Meet the Owner & Groomer
About Me
Hello! I am absolutely thrilled to introduce myself and welcome you all to Golden Acres Grooming Salon!
My name is Nicole, and my journey in the grooming world began back in 2015. I started my career at PetSmart, where I graduated from their grooming academy and fell completely in love with styling and caring for pups. Over the next few years, my grooming adventures took me to a private salon, back to PetSmart in North Carolina, and eventually back home to Pennsylvania working at PetSmart again where I became a Salon manager.
Life then took my husband and I to Kentucky, where I had the absolute privilege of working for an amazing mentor named Jaime at her private salon in Somerset, KY. I continued furthering my skills there until 2020, when I welcomed one of my biggest blessing—my son, Owen.
For the last several years, I’ve been wearing the proud hat of a Stay-at-Home Mom, welcoming my beautiful daughter in 2022.
We moved back to PA that same year, and I slowly dipped my toes back into the industry by grooming for close friends and family.
While my sweet kids have always come first, they are getting older and starting school—which means I am finally ready to take the leap back into grooming full-time!
Opening Golden Acres Grooming Salon right here in Shelocta, PA is a dream come true, and I cannot wait to treat your fur babies like royalty.
A little more about me:
When I don’t have a pair of shears in my hand, you can find me:
-Traveling (especially taking magical trips to Disney!)
- Spending quality time with my beautiful family
-Spoiling our own 4 beloved dogs
- Enjoying the great outdoors—whether it's hunting, fishing, or just soaking up nature!
I can’t wait to meet you and your four-legged family members!
Meaning Behind Golden Acres Grooming
Golden Acres Grooming is more than just a business; it is a living tribute to my first dog, my absolute best friend, and the soul who changed the entire trajectory of my life: a smiling Golden Retriever named Ruger.
My journey began at Christmas in 2015 when Ruger came into my world. At the time, I was working in the pet section of a retail store, completely unaware of where my true calling lay. Bringing Ruger home changed everything. Realizing he would need regular grooming, I stepped into the grooming salon to learn more. In that moment, watching the bond between groomers and the dogs in their care, a spark ignited. I realized right then that working with dogs was exactly what I was meant to do. Ruger didn't just walk into my life; he paved the path to my career.
For over a decade, Ruger was by my side through every major chapter of my life. He was far more than just a pet. He possessed an unforgettable, joyful personality, an innate ability to make anyone laugh, and an iconic, goofy smile that he absolutely loved to share. He taught me about patience, unconditional love, and what it truly means to care for an animal.
Tragically, our time together was cut short. In April 2026, we discovered a mass in Ruger's chest, and just two weeks later, he passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the family who loved him fiercely. Though my heart was shattered, his legacy remains entirely unbroken. Ruger inspired a profound, lifelong love for Golden Retrievers—a love that continues today through his son, who lives with me, and a new little Golden puppy we recently welcomed into our family.
When you bring your pet to Golden Acres Grooming, you are stepping into a space built on the love, dedication, and lessons taught to me by a very special boy. Every dog I style, soothe, and care for is treated with the same tenderness and respect that I gave to my beautiful first retriever.
Golden Acres is named for the fields of joy Ruger brought into my life, the breed he made me fall in love with, and the generation of Goldens he left behind. We groom with a gentle hand, a passionate heart, and always, a smile—just like Ruger’s.