Written by: Andrea Carneiro • February 13, 2018• Business Spotlight

Woman’s Best Friend

Katie Gutierrez followed her heart when it came to choosing a career. But, ironically, it was her heart that made an initial career decision that much harder.

The owner of Pinkie’s Cutz originally turned her love of animals into a job at PetSmart as a teenager, followed by a turn as a veterinary technician at animal hospitals. But her heart soon took her on a new path. “After a while it started to take a toll on me,” says Gutierrez. “I was getting attached to the dogs and it was hard to see them get sick.” Not wanting to leave the animal world, the enterprising animal lover transitioned to basic grooming (“simple shave downs and baths,” she says), eventually finding her passion… and a mentor. “I got a job at a grooming company called Pinkies, where the owner took me under her wing and taught me how to groom professionally. The rest is history.”

Today, Gutierrez services clients mostly in and around Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Kendall with her one-stop shop, offering everything from warm baths and nail clipping to tooth brushing. Her mobile grooming company gives owners and pets the benefits of professional services without the wait or the stress. “My clients love it because it’s one-on-one attention from me,” she explains. “Instead of waiting in a cage for hours they get their services done and then go right back to their owners.” Easing stress on her dogs is top priority for Gutierrez, who says consistency is one of the keys when choosing a groomer. “You have to look at how your dog interacts with your groomer,” she says. “Just as the owner has a bond with their dog, so must the groomer. Changing groomers because of price or convenience can affect a dog a lot more than you might think.”

Gutierrez’s background as vet tech also comes into play when dealing with stressed or older animals, she says. “I’m not just trying to make money. I’m very attentive to each individual dog’s needs as well as helping owners with any problems they might be having with them.” Gutierrez herself currently houses four dogs, two of her own and two she fosters for friends, and says she’s eager to share her services with community organizations. “I donate as much money as I can to the Humane Society and animal control in hopes of bettering the dogs lives while they wait to find their forever homes,” she says.

Looking ahead, Gutierrez hopes to get more Pinkie’s Cutz trucks on the South Florida roads so that she can expand her service area and help pet owners from Homestead all the way to Broward. And, she says, as she grows her business, her heart is still all in. “I’ve always been an animal lover. I’ve had dogs in my life since the day I was born.”

Please call 786.970.9884 or 305.879.9683 to make an appointment, or you can visit pinkiescutz.com for more information.

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