The Ark Pet Salon is in business because we love pets and we get a great sense of satisfaction on seeing them well cared for and looking great.

We have been in Seal Beach for over 25 years and are groomer owned and operated. We think this is important because it emphasizes that the Ark isn’t about creating show dogs, or selling lots of accessories, we are about being exceptional groomers for people’s pets.

We have a laid back environment, but our standards are extremely high. We have a reputation for being meticulous and not just any groomer can get a job at The Ark. While loving animals is requirement #1, being a talented and dedicated groomer is a close second.  For more information on the groomers here at The Ark, check out the section on our people and our pets. 

The Ark has been successful so long because we have one simple philosophy; we love to smile and we love to make our clients smile. Taking great care of your pet makes everyone happy.

It is fabulous to see how good the cats and dogs look leaving the shop, but honestly, it is even better when we see how excited you are when you come and pick them up. The smile on your face makes it all worthwhile (and we think we see smiles on most of the animals too, they definitely have a prance in their step when they are all done).

Tonya doesn’t like it when we expound on her talents. She would like it if we just talked about her pets and left it at that. But Tonya has owned The Ark for 12 years and she is the reason it is the exceptional place it is. She sets the incredibly high standards – seems she has a reputation in the industry for being pretty picky. Tonya got her first job in a grooming shop while in junior high school; she kept visiting and asking so many questions at a shop near her home that the owner decided to give her a job.   Starting as a shop assistant, she worked her way up to bather, trimmer and ultimately groomer. Her technique was methodical and she was determined to be the best there was, putting in extra hours and studying all the different breeds in order to be sure to create the best look for each animal.

What she’s most proud of: Tonya is most proud of is that she still has clients who have stayed with her from when she first started in the industry over 20 years ago. She is on the third generation of pets with some families.

Her pets: Tonya currently owns a poodle, Feta; a Pomeranian, Beet; and a muted tortoise shell, Ripley. Ironically both pets only have three legs. All the kittens in Ripley’s litter got wrapped up in the umbilical cord cutting off their circulation. Ripley was the only surviving kitten but her leg was damaged during the birth.

Her wildest grooming wish: Tonya wants to groom a llama one day – “it would be so dope to give it a puppy cut!!”

Eileen’s experience makes Tonya look like a newbie. Eileen worked at the shop where Tonya first started and they have been inseparable ever since. Their personalities complement each other greatly. Specializing in small dogs, Eileen brings a highly respected skill set to The Ark. She also hardly ever gets ruffled and is incredibly efficient; thereby remaining a sea of calm in what can often become a fast-paced and highly energized shop. Even the most energetic dog seems to quickly calm down once it is on her table. Being the most experienced groomer in the shop, even the dogs know who deserves their total respect.

What she’s most proud of: Eileen is most proud of making dogs look great and people really happy every day.

Her pets: Right now Eileen considers all the animals in the shop to be her pets. Having lost her beloved Dylan a few years ago, she has decided to wait a bit before getting another dog. We totally respect that sometimes a pet just can’t be replaced that easily.

Her wildest grooming wish: To outlast all the young whippersnappers, and to groom a koala bear.

Holly is the smiling bundle of energy that illuminates The Ark. She’s been with us for four years and is integral to keeping the place running as efficiently and smoothly as it does, in addition to putting everyone in a great mood every day. Not able to do anything slowly, Holly accelerated her learning in high school and graduated early. Determined to be a groomer, she aggressively pursued her way into a grooming position at her local salon. It wasn’t long until she started to compete in grooming shows and that was when she was noticed by the Nash Academy in New Jersey. So impressed with her self-taught talent, the Academy gave her a scholarship to attend their school.   Of course she graduated with honors and spent the next five years travelling around the country apprenticing with some of the top salons in the country. When she was ready to settle down, she chose The Ark and we are thrilled to have her as a part of our team.

What she’s most proud of: Holly is most proud of her scissoring skills, it is a very specialized skill and she has dedicated herself to being a master.

