Melissa - Proprietor & Groomer
Over the course of her career, Melissa has had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented groomers in BC, as well as many amazing groomers from Japan, both of whom have allowed her to develop and perfect her grooming style.
Though creative styling is her passion, she has a soft spot for senior and special needs dogs and has mastered the patience required to handle difficult and/or nervous dogs. She’s adept in all-breed clips and specializes in grooming Poodles and Pomeranians, with a specific interest in Asian style grooming and hand scissoring.
Melissa has a life-long passion for dogs. In addition to grooming, she has trained and participated in various other dog activities including agility, obedience, sheep herding, and has also competed and placed first in a national dog grooming competition.
After closing her Vancouver shop, Rover’s Return, in March of 2020 Melissa decided to move her business closer to home and bring her 20 years of grooming experience to the Sunshine Coast.
Babette
The namesake for Babette’s Barber, Babette has always been the main source of inspiration and motivation for Melissa. It was her dream to own a grooming salon that provided the same care and attention to detail that she wanted for her own dogs, in particular Babette.
Babette was a Pom/Chihuahua cross who could keep up with any dog in her day. Brave, calm, confident, and ready to run for days. Even in her waning years she was always good to go and refused to be left behind.
We lost Babette in October 2019 at the wise old age of 14. Melissa’s dream has always been to open this shop and to have Babette there to greet customers new and old alike. Sadly, we’ll be opening without her there. We dearly hope it will have her energy and enthusiasm, and that your dogs will come to be enthusiastic customers.
Cora
Cora began her life in Thailand as a street dog, growing up around construction sites and ending up in the Soi Dog rescue shelter. After spending a season in Thailand, and falling in love with the street dogs she met, Melissa took a chance and adopted Cora, bringing her to Canada in 2015. She quickly adapted to life in the Pacific Northwest, and will most likely be the first to greet you when you come to visit.
