Pet Groomer Has Seen a Lot of Changes in 30 Years in Woodbridge

For Colleen Murphy, dog grooming has turned into a generational tradition. That's because Murphy, the proprietor of in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, has been working at pet grooming for so long, she's now washing, clipping, and snipping dogs owned by the children of her original customers. 

"There are a few grandchildren in there as well," she laughed at her bright, sunny shop on St. George Ave.

Murphy has been doing this "at least 30 years." She began originally as an employee at Bernadene's Pet Grooming, which was located across from on Main St. 30 years ago.

Colleen purchased the business and moved it to its present location more than two decades ago.

"That's a lot of time. I remember so much about my original customers. I'm watching their kids graduating from college," she said.

With all that experience, Murphy said she's very certain hers is the longest lived pet grooming shop in the township.

"No one has survived in this business as long as I have," she said. "Groomers come and go. I don't know anybody other than myself who has been around this long."

Although she now resides in South Amboy, Murphy herself grew up in Avenel.

She could've moved Colleen's Canine Clippers to another town; she didn't.

"I grew up in Woodbridge. I like it here. I like my customers," she said. "If I moved my business to South Amboy, I didn't think they would go over the bridge."

Murphy has so many customers who have come back over the years, and with new dogs when their aging pets have passed away, that she doesn't want to do anything that would make it more difficult to get their pets groomed.

"People are great. They've always been great. They're loyal, and I appreciate it," she said.

The pet grooming salon has been around so long, Murphy has seen "all kinds of economic downturns." 

She's survived it all, but admits "it's worse now than its ever been. I don't recall it ever being this bad."

Customers having financial problems sometimes just eliminate pet grooming, and that bothers Murphy.  "A lot of people won't tell me why they stop coming. I'd appreciate if they tell me," she said.

"I tell them just get the dog groomed and pay me when you can. They don't want to do that, but they should," Murphy said. "I'd rather they keep up with the grooming and give me a post dated check."

Colleen treats all her pet clients the same way, in a kind, loving, and caring fashion. But if she had her druthers, for herself, she's mad about pug dogs.

Pug dog icons, posters, and pictures are all over the place. Her own chubby Pug, Manny, is four years old, and in one of the perks of owning a pet grooming salon, Colleen gets to take her dog to work.

How she got hooked on pugs is a story that's telling about the kind of person Murphy is. She had boarded a pug dog, taken to her by the owners' family. Both owners had died, and the family wanted the dog taken care of while funeral arrangments were made. 

Problem was, they didn't bother to pick the dog up.

"They never came back. They dumped the dog on me," Murphy said. "I called the nephew and he said he didn't care what I did with the dog."

Murphy tried to find a home for the pug dog, named Togo, who wasn't neutered or housebroken, and there were few takers for the abandoned pug. So having no choice, Murphy adopted the dog herself.  "After I had him neutered, he turned out to be an excellent dog. I had invested a lot in the dog by that time, so I kept him," she said.

She and Togo lived a lot of years together. When he died, Colleen bought another pug and named him Manny.

"What I like about pugs is that they're a lot of fun, they're entertaining. They love people, and kids. They are the number one breed for a family with children," she said.

The boarding part of her business that brought pug dogs into Murphy's life is still thriving. She takes in a few dogs, all small to medium breeds.

"I try to keep the number of dogs small. I do the walking and feeding. I basically do it all," she said. Walk the dogs, feed the dogs, even mop the floors.

Murphy's a modest woman, but even she is proud to point out the level of service she gives. She's devoted to her four legged clients.

During the blizzard last year, Murphy's mother was visiting from Florida. She had two dogs that were being boarded in her Avenel shop, and she feared she would have a hard time making it back after the storm to walk and feed them.

So she just took them home with her.

"I don't think there is any other boarding facility that gives the service I do," Murphy said. "I had three dogs and my mother. It was a lot of work."

The grooming and pet boarding shop is "a lot of work. My mind is constantly going. People have no idea what I do for their pets, and I'm glad to do it," she said.

Colleen's Canine Clippers is located at 1258 Saint Georges Ave in Avenel. The phone number is 732-636-2580.