TLC's Marg Scott & her
Mascots ' Zoe & Atticus'

Sometimes your “calling” is discovered later in life. A lost Bouvier & subsequently the local SPCA helped direct me to a new life style & profession. I also discovered the satisfying hobby of fostering & finding permanent homes for orphaned & abused dogs & cats. It was time to leave my comfortable government job and the idea of becoming a professional dog groomer would enable me to continue my rescue work & expose my orphans to a larger potential adoption pool.

With my diploma from the Ontario School of Dog Grooming in Toronto & training in the US for equipment repair & sharpening, TLC (Tender Loving Care) Grooming & Sharpening Services opened from my home in 1986……….I attended Professional Grooming Seminars on a yearly basis & made a point of upgrading my equipment & introducing these new enhancements to the local groomers, as a result my retailing grew over the years. I offered free sharpening as a way to prove that TLC was a cut above the competition at that time. In 1994 Ottawa Pet Rescue Network was formed. I and several of our members received the Muriel Davies Kindness to Animals Award from the Ottawa Humane Society in 1997. Orphans were on display in my shop, so many found homes with the help of my customers.

The business moved store front in 2001 & has continued to
grow as our specialty is the Retailing, Repair & Sharpening of grooming equipment. I commenced sending out quarterly Newsletters profiling new discoveries & equipment to over 400 groomers across Canada and this has generated a large increase in mail orders. Victoria our Customer Service expert now claims to be “very overworked”!TLC is the exclusive representative of the Les Poochs line of Shampoo & Fragrances in Canada & we have attained the level of Director for the Oxyfresh line of Pet Health & Dental Products.

In the Spring of 2005, we became the Ottawa region’s distributor of the HokaMix line of Pet wellness supplements.

We provide “Private Grooming Lessons” for pet owners as another way to satisfy my ongoing desire to enhance the lives of pets & to assist owners in the care of their pets.

Years of experience has proven that to enable a business to grow you must involve yourself in community groups relating to your field & never stop learning & upgrading your skills. Location of your business is of ultimate importance & you must expect to spend a large part of your budget on Advertising. The gentle care & skilled handling of your customer’s pets will ensure loyalty and word of mouth advertising.