Award for dog lover Roberta

A NENAGH woman with a love for dogs has won a top award for her pet grooming business.

Roberta Guest’s little canine-caring firm in Limerick has been voted top dog grooming salon in Munster in The Local Pet Awards.

Like her late father John, a former member of An Garda Síochána and a dog lover all his life, Roberta has followed a similar path and is also a member of the force, based in Limerick for the past 24 years.

She also inherited her dad’s passion for canines, which prompted her to set up her grooming firm, Muddy Fluffers Dog Grooming & Canine Care, which she runs from her home in Dooradoyle.

“My passion for animals, in particular dogs, would stem from early childhood,” Roberta told The Guardian.

“My late father had a huge interest in working breeds, gundogs in particular.

“I cannot ever remember a time not having dogs growing up. We were taught to respect and care for them - they were always a big part of our lives.”

A few years back Roberta began to study various canine related areas such as animal anatomy and physiology. She also studies areas such as canine obedience and canine psychology.

PASSION AND HUNGER

“My passion and hunger for knowledge grew from there,” says Roberta. “I loved working with and learning about dogs.”

In 2022 she was one the first of two people in Ireland to qualify with a certification in Dog Breeding, Litter Socialisation and Welfare.

Having completed these courses along with gaining a Diploma in Dog Grooming and Salon Management, she founded her ‘Muddy Fluffers’ firm.

“I absolutely love my little salon, I'm blessed with my clients and their fabulous dogs,” says Roberta.

She also works closely with Molly Moos Rescue Ireland, a charity that rescues and re-homes unwanted, neglected and abused dogs.

“It's heartbreaking,” Roberta says, “to see the condition these dogs are in and cruelty that these little souls have endured.

“So, it’s very rewarding for me to be able to help ease their suffering in some way whilst on their journey to finding their forever homes.”

The first she knew of her impending gong was when the people organising the Local Pet Awards notified her that she had received a nomination for the Salon Based Dog Groomer of the Year 2024 Award.

Roberta recently attended the gala black tie awards night hosted in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dublin. To her absolute delight, Roberta’s little business came out tops in Munster.

“I was honoured to have been nominated firstly, and absolutely thrilled to come away actually winning the award,” she says.

“I am so grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from the people of Nenagh - a place I'm very proud to call home.”