Downers Grove native achieves dream with opening new pet salon

DOWNERS GROVE – Gloria Davis knew she wanted to work with animals since she was a little kid. But after working at a veterinary clinic, she realized seeing animals in pain might not be the best avenue for her passion.

“It can be pretty hard and pretty depressing,” the Downers Grove 27-year-old said. “But I still wanted to help them, and with grooming you can help their teeth and their health.

“If I can groom them and wash them, and take care of them and make them feel better, and they’re happy at the end, that’s everything to me.”

After years of working in pet salons, Davis and her family opened their own this fall, GiGi’s Pet Salon, 1913 Ogden Ave.

The moniker comes from a nickname her parents had for Davis when she was little, she said.

She doesn’t work at shelters or veterinary clinics any longer, but her business’ location next door to the Western Suburban Humane Society offers her more opportunity to help animals, she said. Last week, Davis planned to meet with Western Suburban Humane Society officials to see what free or reduced-cost grooming services GiGi’s Salon can offer to the no-kill shelter.

The first time she worked at a pet grooming salon, she said she instantly knew it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. The Downers Grove North High School graduate went to grooming school in Naperville.

She opened the business with her fiance George Emmerich and her dad Robert Davis, a Bellwood firefighter.

Lucky for Davis, her father also has a keen interest in animals. Growing up, he always had German shepherds and Dalmatians around the house, along with cats and hamsters.

Her father “always wanted to open a groom shop when he retired,” she said. “So when he said let’s do it, I said ‘Yes! It’s my dream.’”

After working in several grooming shops in the area, Davis had a good idea of exactly what she wanted in their new, customized store.

“They can get anything from just a nail trim, to a bath and brush,” she said. “My favorite is when they bring a long-haired cat in and they want you to turn it into a lion, with a mane and a little puff on their tail. It’s so cute.”

The business also offers teeth cleaning.

“A lot of people don’t understand the importance of dental health,” she said. “It can significantly improve their health overall.”

Davis also had words of advice for new or prospective pet owners.

“The main thing I believe in is spaying and neutering pets and always considering adoption first,” she said. “Right now at this very minute there are a million animals that are wonderful animals that are being put down. There are more and more dogs and cats being put down every day.”