Cumberland Pet Essentials was opened in 1989 by Karen Ritacco. Karen began grooming in 1976. In 1983, she obtained her Veterinary Technician’s License. She was a head veterinary technician and worked for a general practice veterinarian for over a decade. She also worked as a veterinary surgical nurse, working alongside a board certified orthopedic surgeon. This experience has given her a knowledge of animal health and their behavior. She also groomed medically fragile dogs and cats at the veterinary hospital.In 1988, she moved to Cookeville and opened Cumberland Pet Grooming. She went on to achieve her certification from the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists. Karen is also a certified Pet I.D. tattooist for the National Dog Registry. In April of 2017, she completed the required education & training and became a Certified Pet Food Nutrition Specialist. She has been involved in breeding and showing dogs since 1979.
Our Staff
Our stylists/groomers are highly skilled in the art of pet styling. We offer quality grooming with our expertise in precision scissoring and specialized grooming. We are thorough, gentle, and kind to our little friends.
Our Bathing Techs have been carefully trained in all aspects of skin and coat care. They shampoo, condition, and fluff dry all pets paying close attention to the pets skin and coat needs. We offer hot oil treatments and special medicated baths for dry, brittle coats and irritated skin.
Our stylists and bathers attend conferences and continuing education seminars. We learn about the latest equipment and techniques. Its fun to learn new things and meet new people.
At Cumberland Pet Essentials we strive for quality, not quantity. We work at a pace that your pet is comfortable with. We consistently do our best on every pet.
All of us were drawn into this field because of our love for animals. We love what we do. It brings us joy and satisfaction.
