The rescue community in Indian River County received a significant boost this month thanks to the generosity of a local pet service provider. On January 4, Sit, Stay & Slay, a locally owned grooming business, visited the H.A.L.O. No-Kill Rescue in Sebastian to provide a full day of volunteer professional grooming services to homeless pets.
For shelter animals, appearance and hygiene play a critical role in finding a forever home. The grooming team dedicated the entire day to ensuring the shelter dogs felt comfortable and looked their best for potential adopters. By the end of the session, 10 dogs had received comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.
According to shelter staff, the professional grooming helped the dogs appear more relaxed and confident, directly aiding in their adoption readiness by allowing their personalities to shine during meet-and-greets.
The services provided went far beyond a simple rinse. The donated grooming package included:
H.A.L.O. No-Kill Rescue, which is dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals in the region, relies heavily on community support to manage daily operations. While volunteers and staff diligently handle feeding and basic care, accessing professional grooming resources can be difficult due to budget constraints. The effort by Sit, Stay & Slay ensured that the dogs were treated with respect for their individual stress levels, turning a necessary hygiene procedure into a positive experience.
Looking ahead, Sit, Stay & Slay has expressed a desire to make this a recurring contribution to the local animal welfare community. The business hopes to donate grooming days on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to support adoption efforts. Shelter representatives expressed gratitude for the assistance, noting that it “takes a village” to prepare rescue dogs for their new lives.
Residents of Vero Beach and the surrounding Indian River County area looking to support H.A.L.O.’s mission can get involved through adoption, fostering, or volunteering. Current adoptable pets are featured on the rescue’s social media channels and website. For more information on how to help, visit halorescuefl.org.
