We’re excited to share that Paws on State Pet Salon, LLC is now a proud business member of the Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association (IPPGA)! 

IPPGA supports grooming professionals through continuing education, networking, business resources, and advocacy for the grooming industry here in Illinois. That includes giving groomers a voice in discussions about state laws and issues affecting our businesses, our profession, and the pets we care for.

What does this mean for you and your pets? We’re investing in opportunities to keep learning, connect with other professionals, stay informed about industry developments, and bring that knowledge back to our salon. As members, we also pledge to follow the association’s code of ethics and standards for safety, care, and sanitation.

We believe supporting our industry goes hand in hand with supporting our clients. We’re proud to be part of an organization that encourages education, responsible grooming practices, and a stronger professional community.

Thank you for trusting us with your furry family members and supporting our continued growth!

October 23rd, 2026

Our schedule is booking up EXTREMELY fast!

If your pet is due for grooming soon — or you need an appointment before Thanksgiving or Christmas — please don’t wait to contact us. Appointments with specific groomers, popular days and preferred times are being reserved quickly.

When messaging us, please include:

• Your pet’s name and breed

• The service they need

• Your preferred days or dates

• Your preferred groomer, if you have one 

We’ll offer the closest available option that fits your pet’s needs. Message our Facebook page or text 815-975-1928 to request an appointment!

October 18th, 2026

ADD A POP OF COLOR TO YOUR PUP!

NEW! Temporary Chalk Pens!

• Fun, vibrant colors

• Great for ears, tails & creative designs

• Temporary & washes out

• No permanent commitment

Perfect for holidays, special occasions, or just because your pup deserves a little extra flair!

Ask us about adding temporary color to your pup’s next grooming appointment!

October 15th, 2026

An update on our client agreement! 

We’re so sorry for the confusion and errors with our system while trying to get our updated agreement signed! I’ve now set it up through a new form and website.

Please click the link to sign if you haven't already!

https://www.cognitoforms.com/.../PawsOnStatePetSalonLLCCo...

We will be keeping track of who has signed. If you haven’t, you’ll receive this link before your appointment. You only need to sign once, and the agreement will apply to every appointment going forward.

This was our first time updating the agreement since opening, and the system was definitely working against us! I’m very sorry for the extra messages, confusion, and inconvenience.

Thank you to every client who was patient, understanding, and polite while I worked through this. Your kindness means so much!

LOVE WHAT WE DO? 

Every new person who finds Paws on State gives us another chance to do what we love: care for pets and make them look their best.

If you’ve enjoyed your experience with us, inviting your friends to follow our page is a quick, free way to support our salon!

Thank you for trusting us with your pets and cheering on our team. We appreciate you more than you know!

The picture shows you how to do it in just a few taps.

HIRING: Experienced Groomers + Experienced Bathers

If you love working with pets but are tired of drama, burnout, or feeling underappreciated, we’d love to show you what Paws on State Pet Salon is all about.

We’re a busy salon in Belvidere looking for people who want to be part of our team long term. We care about beautiful grooms, patient handling, and making work a place our team enjoys coming to.

We’re hiring for two roles:

Experienced Groomer: We’re looking for someone with 5+ years of hands-on bathing and grooming experience, skill with dogs and/or cats, compassion, attention to detail, and a desire to keep learning.

Experienced Bather: We’re looking for someone who can provide high-quality baths and thorough prep work so each dog is clean, comfortable, and ready for their groomer. We’d love someone who takes pride in the details and understands how much a great groom depends on great prep.

For both roles, we’re looking for patience, a positive attitude, and someone who enjoys being part of a team.

What we offer:

• A W-2 employee position

• 50% commission and 100% of your cash tips (groomers)

• Hourly pay (bathers)

• Flexible scheduling

• We pay 50-100% of the cost of grooming seminars and continuing education

• We pay 50-100% of sharpening services

• An established clientele in a busy salon

• A spacious, well-equipped workspace

• A fun, laid-back team that supports one another

We want our team to feel valued for their skills and have room to do work they’re proud of. Whether you’re actively looking or just curious about a long-term opportunity, we’d love to talk!

GROOMERS

To apply:

Scan the GROOMER APPLICATION QR code and fill out an application

Text 815-509-4650 with your first and last name, your resume, and photos of your grooms

BATHERS

To apply:

Scan the BATHER APPLICATION QR code and fill out an application

Text 815-509-4650 with your first and last name, your resume, and photos of bathing work.

Important Salon Update Regarding Appointment Wait Times

We wanted to give everyone a little heads-up that appointment wait times might be a bit longer than usual for the time being as we navigate some recent staffing and salon changes.

Right now, we have less coverage than we previously did while still maintaining a very busy schedule and doing our best to get everyone in on the days and times they need.

We’re also making sure that quality and care never gets sacrificed for speed. With some of our newer team members, grooms are being checked over by our more experienced groomers for quality control before pets go home. We want every client to be happy with their groom, and most importantly, we want every pet to remain safe, comfortable, and properly cared for throughout their appointment.

If your pet happens to be with us a little longer than expected, please know they are never just sitting somewhere forgotten. They are being watched, cared for, given potty breaks when needed, and kept safe and comfortable while they’re in our care.

We completely understand that longer wait times can be frustrating, and we are doing everything we can to keep things moving smoothly while still giving every pet the time and attention they deserve.

If you are ever unhappy, frustrated, or concerned about anything, please tell us! We can’t fix something if we don’t know there’s a problem, and we would always rather have the opportunity to apologize, explain what happened, and do our best to make it right.

