GERIATRIC is one word that you will not use to describe Kay Cassidy.
This 70-year-old Bonaero Park resident is a business woman, avid gardener, belly dancer and dog lover whose been running a doggy parlour for almost 30 years.
And she has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
“I’m from a small village in Wales and came to South Africa during an Easter weekend in 1982 with my husband. We settled in Primrose and moved to Kempton Park in 1984,” she recalled.
She has always loved animals and although she only had one pet growing up, she still had this deep compassion and love for animals.
“I saw an ad in EXPRESS where Maison Pooch was advertising for an experienced groomer. I called Wendy and told her that what I lacked in experience, I make up in love for the dogs and she hired me,” she smiled.
She was trained in dog grooming and landed a position at Dr Do Little in Sandton when she was appointed as manager.
“Maison Pooch expanded their business and Maison Pooch 2 opened in Allen Grove Shopping Centre and I was asked to return to the business and manage it after being with Dr Do Little for two years.
“I soon bought it a renamed it to Kay’s Doggy Parlour. I have been grooming doggies from even as far as Springs and Pretoria for more than 20 years,” she said.
The mother of a son and daughter, who now live in Wales and Canada respectively, has watched her business grow and flourish.
“The business has expanded and along with my business partner I have opened a parlour at home as well,” she added.
She has had many funny and heartwarming moments with clients and the dogs and recalls one day when she was helping her Chihuahua that went into labour at the parlour.
“She started to give birth under one of the tables and I immediately ducked under to help her. A customer walked in and could only see my legs sticking out and thought something had happened to me.
“She started screaming and calling out for help but I shouted to her, no, don’t worry, I’m just trying to get these babies out, which made matters even worse because she then really didn’t know what was going on,” she laughed
She has also worked closely with Kempton Park SPCA, making sure the dogs are well groomed for adoption.
“I don’t go there, simply because I’d want to take all the dogs home. I know I’d find space for more,” she laughed.
Her furry companions are always with her and she even takes some of them shopping in their special pram.
“Dogs give you unconditional love – no matter how badly you treat them, they still love you. I believe that God put them on earth to see how we would treat Him. Have you ever noticed that God spelled backwards is dog?” she mused.
Apart from putting around in her beautiful award winning garden, she also enjoys belly dancing. She still does performances and gives lessons to other women interested in this sensual style of dance.
“I love the music and lovely costumes. When you dance it’s just you and the music,” she smiled.
She has a zeal for life, which is contagious, which explains why her dogs are always happily wagging their tails with excitement when a customer walks into the parlour.
As Cassidy talks and laughs about Scarlett, Blue, Lion King, Jordan, Peanuts, Shadow, Twiggy, Sausage, Tyke, Buster, Charlotte, Pixie, Sniffles, Boy and Tia, you would think she’s talking about friends or colleagues, but she is in fact talking about her family of furry companions.
“I live my life for the dogs and wish everyone would at least regard animals as part of their family and not just something that’s there to guard their property. They are so loving and so smart – they just show it in a different way as they can’t express in words,” she smiled as she cuddled six of her 15 dogs.
