Published: Tuesday, 26th August, 2008 12:00pm

It"s doggie heaven at Barks and Bubbles

Six years ago, Rathfarnham native Kerrie Leech - the proprietor of the new 'Barks and Bubbles' dog grooming salon in Mullingar - moved to Westmeath after marrying her husband, Killucan man Ciaran Leech.

A qualified legal secretary with plentiful experience in the Dublin tribunals, Kerrie called on her love of animals when opting for a career change. She pursued a four-month course in dog grooming in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, and opened her new salon at Mullingar"s Brosna Bridge (off Pearse Street) six weeks ago.

'I"ve always loved animals, dogs especially,' Kerrie told the Westmeath Examiner. 'My family were involved in training greyhounds and breeding Yorkshire terriers, so I spent a lot of time caring for dogs when I was younger.

'Business has been good so far,' the Dubliner continued. 'We had a good response to our special offers in July, and we hope to have more of them in the future.'

In time, Kerrie intends to study in London for a City and Guilds qualification in her trade, earning a qualification which is as rare in Ireland as the unique service she offers in the heart of Mullingar.

Barks and Bubbles is a cutting edge dog grooming salon, where top grooming tools from Europe and the United States, as well as all the best shampoos, are used to make your pooch the most stylish in Westmeath. Boasting a bright and well-ventilated interior, Barks and Bubbles ensure that your pet will live the life of Reilly for their stay.

Kerrie and her staff are fully trained, and attend regular industry seminars and conferences, and are members of the Irish Professional Dog Groomers" Association, the British Dog Groomers" Association, and the Pet Care Trust.

After a two-hour, drop-in appointment, your dog will have been well looked after. The Barks and Bubbles staff leave no stone (or paw) unturned to have your four-legged friend in tip-top condition.

As well as having your dog"s coat cut or styled, the animal undergoes a detailed pre-bath prep session. This includes a parasite and flea check, nail clipping, ear cleaning and brushing. In the walk-in bath, glands and paws are checked, followed by massage and shampoo, a rinse and a towel dry.

Your dog is then led into a high velocity doggy dryer (for most breeds), which the type of dry depending on the breed of dog.

In any grooming session, the most time is spent in the finishing stage, where your pet is treated to a breed standard coat cut, a tidy and trim for paws and feathers, and a style and hair clipping on the head area.

Dogs are fully insured during their stay at the Mullingar premises, and all breeds are welcome.

Barks and Bubbles also features a clothes and accessory boutique, including an array of beds, treats, dog food, collars, leads and clothes.

Husse High Quality Pet Foods

- free samples and stocks of which are available at Barks and Bubbles - give your pet the nutrients and quality which will show in their health, coat and vitality. Husse Pet Foods are available tinned, foil packed or dry, and are free from colours or chemical preservatives.

These 100% natural Swedish dog and cat foods have low-low feed rates, because they are not bulked up with indigestible fibres. Your pet eats less, is healthier and loves the natural taste of our foods. Because the feed rate is low, each bag lasts longer and costs you less per day.

For a price list or more details, log on to www.barksbubbles.com, or drop Kerrie a line on (044) 9333648 (phone) or mail@barksbubbles.com (e-mail).