This place is for the dogs.
Sit. Stay. Splash.
No, it’s not a dog groomer. It’s actually a self-serve dog wash.
It’s a start-up business that Alison Sebesta opened in February.
She admits she may have had ulterior motives when creating her storefront, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz.
“I just want to pet dogs all day,” Sebesta, an owner of two Corgis, said with a laugh.
“All of us have dreams that make our hearts happy and the last three weeks have definitely done that for me.”
Sebesta opened Sit. Stay. Splash., on Feb. 22, as a way for dog owners to groom their dogs, in between groomer appointments.
The setup makes it easier to bathe dogs, whether they are larger, elderly, or skittish.
“It’s about replacing what (the owner) would do at home,” Sebesta, a Land O’ Lakes resident, said. “You’re not on your hands and knees for hours soaking wet.”
At Sit. Stay. Splash., Sebesta installed five raised tubs so owners can remain standing while bathing a dog that can be tethered, to remain close. Each tub has an easy-to-use spray nozzle and soap, making washing and rinsing a breeze.
There also is a walk-in station for very large or older, or physically challenged dogs that can’t make it up the steps to the raised tubs.
Bath services start at $10. Sebesta handles clean-up duties.
“Any dog can come here,” Sebesta said. “I wanted to make sure we could bathe any type of dog.”
There also are blow-drying stations at Sit. Stay. Splash., which allow for additional grooming needs from nail trimming, light hairstyling, and even scented sprays. Sebesta provides aprons, soaps/conditioners and towels, however, owners are more than welcome to bring their own supplies, such as treats or specialty shampoos.
That is why Kristin Reynolds and her husband, Ryan, bring their 10-month-old chocolate lab, Cadbury, to Sit. Stay. Splash.
“Right now he needs some medicated shampoo, but also, it’s just so much easier to bathe him here,” Kristin Reynolds said. “He’s 10 months old and 80 pounds already, and we just can’t do it in the bathtub.”
“He doesn’t really like the dryer, but he tolerates (a bath) a lot more,” her husband added. “This place is great because I just can’t get down on my hands and knees. This is just way easier on both of us.”
Amy Bailey has been taking full advantage of Sit. Stay. Splash.’s opening, as her dog, Sadie, a Doodle mix, is always in need of grooming. Bailey can’t get to the groomer on a weekly basis, so the self-service wash has been perfect for Sadie, whose fur needs to be blown dry or else it will mat.
“It’s been a lifesaver for me, because I just can’t sit on the floor for an hour and blow dry her,” Bailey said. “Both (the wash and dry station) have been great, but the blow dryer is the big reason we’re here.”
Sebesta will be there to help, sometimes assisted by her Corgis, Odin and Dashel. All she wants is to make bath time as easy as possible.
And to have a little fun with dogs, too.
“At the end of the day, this isn’t the groomer. It is supposed to be as stress-free as possible for every dog,” Sebesta said. “I want the community to enjoy it, I want the owners to enjoy it and — I just want to pet dogs, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Sit. Stay. Splash.
Where: 1930 Collier Parkway, Lutz
Services: Dog bathing, drying, self-service grooming
Owner: Alison Sebesta
Info: 813-406-4293 or SitStaySplash.com
Published March 23, 2022
