Hi, my name is America Ortiz, and I am the owner of Paw Dazzle Grooming, a woman owned dog grooming salon in Phoenix, Arizona.

On February 5th, a fire was intentionally set in the barbershop located directly next door to my business. The incident was ruled arson and was captured on surveillance cameras. The footage shows a white Prius pulling up, a man getting out, breaking the barbershop windows, and setting the business on fire before driving away.

Although the flames did not burn inside my suite, heavy smoke filled my salon and left behind a strong burnt odor throughout the entire space. The damage is mostly invisible, but the smell makes it unsafe for dogs, employees, and clients. Because of this, I have been forced to completely stop operating.

My salon is approximately 1,900 square feet, and restoring it has become overwhelming. Before we can reopen, the space requires professional smoke and odor remediation, deep cleaning, replacement of ceiling tiles, and sealing the entire suite with a specialized odor blocking primer that costs about $500 per bucket, followed by repainting so the smell does not continue to come back.

Some equipment has also been affected. The plastic flooring inside the grooming tubs, where the dogs stand, has absorbed the smoke odor and is now unusable. The smell also will not come out of the kennels. In addition, the grooming tables themselves are metal, but the table toppers are not, and they have absorbed the odor as well, which means they must be removed and replaced so the space can be safe again.

I also lost all of my inventory from the boutique area inside my salon, but honestly, replacing inventory is not my priority right now. My immediate goal is simply to make the space safe again so I can return to work and start generating income.

I am a single mom, and my children depend entirely on me for support. Right now, I have enough savings to support myself and my kids through February and March. Time is moving quickly, and by April, I truly do not know what our situation will look like if I am still unable to reopen.

 

Many people have asked about insurance, so I want to clarify briefly. My policy currently covers liability, but unfortunately it does not cover property damage related to this situation. Because of that, the restoration costs are something I now have to face largely on my own while I explore possible claims through other parties involved.

I have been told that my best option may be to pursue a claim through the landlord’s insurance or the barbershop’s insurance, but I do not know what type of lawyer I would need, and I do not currently have the funds to hire one. If anyone knows a lawyer who handles cases like this, especially someone who works on contingency or only gets paid if the case is won, I would truly appreciate any guidance or referrals.

Right now, funds raised will go toward professional smoke and odor remediation, deep cleaning before restoration work, replacement of ceiling tiles, specialized odor sealing primer and repainting, replacement of affected equipment components, and temporary support while the business is unable to operate.

Paw Dazzle Grooming was built from the ground up during COVID, beginning in my home and growing into a space where clients and their pets truly feel like family. During the pandemic, we supported our community by offering free grooming services and very low cost grooms to help families while many people were unemployed and working to get back on their feet. Over the years, we have continued giving back by helping raise funds for Paradise Valley High School music programs and the Paradise Valley Community College nursing program, as well as participating in silent auctions for several other schools throughout the 85032 zip code. We have also supported local shelters by offering free grooming services and attending adoption events where we provide free nail trims to help dogs get adopted into loving homes.

Today, I am humbly asking for help so I can reopen my doors, return to work, and continue supporting my family and the community that has supported me for years.

At this time, we are still determining whether it will be possible to safely restore the current location or if relocating will be the better long term option. While my hope is to reopen in the same space, the extent of the smoke damage and ongoing concerns about the building may make moving necessary. Because of this uncertainty, funds raised will be used to help us return to work in whichever way becomes possible. This may include restoring the current salon so it is safe to operate again, or securing and setting up a new location if relocation becomes the only safe option. If moving becomes necessary, costs would include first and last month’s rent, deposits, and setting up a new grooming space so we can reopen as quickly as possible. The financial impact of relocating would be similar to the cost of restoring the current suite, which is why this fundraiser is focused on helping Paw Dazzle Grooming reopen, regardless of location. My priority is simply to get back to work, support my family, and continue serving the clients and pets who depend on us.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser or offering advice would mean just as much.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for helping a small business recover from something completely unexpected.

With gratitude,

America Ortiz

Owner, Paw Dazzle Grooming