Andalusia locals Elisha and Robert Bowing opened their own pet-grooming store, Mae’s Mutts, to be more involved in the community.

Mrs. Bowing is a nurse who has been grooming dogs for 10 years while she helped her husband, who is a disabled veteran.

“She began grooming dogs 10 years ago to take care of me until I got VA help,” Mr. Bowing said. “Then it became a love of hers to help animals.”

Not only does Mrs. Bowing want to help animals, but she also wants to help people save money.

“People are struggling so much these days,” Mr. Bowing said. “She decided she would do it all for only $25 a dog so people could afford to tend to their dogs. She also does no stress grooming. You can stay and watch the grooming process. We love your pets and take care of them like they are our own.”

Once their client list grows, the couple plans to expand into a bigger space.

“We hope to move to a bigger place and include boarding, daycare and a pet store in a local place. We love this town. We just moved a few months ago and want people to know we are here to help and be apart of this wonderful community.”

Mr. Bowing said his wife tries her hardest to provide for her family.

“She has worked so hard to take care of us,” Mr. Bowing said. “And we want others to know how wonderful she is. We have five kids and that in its own is a full-time job. Then she takes care of me being disabled without complaints. She works her business Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m., until 7 p.m. and takes appointments other days but tries to use the other days to run all her errands and helping others. God has blessed us so much after going on one date and marrying seven days later. Five kids later we are working on 12 years together and she is our rock holding everything together.”

The couple said their goals are to get established in the community and give back to the town.

“We hope to give back to the town and start remodeling buildings,” Mr. Bowing said. “We want to open up opportunities that add jobs and bring more opportunities to our town. We have been blessed so much in our lives and in our walk with God. So, we just want to continue to pass on these blessings.”

They also sell shirts with all of the money going to local shelters.

“We also try to help find missing pets,” Mr. Bowing said. “We help find pets homes when found abandoned or abused. We are only as strong as the ones around us and the strength God gives us. We came to the town to help my health, but now we feel like we were always supposed to be here in the short time we have been in our home.”

Mrs. Bowing provides deluxe grooming for $45, basic grooming for $25, severely matted brush out for $20, de-shed treatment for $20, small dog bath and nails for $15, nails for $10, self-service bath for $10 and anal glands for $5.

Mae’s Mutts is located at 212 Huckelberry Street in Andalusia.

For more information, call 334-488-PETS (7387) or visit www.maesmutts.com.