Meet Paragon Rising Star: Kaylee Avila
Meet Paragon Certified Pet Groomer Kaylee Avila! Based in Lancaster, South Carolina, Kaylee works at Petsense, where her lifelong love for animals has developed into a passion for dog grooming. After working at a veterinary clinic, she realized that the emotional challenges of veterinary medicine were difficult for her. When she welcomed her first Aussiedoodle, Tilly, in 2022, she discovered the world of grooming and decided to pursue a career working with animals.
With the support of her workplace and Paragon, Kaylee has achieved her goal of becoming a certified pet groomer. She now enjoys grooming her own furbabies and helping other dogs feel comfortable, safe, and look their best. Throughout her coursework, Kaylee has continued to develop her technical skills, applying feedback from her mentor and learning to recognize areas for improvement. Her dedication and growth have earned her recognition as a Paragon Rising Star.
Her mentor, Liz Thompson, shares:
“I want to give a huge shout-out to Kaylee Avila for the incredible growth she’s been showing in her Stylized Legs skill! 🎉🐾
Kaylee took the time to go back through her previous feedback, review the anatomy resources, and actively apply what she learned to her next groom. She even used her hands to locate the dog’s knee and point of shoulder so she could better understand and set her pattern placement.
And it SHOWS! 👏
The difference in her work is a fantastic example of what happens when you slow down, revisit your resources, understand the why behind the technique, and intentionally apply that feedback to a new dog.
Kaylee didn’t just send another groom for review—she showed growth. That’s exactly what we’re looking for as you progress through your skills.
Even when things don’t go perfectly (including a pup who apparently decided to practice yoga during the rear-view photos 😉), Kaylee stayed patient, worked through the challenge, and focused on applying what she had learned.
Kaylee, I am SO STINKING PROUD OF YOU! Your dedication, willingness to learn, and ability to take feedback and turn it into visible improvement are exactly what will continue to move you forward.
Keep up the amazing work! 🌟🐩✂️”
Why did you choose dog grooming as a career?
I have always wanted to work with animals, but after working at a vet clinic I found out that it was too hard emotionally for me. I got my first aussiedoodle in 2022 and that opened my eyes to the world of grooming. I decided I wanted to learn and I searched for a path that would help me get there. Thanks to my workplace and Paragon I was able to achieve that goal! I am now able to work with dogs, which I love, and not only groom my doodle, Tilly, and my other furbabies, so that they are comfortable, feel safe and are looking their best, but also other dogs as well! The highlights of my day are my furbabies in grooming running to mom or dad at pick up all freshly cleaned and happy makes my heart soar. Mom and dad making a fuss of how wonderful their baby looks makes all the hard work worth it!
What did you enjoy most during your coursework?
What was most enjoyable to me was being coached and given advice as I submitted photos for review. Learning to have a keen eye and see where I missed something as a new groomer was very helpful. With my mentors help, now I know what I need to take a step back and look at.
Where can we see your work?
You can see my grooming work at Petsense in Lancaster, South Carolina.
What are your future goals?
I hope to one day add grooming services to my dog sitting business, 3 Dog Bandana & Co., in honor of my 3 furbabies.
Any advice for aspiring groomers?
Do not get discouraged if you are not able to groom a dog perfectly at first. I have learned as the dog comes back to me time and time again we build a bond to where they trust me and cooperate with me. Time after time the grooms get better and easier and the look closer and closer to perfect when they go home!