A Los Angeles-based startup has expanded its mobile dog grooming services to the Phoenix market.
Barkbus said this week that its mobile dog grooming services are now available in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe with more areas to be added in the future.
“We are thrilled to start servicing Phoenix, a city that loves dogs as much as we do. It is our mission to provide the dogs in our care with an unparalleled experience, creating an environment where they feel safe and calm while providing pet parents with a stress-free and seamless booking experience,” Jeff Safenowitz, CEO of Barkbus, said in a statement. "In the coming months, we will expand to more cities, ending traumatic trips to the salon for even more pets across the U.S.”
Barkbus chose Phoenix because of its growing population and research from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Housing Survey, which found that Phoenix has the second-highest percentage of households with dogs in the U.S.
Some 782,000 households in Maricopa County reported owning at least one dog, and there are approximately 65,000 online searches locally for dog grooming services, according to the company.
Barkbus was founded in 2017 as an alternative to grooming salon trips, allowing the pets and their owners to remain in their own homes for the service rather than travel to a grooming salon or pet store.
Pet owners can book appointments using the Barkbus website and a mobile pet stylist will arrive at their doorstep in a Mercedes Hanvey van equipped for dog-grooming services.
So far, Barkbus has hired two groomers in the Valley and is rapidly growing its team. The company plans to partner with local pet rescue organizations to provide free grooming services to help dogs find homes.
Phoenix marks the latest metro area expansion for Barkbus, following its entry into Dallas in March. The company also operates in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.
