Until now cleaning your dog meant bathing it at home or taking it to the groomer.
That was all fine until the age of self serve, do-it-yourself dog washing arrived in Canada via Saanich entrepreneur Evelyn Rutherford.
It started four years ago when the Gordon Head resident adopted Odin, her Bernese Mountain Dog.
B次元官网网址淚 hadnB次元官网网址檛 had a dog for years and I started to realize how difficult it was to keep him clean,B次元官网网址� she said.
Rutherford was sifting through social media online with an eye for both business opportunities, and dog cleaning suggestions, when she found the answer to both, the K9000. The Australian invention (from 2005) is the equivalent to a doggy wash vending machine. No appointments necessary, you just walk right up, tap your credit card, choose your soap settings (regular shampoo or flea shampoo), open the door and place your dog in the bathing area.
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B次元官网网址淥nce I saw the video of the K9000 on social media I thought, B次元官网网址榯hatB次元官网网址檚 it, thatB次元官网网址檚 what I need,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Rutherford said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 messy washing the dog at home, this avoids that, and itB次元官网网址檚 more affordable than a dog groomer.B次元官网网址�
So, after 25 years as a management consultant, Rutherford is now in business for herself, as she owns the exclusive rights to distribute the machines in Canada. So far sheB次元官网网址檚 sold 15 with more on the way. There are more than 1,700 installed worldwide.
Two K9000 machines operate in Victoria, one at RutherfordB次元官网网址檚 Esquimalt shop, the (602b Esquimalt Rd.), and one at the Mr. PetB次元官网网址檚 store in Tillicum shopping centre. Mr. PetB次元官网网址檚 actually has six of them at stores in B.C. and one in Alberta while WoofyB次元官网网址檚 pet store has one in Comox with another on the way in Courtenay.
The machines are built to last at least 20 years with high quality parts. It has itB次元官网网址檚 own B次元官网网址渙n-board hot water unitB次元官网网址� so it only needs access to a 240-volt outlet, cold water and a drain.
B次元官网网址淎 short haired dog takes about 10 minutes, maybe 12 or up to 14 for dogs with longer hair,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said.
SheB次元官网网址檚 found regulars tend to use them on a three week cycle. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also no appointments necessary. Her own store is open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Using the K9000 is akin to using a do-it-yourself car wash, with a knob that selects each stage of the wash. In fact, there are K9000s at car washes.
The wash cycle finishes with a blow dry and also B次元官网网址� free of charge in the newest machines B次元官网网址� a short cleaning stage to ready it for the next customer.
The last stage is key, as many of the machines are in unmanned storefronts, such as RutherfordB次元官网网址檚 Furever Clean storefront in Esquimalt.
B次元官网网址淭he doors automatically unlock at 6 a.m. and lock at 11 p.m.,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 can watch the store through video feed on my phone and monitor the sales at anytime.B次元官网网址�
The machine gains increased interest at each pet industry trade show Rutherford attends. Trends from Australia, home state of the K9000, show it is becoming popular to install in pet-friendly condos.
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