Pawcasso's Academy of Animal Arts

Thanks to parents who encouraged a love of animals, Leslie Rosales woke up every morning to a chorus of whinnying horses, yapping dogs, mewing cats, and squawking chickens. Trimming the long locks of her a family brood of cocker spaniels, Leslie quickly picked up grooming and animal-whispering skills. Over the course of a lengthy career as a vet assistant, she grew fed up with what she considered poor treatment of pets, so she started her own grooming shop with a bankroll of just $400.

Years later, Leslie sold that shop and attempted to retire, but her clients prodded her to return to her beloved profession. First-time sessions take a bit longer, Leslie warns, because she monitors the dog's reaction to each new touch. She clips a nail or two at a time or allows the scissors to lop off a few curls of hair around one ear, before stepping back to reward the dog with praise and love. The process eases pooches into the session and test?s each animal?s mood, much the way one dips a toe into a chocolate fountain to make sure it's warm enough to jump into.

Leslie also offers fresh food for dogs allergic to the standard canine diet of commercial pet kibble and mailman tears. The salon also maintains a pet food pantry for pets of low-income households.