Meet Josie

WASH & WAG Country Grooming does full-service dog grooming, cat grooming, and breed haircuts and styling across Old Mill Creek and the surrounding Lake County towns. Josie works one pet at a time, keeps her prices fair, and has a soft spot for the ones who shake in the car on the way over. If your furry friend needs a bath, a haircut, or just a patient hand, you're in good company here.

This shop sits on Main Street in Old Mill Creek, right in the corner of Lake County where Lake Villa, Antioch, and Lindenhurst all meet. Josie opened it because she noticed something: plenty of pets around here dreaded the groomer, and plenty of pet parents felt rushed through the process or nickeled-and-dimed on the bill. So she built a different kind of place. Nobody gets stacked in a cage waiting their turn, and nobody gets handed a surprise invoice.

The price she quotes is the price you pay, and if your dog's coat needs less work than expected, she'll tell you. Cats are welcome too, which surprises some folks. Josie grooms plenty of long-haired and short-haired cats, and she's quick about it, because she knows most cats would rather be home napping than sitting on a grooming table. First-timers get extra patience. Puppies and kittens get a gentle introduction so their first appointment sets the tone for every one after. Seniors get slower, quieter handling.

Anxious pets get time to settle before a brush ever touches them. Pet parents from Gurnee, Grayslake, Waukegan, and Zion have found their way out to Old Mill Creek, many after reading what neighbors have to say, and most of them keep coming back. Whether it's a routine bath and brush-out, a deshedding treatment when the fur starts flying, or a cleanup bath after your dog finds the one skunk in the county, the door is open and the same-day calendar usually has room.

Call ahead if you can, or just come by 39060 Main Street and knock.