Our Story
Built on a Belief
That Pets Deserve Better
The Spaw Pet Salon is the culmination of 15 years of grooming, a decade of veterinary experience, and an unwavering commitment to doing right by every animal.
HOW IT BEGAN
From Kait's Grooming Gallery to The Spaw
I originally started Kait's Grooming Gallery to allow myself the ability to work the way I saw best. Having worked for various companies prior, I realized the grooming industry as a whole had some serious flaws. Grooming should be about the well-being of each pet as an individual — focused on quality rather than quantity.
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Pets deserve the services they need without upcharge packages that force owners to choose between their pet's health and a lower bill. That realization became the foundation of everything we do.
"Grooming is necessary for a healthy life for many breeds. I've found a lot of fulfillment in helping animals who may be scared or uncomfortable during the grooming process."
- KAIT MENTCH, GROOMER & OWNER
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our Core Values
01
Quality Over Quantity
We never rush. Every pet receives the time and attention their individual needs require. We would rather do fewer appointments well than many appointments poorly.
02
Humanity Over Vanity
A pet’s comfort, safety, and emotional well-being always come before achieving a perfect haircut. We will never compromise a pet’s welfare for aesthetics.
03
Continuing Education
The grooming industry evolves. We are committed to ongoing education for every member of our team to ensure we always reflect the safest, most current best practices.
The People Behind The Paws
Meet the Team
Passionate, educated, and genuinely devoted to the animals in their care. Our groomers are the heart of The Spaw — and the reason your pet leaves looking and feeling their best.
Groomer & Owner
Kait Mentch
15 Years of Grooming Experience
With 15 years of grooming experience and nearly a decade as a veterinary assistant, Kait founded The Spaw on a belief that every pet deserves individualized, compassionate care. Her vet background shapes everything — from the way she reads a dog's body language to the products she selects for sensitive skin.
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Kait specializes in anxious, reactive, and special-needs dogs. She has developed her own techniques to make grooming as comfortable and stress-free as possible for animals who don't love the process — because she believes grooming is a health necessity, not a luxury, and every pet deserves to experience it with dignity.
A LITTLE ABOUT KAIT
Growing up without a family dog until she was 16, Kait had an imaginary black lab named Pokey. She once tried to cancel her very first date because her family had just brought home a new puppy. (Her mom said no.) Some things never change.
Cat & Dog Groomer
Rachel DiPietro-Caputo
30+ Years of Grooming Experience
With over three decades of experience, Rachel is The Spaw's resident cat specialist and small-breed expert. From Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to Pomeranians, Mini-Doodles to Yorkies, Rachel brings a level of precision and patience that only comes with decades of practice.
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Rachel believes that strong, lasting client relationships are built on excellent communication — understanding exactly what each owner wants for their pet, and delivering it with skill and care. Her approach is warm, thorough, and deeply attentive to both the pet and the person on the other end of the leash.
A LITTLE ABOUT RACHEL
A lifelong owner of rescued cats, Rachel's current feline family members are the distinguished Leonardo DiPietro-Caputo and Al Maz-eroski.
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Kaitlyn Sallee
4 Years of Grooming Experience
Kaitlyn specializes in puppy grooms and outline trims — the art of introducing young dogs to grooming tools in a way that makes the experience positive, calm, and confidence-building. She understands that a puppy's first few grooming appointments shape their relationship with the process for life, and she takes that responsibility seriously.
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Beyond the cut itself, Kaitlyn loves helping owners stay informed about their pet's health. Groomers see every inch of a dog, and she takes pride in spotting subtle changes — skin bumps, ear health, coat condition — that owners might miss.
A LITTLE ABOUT KAITLYN
Outside the salon, Kaitlyn assists in dog training and K-9 scent detection work. She lives by the philosophy of "humanity over vanity" — a pet's comfort and emotional well-being always come before a perfect haircut. She also loves hiking and kayaking with her own dog.
Groomer
Jessica (Jess) Reddington
8 Years of Grooming Experience
Jess's love of animals started early — her first job was at a pet boarding and grooming facility, and she hasn't looked back since. She has a particular passion for doodles and golden retrievers, and takes real pride in making every pet look their absolute best while ensuring they feel safe and comfortable throughout the process.
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What Jess values most about The Spaw is the team environment Kait has built — a place where everyone can ask for help, share knowledge, and grow together. That collaborative spirit shows in every appointment.
A LITTLE ABOUT JESS
By pure coincidence, everyone in Jess's family names their pets with names starting with "S." Keeping up the tradition, she has a Bichon mix named Sven and a Dachshund mix named Shaemus.
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Brynn Mahoney
1 Year of Grooming Experience
Brynn graduated from the Pampered Pet School of Dog Grooming with over 400 hours of hands-on training, and apprenticed here at The Spaw while completing her certification. She has a special place in her heart for dogs who require a little extra care — particularly aging dogs, who she gives all the time and patience they need to remain comfortable throughout their entire groom.
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She also loves the transformation that comes with curly-coated breeds — watching a doodle go from matted to magnificent is one of her favorite parts of the job.
A LITTLE ABOUT BRYNN
In addition to grooming, Brynn is a licensed and certified Athletic Trainer with over 22 years of experience in sports medicine. She lives in Bellevue with her husband Jessie, their 16-year-old dog Betty, and two cats named Sully and Dracula. She loves biking, hiking, and camping in national parks.
receptionist • scheduler
Cassidy Moore
Cassidy has been part of The Spaw family since the very beginning — she was one of the first through the door when the salon opened, working as an assistant, bathing dogs, managing the front desk, and doing a little bit of everything in between.
After 11 years in the grooming industry, she knows this business inside and out.
Cassidy is the friendly voice (and fast text) behind your booking experience. Her favorite part of the job has always been connecting with clients — and that hasn't changed a bit.
I take my Cavapoo puppy and I couldn’t be happier with the experience! Jess is our groomer—she’s incredibly kind and always gives him the perfect cut. Highly recommend!!
BROOKE E.
Kait did an AMAZING job on my baby! she made him look so handsome and cleaned up I will be recommending Kait to all of my friends who need a sweet, gentle and great groomer!
ASHLEY N.
They gave our dog, Bentley, the personal attention he needed to be groomed, as he is 95 pounds of high anxiety. No other groomer has ever cared for Bentley like Kait. He would get so excited to see her, and he always gave her hugs.
SHARON A.
