South County Profile: Kate Loomis

KATE LOOMIS

Kate Loomis and her family moved to Shasta County in 1986 to live in the country.

Loomis is a dog groomer by trade. She learned on the job at Precious Paws, Kathy's Kustom Gooming and The Dog Patch.

Currently in partnership with her 16-year-old daughter Cori, Loomis has owned and operated Shampoodles in Anderson for the past 18 years.

Loomis enjoys spending time working on the dogs and puts time, patience and imagination into their new look. Whether it is bathing, combing out, trimming or other procedures, Loomis loves working with her canine clients each day. Loomis has a lease in her current location for the next ten years.

Loomis has a few sub-contractors that work out of her shop alongside daughter Cori, who has been grooming dogs since she was 10.

A typical grooming takes about an hour, depending on how much work the animal requires. All her canine customers leave the shop with a cute bandanna, bows in their hair and a new out look on life, Loomis said.

Loomis looks toward the future keeping her clients happy. Her customer base is return business and advertising is done mostly by word of mouth. In the future, Loomis looks forward to her daughter taking over the business, but she will still be there to help out.

Loomis and her family also own their own dog-boarding business at their ranch, which houses six kennels for better individual care. She helps them to spend more time with the animals while their families are out of town. Loomis's family built the kennels to be able to supplement income from their dog grooming business through the tough times during the recession as people are trying to save money by not having their dogs groomed each week.

Loomis also operates a pony rescue called Angel Wings at Loomis Ranch in Anderson.

In her spare time, Loomis participates on the Redding Rodeo Women's Auxiliary, goes to Junior Drill Team competitions with her daughter, rides horses, raises St. Croix/Dorper cross sheep, and is in the second year of leading the Lone Tree 4-H Lamb Project.

Loomis also enjoys different types of crafts and spending time with her family.

She is a 1982 graduate of Claremont High School in Belmont, Calif., and attended general college classes at the College of San Mateo.

Loomis and her husband, Clif, of 18 years have three children: Brad, 17, Cori, 16, and Mattie, 12. The youngsters are all involved in different events from horsing around to playing soccer. The family enjoys being able to watch all the events together.

Name: Kate Loomis.

Born where and when: Concord, 1964.

Occupation: K-9 stylist and owner of Shampoodles.

Marital Status: Married to Clif for 18 years.

Family: Husband Clif; son Brad, 17; daughter Cori, 16; and son Mattie, 12.

Pets: 10 horses, three dogs, five cats, five turtles, three gold fish, 17 sheep, four goats and a llama.

My worst job: Working as a waitress.

My first job: Grooming dogs.

In my spare time I: Ride horses, paint rocks and plaster crafts.

My favorite book: Chicken Soup for the Horse-Lover's Soul.

My favorite movie: Pure Country.

My favorite recording artist: Tim McGraw.

My dream car: A '68 Camaro.

My friends like me because: I am a giving person.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: My horse.

The one thing in life I've learned is: If you loan money, don't expect it back.

The best advice my parents gave me: Don't look at the passenger when you drive.

My most embarrassing moment: When I bent over and a shetland pony bit me in the behind.

My most irrational act: Chasing a client out the door for refusing to pay me.

My most valued material possession: My kids.

What I like best about the North State: The weather.

My hero is: Jesus Christ.

My pet peeve is: People who have the radio and the television on at the same time.

My fantasy is: To not have a house payment.

If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Spend more time with my family instead of strangers who don't appreciate me.

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: A horse park.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: My family and enjoying my love for horses with my daughter. How many people can say they go to work each day for the past 18 years and love every minute of it.