O'Colmain is a franchisee of Aussie Pet Mobile, a door-to-door grooming company that offers bathing, grooming, nail clipping, brushing, undercoat removal and flea and tick control services for cats and dogs aboard a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. "The van is fully self-contained," O'Colmain said. There are two water tanks, one with fresh water and one that takes in used water as well as an electrical system that does not need to be plugged in. The van features the FURminator, a tool that removes a pet's undercoat and reduces shedding by up to 80percent. O'Colmain, who started the franchise in April, said he's experimenting with playing music created specifically for animals. The music, which sounds similar to sounds played at human spas, has binaural beating frequencies. "Eventually I'm hoping we'll be able to play this as background music or through headphones," O'Colmain said. All these steps are taken to make the grooming experience less stressful for the dog and the owner. "Animals don't feel like they've left their house," O'Colmain said. "The groomer's interaction with a pet is one-on-one, this is not a rushed process. "It's also great for the customer. You don't have to drive some place to drop off your dog," he said. "When we are out there, we are also able to discuss with the owner the animal's needs." Alhambra resident Kendra Pitts is the groomer for the local Aussie franchise. Pitts has worked at kennels and veterinary offices for years, training that has prepared her for what can be an unusual experience for pets. "You have to understand the animals," Pitts said. "You have to have worked with animals for a long time to be able to understand what they are going through." The at-home service is especially useful for Glendale resident Patricia A. Jensen and her Akita dog, which she owns with her two sons, Steven and David. Jensen said that because of health constraints she is not always able to drive. "The fact that they can come to me is great," she said. "My experience with Aussie has always been very pleasant. Their pricing is more consistent and they don't keep bouncing around prices on me." Aussie Pet Mobile does not provide pricing information "for fear of misleading consumers who may not fall into the price range based on the pet size, age, current condition, breed, etc.," a company spokeswoman said in an e-mail. The Dana Point-based company has appeared in a number of franchise rankings including one by Entrepreneur Magazine. In its franchise issue, Aussie ranked first in the pet category for 2008 and 86th out of 500 franchises. O'Colmain said when he investigated the franchise he talked to about 15 franchisees, all of whom gave glowing reviews of the support from headquarters. "They are really knowledgeable and proactive," O'Colmain said of the franchise leaders, "and that's why they enjoy the ratings that they do." O'Colmain's territory is designated by ZIP codes including South Pasadena, Pasadena, Glendale and Eagle Rock, an area which O'Colmain says has about 39,000 dogs. O'Colmain operates out of one van and is planning to add two more in the next five months, he said. audrey.reed@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2230 Source: pasadenastarnews.com