Meet Nikki: My Journey from Outcast to Dog Groomer, Salon Owner & Advocate for the Underdogs

Written by: Nikki Carruthers

Hey, I’m Nikki—certified dog groomer of 16 years, co-owner of The Neon Dragon, dog mom, Pokémon lover, tattoo collector, and proud metalhead.

Before I ever held a pair of grooming shears, I was working with human hair as a certified hairstylist, and later as a certified nail technician (which naturally means I was destined to become a certified dog nail tech, right?). But my journey into the grooming world wasn’t just a career change—it was a calling.

Why I Groom Dogs

What started as a job quickly turned into a lifelong mission. Throughout my adult life, I fostered dogs and adopted several from puppy mills in Missouri. Two of those dogs stayed with me for years, and they changed everything. They taught me the true meaning of trust, patience, and unconditional love.

Those experiences ignited something deep in me—a passion for advocating for dogs who come from difficult places. Dogs who need understanding, not just grooming. That passion is the core of everything I do.

Today, I live with Myrtle, my 8-year-old Italian Greyhound who has no eyes due to progressive retinal atrophy. She had to have both eyes removed, and yet she lives life with so much grace and resilience. Caring for Myrtle has taught me how to work gently with dogs who have special needs, and she reminds me every day what patience and compassion can achieve.

I also share my life with Viper, my 4-year-old Pomeranian with green flames dyed into her coat (yes, it’s safe pet dye!). She’s full of personality and sass, and honestly, she fits in perfectly at The Neon Dragon.

Why I Built My Own Salon

Growing up, I never quite fit in. I played sports, loved drama, gamed with the boys, and screamed along to metal in the back row at concerts. I didn’t belong to any one group—I kind of floated on the outside of them all. That outsider feeling stuck with me, even as I entered the grooming industry.

I worked in almost every grooming shop you can name—big box stores, small boutiques, places with heart, and places that broke mine. I learned from all of them, but none of them truly felt like me. Until I met Carly, my co-owner, during one of the hardest jobs we’ve ever had. That experience was brutal, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything, because it brought us together—and together, we built The Neon Dragon.

We took everything we’d learned—what worked, what didn’t, what we always wished existed—and created a salon where groomers could thrive and dogs could feel safe.

How The Neon Dragon Is Different

At The Neon Dragon, we believe in collaborative grooming. Think of it like a championship team—everyone has a role, everyone brings something unique, and no one gets left behind. I learned this playing team sports as a teen: every player matters, and when you work together, you win together.

Instead of one groomer rushing through every part of an appointment, we have teams built around the finisher’s style. One person may bathe and prep, another handles drying or nails, and someone finishes the cut. Each team member supports the other, so dogs aren’t left waiting or rushed through.

This approach helps us:

• Reduce the amount of time dogs spend in the salon

• Give senior dogs and dogs with mobility issues a quicker, more comfortable experience

• Care for dogs with medical needs (like blindness, Addison’s disease, or anxiety) with gentleness and understanding

• Support our staff, so no one burns out or fights over commission—because the dogs come first

  
  

We’ve built a system where no one has to carry everything on their own. And because of that, the dogs get all of us.

Becoming Disabled: The Chapter I Never Expected

There’s a chapter of my story I never like sharing—but I think it’s important.

A few years ago, I made what I thought was a simple, harmless decision: I got breast implants. But what followed changed the course of my life. One of the implants ruptured, and I had to undergo three surgeries. In one of them, the ruptured implant was removed—and then put back in. It was an unethical, dangerous decision made without my consent, and it changed everything.

After the surgeries, I developed a cluster of symptoms that doctors struggled to explain. I couldn’t work. For nearly two years, I was completely out of commission.

Eventually, the diagnoses started rolling in:

• A liver adenoma (tumor) requiring regular MRIs

• Endometriosis, which led to a total hysterectomy at 33

• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which affects everything from blood pressure to digestion- becoming symptomatic when I stand.

• Gastroparesis, which means my stomach is paralyzed

• A spinal tumor in my T2 Vertabrae 

  
  

I live with a body that doesn’t function the way it used to. I take medications daily to feel almost normal. I plan my days around my energy, my symptoms, and my needs.

I’m sharing this not for sympathy, but because someone out there might need to hear it:You can still build a full, wonderful life after becoming disabled.

I’m living proof. I’ve restructured my salon, my schedule, and my support systems to make it work. And in doing that, I’ve created something more inclusive—not just for me, but for my team and our dogs.

Because I know what it’s like to need patience. To feel fragile. To navigate a world that wasn’t built for you. And I’ve made it my mission to build one corner of that world that is.

You and Your Dog Are Our Priority

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my story. Thank you for seeing me—not just as a groomer, but as a person with layers, flaws, passion, and a mission.

At The Neon Dragon, your dog isn’t just another appointment—they’re a priority. They’re seen, loved, supported, and cared for by an entire team of groomers who give a damn.

Whether your dog is young, old, nervous, extra floofy, blind, anxious, or all of the above—we’re here to help them shine.

Because dogs like Myrtle and Viper… they deserve it.And so does yours.

Hope to see you soon, Nikki

Co-Owner of The Neon Dragon - Certified Dog Groomer | Advocate for Misfit Dogs | Pokémon Enthusiast | Metalhead for Life