Her pets: You can’t miss Holly’s dogs when you are in The Ark. She brings Louie, an 11 year old standard poodle and Budda, an 8 year old pug, to work with her every day. She was given Louie when he was young by a client who could no longer take care of him and he has been her best friend ever since. Certified as a therapy dog, Holly and Louie have made the rounds sharing love and wet noses with veteran’s hospitals, nursing homes, hospice facilities and elementary schools.   Budda came along a year and a half ago and has added a whole new, much shorter, element to Holly’s life.

Her wildest grooming wish: Holly wants to go to Japan and study the “insane” artistic grooming techniques they use there.   She would love to learn how to make a dog look like a peacock.

Mary had been working in a pet store when she realized that she got along better with the animals than the people. Wanting to find a way to be hands-on with pets, she started as an apprentice to a groomer and has never looked back.   While in training she had heard great things about The Ark and it was her goal to get a job at the shop – calling, dropping in and being an all-around persistent personality until we had to hire her (kind of reminded Tonya of her approach many years ago).   Mary likes to break out of the box when grooming and loves it when her clients give her a little room to have fun. Mohawks and colorful dye jobs are her favorite!

What she’s most proud of: Mary is proud of her creativity, her ability to put a unique cut or color on a dog that makes them stand out but still look great.

Her pets: Mary has a soft spot for dogs no one else seems to want. Right now she has Mini Me, a 9 year old mutt she found in a dumpster as a puppy, Dub, a 1 year old multiple breed that a homeless man “sold” her for a pack of cigarettes and Riley, a 3 year old Shih Tzu who was the runt of the litter that no one wanted.   While she loves all her animals, she has a soft spot for Mini Me since she knows she saved her life. You can ask her about that when you meet her.

Wildest grooming wish: Mary wants to join a grooming competition that focuses only on grooming mutts.

You may not see much of Lisa when you are in The Ark as she spends most of her time in the back. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t an important part of the team; actually very little can start without her as she is the master of the bathtubs. Having studied animal husbandry, Lisa has worked with everything from chickens to horses. But dogs and cats are really her soft spot and not just because they are much easier to bathe a dog than a horse.   Her expertise and gift for working with animals is highlighted by her ability to make the bathing process an enjoyable and calming experience for the pets in The Ark.

What she’s most proud of: Lisa is proud that she has been able to work with and groom animals ever since high school. The happiness of the animals and her clients has been contagious all these year.

Her pets: When it comes to pets, Lisa is a diehard cat owner. She has Magic, a 9 year old domestic short hair, and Willow, a 1 year old calico. Lisa found Willow abandoned in a truck yard right after her cat Kennedy passed away just knew she was meant to adopt her.   While Willow is the baby of the house, Magic is the entertainment.   A rare trait in a cat, Magic is totally clumsy – she often falls off the window sill and then proceeds to hide behind the curtains hoping no one saw her.

Wildest grooming wish: Lisa wants to bathe every animal in a zoo.

Holly is the smiling bundle of energy that illuminates The Ark. She’s been with us for four years and is integral to keeping the place running as efficiently and smoothly as it does, in addition to putting everyone in a great mood every day. Not able to do anything slowly, Holly accelerated her learning in high school and graduated early. Determined to be a groomer, she aggressively pursued her way into a grooming position at her local salon. It wasn’t long until she started to compete in grooming shows and that was when she was noticed by the Nash Academy in New Jersey. So impressed with her self-taught talent, the Academy gave her a scholarship to attend their school.   Of course she graduated with honors and spent the next five years travelling around the country apprenticing with some of the top salons in the country. When she was ready to settle down, she chose The Ark and we are thrilled to have her as a part of our team.

What she’s most proud of: Holly is most proud of her scissoring skills, it is a very specialized skill and she has dedicated herself to being a master.

Her pets: You can’t miss Holly’s dogs when you are in The Ark. She brings Louie, an 11 year old standard poodle and Budda, an 8 year old pug, to work with her every day. She was given Louie when he was young by a client who could no longer take care of him and he has been her best friend ever since. Certified as a therapy dog, Holly and Louie have made the rounds sharing love and wet noses with veteran’s hospitals, nursing homes, hospice facilities and elementary schools.   Budda came along a year and a half ago and has added a whole new, much shorter, element to Holly’s life.

Her wildest grooming wish: Holly wants to go to Japan and study the “insane” artistic grooming techniques they use there.   She would love to learn how to make a dog look like a peacock.