When the door to the shed that houses Clawesome PetSitting and Grooming swings open, the dogs are at attention. Rescue pit bull Stella wags her powerful tail. Mya, a shih tzu, has a glimmer in her eye despite the yeast infection and mange that irritate her skin. Other dogs waiting for their owners run to the front of their cages in a spurt of excitement.
For the faint of heart, the noise and needs of these animals might be overwhelming. But 28-year-old Kacey Peacock, professional groomer and habitual rescuer, doesn’t bat an eye. This is what she lives for.
THE ACCIDENTAL HOBBY
Peacock’s grooming shed is located off of the side of her house on Kimber Rae Court where she lives with her family. Lately, it’s been under renovation. Peacock purchased the shed three years ago in an effort to keep the animals she grooms separate from her hobby of saving dogs for the rescue she started, Daizey Dogs Rescue.
The rescue endeavors began almost on accident. When Peacock was 16, her chow mix, Daizey, became heartworm positive.
“She was my soul,” Peacock said. “I got her when I was seven.”
Peacock took Daizey to the vet but didn’t have enough money to pay for all of Daizey’s bills. In exchange for Daizey’s treatment, Peacock offered to work for the veterinarian for a few months.
Peacock ended up working as a vet tech for 10 years. She has worked at vet offices in Polk County, Tampa Vet Hospital and Animal Medical Center in Brandon. Although Daizey died a few years ago, Peacock has since rescued over 300 animals. Many were strays at her vet offices, others were obtained through word of mouth.
The first of these lucky dogs is the family’s small white pet, Tinker. Peacock’s mother, Andrea, always wanted a dog that was white. While working as a vet tech, Peacock brought Tinker home and gave her to her mother. Tinker has been part of their family for 12 years.
“It just kinda happened,” she said.
She can’t save all of them, of course. But she does try.
DAIZEY DOGS RESCUE
Currently, Peacock is fostering a pit bull, Stella, and a shih tzu, Mya. Both are young and loving, but Mya has a skin yeast infection and demodectic mange, caused by the mites that live in her hair follicles.
“Every dog has mites on them,” Peacock said. “But if stressed or in heat, it could get worse. Mange is a very time-consuming disease.”
This isn’t Peacock’s first time dealing with a sick rescue animal. She is used to the numerous challenges that come with treating mange: from the baths every day to removing the gunk that has caked onto the dog’s skin.
The rescue efforts aren’t cheap, either. Peacock pays out of pocket for many of the animals’ needs, such as food, medicine and grooming products. She also has all of the animals spayed and neutered. When families consider adopting an animal, Peacock is sure to do background checks and does home visits to make sure that the dog would be a suitable fit for the family.
“I put away what I can put away,” she said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Peacock accepts donations and does put an adoption fee on each animal as a way to make ends meet, although she is not a 501c3 nonprofit yet. The money from her grooming business helps, too. Clawesome PetSitting and Grooming has over 40 regular clients, many of whom refer their friends to Peacock if they know of an animal in need.
Stella and Mya are Peacock’s only two fosters at the current time, but she has had up to seven at once before, in addition to her grooming business and her own three dogs.
“I completely believe there is a specific timing for everything,” Peacock said. “It might suck for a bit, but it happens when it’s supposed to.”
RELATING TO THE RESCUES
Besides Tinker, Peacock has two shih tzus of her own: Panda and Bruster.
Panda can often be found in the backyard exploring as fast as she can while dragging her two back legs on the ground behind her. She is paralyzed.
Peacock and her family aren’t sure why. Panda, 5, was already paralyzed when they rescued her. After taking the dog to the vet, there was no definitive reason as to what caused the paralysis.
Panda doesn’t seem to mind. She skittles around Peacock’s spacious backyard and rests in the sun, not at all perturbed by her own handicaps.
Peacock and her dogs are glued at the hip, possibly because Peacock has her own medical battle.
She has Lyme disease.
Peacock and her doctor discovered the disease her senior year of high school. At one point, Peacock became so sick that she was bed bound and had to quit college. The biggest issue so far has been with her lungs.
“I’m kind of like Mya,” Peacock said. “My immune system is very low.”
After working at the vet offices became overwhelming, Peacock’s friend from Animal Medical Center, Debbie Dukes, taught Peacock how to groom professionally so that she could work from home.
The ability to work from home has been a blessing to Peacock and her immune system. She is doing better now.
“My family is awesome,” she said, noting that everyone in the house pitches in with the animals when she needs help. “There is no way I would be able to handle everything on my own and deal with the health aspect at the same time.”
Between the dogs and her disease, the past five years have been rough for Peacock, but as of two months ago, she is debt-free. Her medical bills are paid off, as well as her car and credit cards, allowing her to spend even more time helping as many animals as she can.
“I’m good where I’m at,” Peacock said.
Mya is sitting on her lap and Stella is running around the yard, chasing a bone. She’s only been fostering them for a few days, but Peacock is certain they’ll get adopted.
Everything happens when it’s supposed to.
TO ADOPT OR DONATE
Daizey Dogs
Call: Kacey Peacock, (813) 763-2472
Visit: Facebook.com/Daizeydog?fref=ts
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.