We are only human, and our team is working incredibly hard through these changes. We truly appreciate a little patience and grace while we get through this transition.

Thank you for trusting us with your pets and for continuing to support Paws on State. We promise they are in good hands.

September 24th, 2026

The holidays are coming—reserve your pet’s grooming appointments now!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of our busiest times of the year, and popular days, times and groomers can fill quickly.

Please remember that appointments during the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas may require a deposit due to high demand.

September 23rd, 2026

We normally do not discuss private employment matters publicly, and we will continue to respect the privacy of current and former members of our team.

However, because there has been some misinformation surrounding a recent staffing change, we do want to clarify one thing: the decision to end the employment relationship was made by Paws on State after careful consideration. It was not a decision made suddenly or without significant thought and prior efforts to resolve the situation.

Out of professionalism and respect for everyone involved, we will not publicly discuss the specific circumstances that led to that decision. We stand behind the decisions we make for our business, our team, our clients, and the environment we work hard to maintain.

We genuinely wish everyone involved the best moving forward, and our focus remains on our amazing team and providing the safest, happiest, and most professional environment possible for the pets and families who trust us. 

September 19th, 2026

Which fall scent matches your pup’s personality?

Are they feeling warm and cozy with Hot Toddy, or are they ready for a fresh fall moment with Harvest Apple?

Our Seasonal Scent upgrade is only $10 and includes:

Seasonal shampoo

Matching cologne

Teeth brushing

Add it to your pet’s next grooming appointment for the perfect finishing touch! Which one would your dog choose — Hot Toddy or Harvest Apple?

September 11, 2026

We Turned TWO!

It’s hard to put into words how much these past two years have meant to us. What started as a dream has grown into a successful salon filled with so many wonderful people and pets — and we never take that for granted.

To my husband, JR: thank you for creating the possibility for this dream to become a reality. Your support, sacrifices, and belief in me helped make all of this possible, and I could never thank you enough.

To my dad, John: thank you for quite literally building Paws on State from the ground up. You took an unusable, outdated space and transformed it into the most beautiful salon and the most incredible place to come to work every day. So much of your time, talent, and love is built into these walls, and I will forever be grateful for everything you did to bring my vision to life. We truly could not have done it without you.

To our incredible groomers, Jenna, Lexie, and Kali: thank you for your hard work, compassion, talent, and for caring about every pet who walks through our doors. This salon would not be what it is without each of you.

To our amazing clients: thank you for trusting us with your beloved pets, recommending us to others, supporting our business, and allowing us to do what we love every single day. Every appointment, kind word, review, share, and referral has helped us get here.

To our family, friends, and everyone who continues to support us — even if you don’t have a pet — thank you. Whether you’ve shared our posts, recommended our salon, celebrated our accomplishments, encouraged us during difficult moments, or simply cheered us on, your support means more than you know.

We are beyond grateful for how much Paws on State has grown and for the community that has grown alongside it. Thank you for making this dream possible and for being part of our story.

Here’s to two incredible years — and to many, many more. We truly couldn’t do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Also…this is the perfect time to get yourself a Paws on State t-shirt! Grab one at your next appointment!

Paws on State Pet Salon, LLC

Est. September 3rd, 2024  

September 3rd, 2026

ASHLYN’S CLIENTS — A QUICK BOOKING REMINDER!

Ashlyn is currently booking about 1–2 months out!

Her schedule has been filling up quickly, so if you’re a client of hers and you know you’ll need regular grooming, please consider pre-booking at least 2 appointments at a time.

This is the best way to make sure you’re able to get your pup in when they’re due, rather than having to wait for an opening!

Her current schedule is:

• Tues: 11:30am - 7:00pm

• Wed: 8:30am - 4:30pm

• Sat: 12:00pm - 4:30pm (+ one full Saturday a month)

Thank you!  

August 31st, 2026

JENNA'S CLIENTS — PLEASE READ!

Jenna’s availability has changed for the time being, and she will currently only be grooming 1-2 Saturday's per month.

If you’d like to continue having Jenna as your groomer, please plan ahead and pre-book your appointments! Her Saturday availability is very limited and will fill up quickly.

We want to make sure her regular clients are able to stay on her schedule, so booking ahead is the best way to secure your preferred appointments.

Thank you for your understanding, and we will keep you updated whenever her availability changes!  

August 28th, 2026

We have some MORE exciting news at Paws on State!

Remember how we said there have been a lot of changes happening around the salon lately? Change can be bittersweet, but it also brings new beginnings, new opportunities, and the chance to keep growing — and we have another change we’re really excited to share!

We’re so happy to officially announce that Lexie is our new Salon Lead!

Lexie has become such a huge part of Paws on State and truly does so much for this salon. She is hardworking, dependable, always willing to step in wherever she’s needed, helps keep everything running smoothly, supports our team, and genuinely cares about our clients, their pets, and the success of the shop.

She has absolutely become our right-hand man, and I’m incredibly grateful to have someone I trust so much helping JR and I take care of the salon.

So, if JR and I aren’t there and you need someone — Lexie is your girl! She’ll be there to answer questions, help handle concerns, keep things organized, and make sure everything is taken care of.

There is SO much that goes on behind the scenes to keep Paws on State running every day, and Lexie is constantly doing things that clients may never even see. Having someone who cares about this place, our team, and our clients as much as she does means more to us than she probably realizes.

We’re excited for this next chapter at Paws on State and so happy to have Lexie stepping into this role.

Congratulations to our new Salon Lead, Lexie!! We appreciate everything you do for us and this shop!

August 27th, 2026