Amy Gilchrist - CEO
My name is Amy Gilchrist, and I am the Founder and CEO of House and Hound. I am a native Northwesterner having grown up near Seattle and settled here as an adult. I am happy to be serving you with clean, new, and innovative ways in dog care and grooming, much needed in the PNW!
Early childhood brought me to love animals, especially dogs. I found myself in the show ring as a Junior Handler at just nine years old, showing my Family’s U.S. and Canadian Champion show dogs. I had the honor of being able to learn early about all temperament and breed of dogs. I grew up and began following my own dreams, going to college and then to Law School, and after practicing law for many years, I have been called back to a life I love, working with dogs in a fantastic and fulfilling business, and even following in my Veterinarian Grandfather’s footsteps as an animal caretaker and lover.
I have maintained my knowledge from the past and now my passion is even stronger, having been beckoned back by a love I have always had. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to expand a service that is so loved and needed from Seattle and beyond. I am blessed to be serving you and your community, making your special furry family members feel loved and cared for and feeling their best!
Sarah Shaffer— COO
Hi, I'm Sarah! I've been professionally grooming pets for over 25 years and have dedicated my career to improving the lives of animals and the people who love them. My background includes working as a veterinary technician, earning a degree in Biology, and caring for exotic animals at a zoo, giving me hands-on experience with a wide variety of species and animal behaviors. At home, my animal family includes two Standard Poodles and quite a few scaly companions—yes, lizards, snakes, and even spiders! I also competed with my Standard Poodles in creative grooming competitions, combining my passion for animal care with artistic expression. Although I've retired from grooming full-time in our mobile vans, I'm still very hands-on with our team whenever I can be. You may even see me at one of your appointments, supporting our groomers and helping ensure every pet receives the highest level of care. I'm a firm believer in lifelong learning and am always studying the latest advancements in animal behavior, health, safety, and grooming techniques. I regularly attend continuing education classes, conferences, and industry events so our team can continue providing the safest, highest-quality care possible. When I'm not working, you'll usually find me hiking, paddleboarding, cycling, or enjoying the outdoors with my two Standard Poodles. I also love playing the drums, following my professional drummer partner's band, and spending time listening to live music. I'm incredibly grateful to be part of the House & Hound family. My goal is to ensure every client and every fur baby receive exceptional care while creating a positive, low-stress grooming experience. Nothing makes me happier than seeing pets leave looking and feeling their very best—with lots of happy, wagging tails!
Robyn— Lead Groomer
Hi! I’m Robyn! I enjoy being creative and artsy as you can tell by my bio picture posted here! I've been a professional groomer for over 15 years and have a special love for working with large-breed dogs—especially Goldens and Aussies. I moved up from Texas earlier this year with my 10-year-old Husky/Aussie, Astrid, who has been my sidekick through it all. When I’m not grooming, you can usually find me curled up with a good book, hunting down a new place to eat, or playing way too many Dungeons & Dragons. I’m excited to get to know you and your pups!
Mary— Groomer
Hi, I'm Mary! I've been working with animals for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I spent countless hours volunteering at the Humane Society where my grandmother worked, and that's where my love for helping pets truly began.
Today, I get to combine that lifelong passion with professional grooming. My favorite part of the job is helping every dog feel comfortable, confident, and loved—whether it's their first puppy bath, a routine spa day, or giving a matted pup a fresh start. I believe grooming should be a positive experience built on patience, kindness, and trust.
As a pet owner myself, I know how important it is to find someone who will care for your furry family members like they're their own. My goal is to make every visit as stress-free as possible while sending your pup home looking and feeling their absolute best. I can't wait to meet you and your best friend!
Groomer
I’m Abbie. I have been in the grooming industry for 4 years and have worked in some capacity handling dogs since 2008. My goal is to apply my knowledge of dog body language and behavior to help understand your dog's needs and communicate with them to ensure they have the most positive experience possible, while delivering top tier results. My pets are my world, I have a 10 year old chi-weenie, Jellybean, and two cats, Anathema & Dartboard; I love them more than life itself. When I am not working, I enjoy traveling to see my international friends (I have been to Europe twice now!), seeing my favorite artists live, and watching k-dramas with my pets all cuddled up around me. I'm looking forward to pampering your pets and getting lots of fur baby kisses!
Groomer
Hi! I’m Fiona, animals have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up surrounded by dogs, cats, reptiles, fish, rodents, and so many other animals, and over the last few years, I discovered my passion for grooming. My favorite part of being a groomer is meeting every animal where they are and creating a grooming experience that feels safe, comfortable, and positive. I approach every pet with patience, kindness, and lots of love. I’m always learning and growing as a groomer, and I truly love getting to learn something new from every animal I work with. When I’m not grooming or traveling, I’m usually at home with my two sweet cats, Bruce and Natzu, crafting, relaxing, or enjoying a good book. I can’t wait to meet you and your pup! 💕🐶
Cat & Dog Groomer
Hello! My name is Kueryn, and I’m excited to meet you and your fur babies! But first, let me tell you a little bit about me. I've Loved animals my whole life because they are so cute and innocent. My first professional job involving animals was working at the Humane Society for about 4 years, and I fell in love with every single animal in my care. They were mostly dogs and cats, but I was also able to get some experience caring for farm animals, smaller pets, birds, and reptiles. From then on I knew I would always work with animals.
After I moved on from the Humane Society with great regret, I knew I needed to find another animal job. So I started looking around at what I would be qualified for. I ended up landing on a position to be a dog bather. Very shortly after I started, I was trained to groom cats. Then I became the only cat groomer, and my cats actually started to love being groomed and love getting bathed. I was so happy and surprised by how easy it was for me AND for them. I still wanted to work with dogs though, so I became even more lucky, and was able to be trained to be a dog groomer by a master groomer who is certified in all different breeds of dogs. She trained me for 6 months Hands-On, and trained me how to do most breed specific haircuts. She also trained me how to make easy adjustments to those haircuts in order to satisfy their pet parents. So now I know how to make a dog look and feel their best! I've been grooming for about 4 years now, and have honed in on my skill. Not only that, but I treat every animal in my care as if they are family. I love them and cuddle them, and they always love me and leave happy-At least after they know they can trust me.
When I'm not working I'm usually at home with my children and my two cats. I would love to have a dog, but with my living situation I am not allowed. I have two younger boys and an older daughter and also a granddaughter, so my home life never gets boring. I try my best to be a good human, and I pay a lot of attention to my faith. Aside from that, I love the outdoors and appreciate the beautiful scenery. I also love music, and really enjoy singing. It brings a lot of warmth to my soul.
I am so happy to be a part of House and Hound Inc. We are full of great people. If I can promise one thing, it will be that you and your fur baby will love me and my haircuts. I hope to see you and your babies soon!