Ernie the Pet Groomer Needs Your Help!

This page has been set up to help a very special man, Ernie Saintaubin.  Ernie has been a big part of Coto de Caza and the surrounding areas in his big white grooming truck, caring for so many of our pets over the years. He recently became very ill, and just like Ernie, he didn't want to bother any of us with his declining health. He missed many of his grooming appointments and wasn't returning calls. Days went by and we finally knew we had to file a missing persons report. Thanks to Irvine police and our Sheriff office in RSM, Ernie was found. He was totally disabled in his grooming truck unable to get up. He was rushed to Mission Hospital, and after analyzing his condition, he had to have a life saving operation on July 24th. Unfortunately he had to have his left leg amputated from the knee down. He will now need months of recovery and rehabilitation so he can stand and walk again.

Several of Ernie's local friends have been visiting him in the hospital to check on him and keep his spirits up. A special thanks to Ernie's long time friends, Bob Robles, Jim Ellis, and Kris Mills, who have unconditionally given their time to help Ernie navigate his way through the many details of the recovery process.

All Ernie cares about now is getting back to grooming his client's pets! He has stressed that desire to us over and over. Grooming and caring for our pets is his life's passion and is what's getting him through this critical time. Please share his story with people that know him and care about him. This is our chance to help someone who loves animals more than anything else. He's going to need help in many ways so whatever you can do to help us get this information out to the community would be GREATLY appreciated!