is something the owners of Village Paws cherish.

“The welcome we’ve gotten from the town of Smithfield has been overwhelming,” Jules said. “The people are wonderful and generous. They give so much and we pass it forward.”

Visit Village Paws at 615 Putnam Pike in Smithfield, or call for an appointment at 401-949-5000.