From “Paws” to Purpose

When Zoe Stote took a part-time job as a dog groomer to pay for college, she never imagined it would become her permanent passion. 

Twelve years later, she is the proud owner of the Paws & Rufflect salon in Hammonton along with a mobile luxury pet spa (open by appointment only) that allows her to serve clients throughout South Jersey and the Philadelphia area. 

Stote opened her Hammonton salon in 2024 after finding and falling in love with a house in Sweetwater. She gave herself a timeline of six months to get the business up and running, but she quickly found her services were in demand — and they have been since the day she opened her doors. 

“I feel so lucky and grateful to be here in Hammonton,” says Stote, who previously worked at a grooming salon in Philadelphia.

“I had actually lived here for about seven years before moving back to Hammonton. I love the tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone and it’s a very safe place to be.

“I knew if I could impress just one person in town,” she recalls, “that the word would spread about my services, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Paws & Rufflect offers dog and cat grooming in a safe, calm, and clean environment, and Stote specializes in working with senior, anxious, and high-energy pets. She holds a Nationally Certified Master Groomer (NCMG) designation awarded by the National Dog Groomers Association of America and her salon is certified as a S.A.F.E. (Safety, Assurance, Fundamentals, Education) grooming program by the American Kennel Club. 

“Safety is a top priority in my salon,” Stote emphasizes. “My goal has always been to make grooming a positive, personalized, and stress-free experience for the pets I service, as well as for their pet parents.”

As part of Stote’s safety measures, pets always receive one-on-one, personalized attention, all equipment and surfaces that pets come in contact with are constantly cleaned, the floors are kept clean of hair and debris, and pets are kept safe and secure when they are not being groomed. Stote is also canine CPR- and first aid-certified. 

Stote takes the time to get to know each pet and their owners personally to set everyone’s mind at ease.

“I really believe in getting to know each dog and starting each visit with a conversation with the pet’s parents about what they like or what they don’t like,” she explains, “how they behave at home and if they have any special concerns.

“I always sit down on the floor when a new dog comes in and let them come to me and just pet them or give them space if they need it. It’s all about paying attention to the dog and learning how to read them.” 

Kathy Sharp, a long-time Paws & Rufflect client, brings her 6-year-old Catahoula Leopard dog, Ruby, all the way from Bryn Mawr, Pa., to be groomed by Stote. 

“We met Zoe when she was working in the Philadelphia area and followed her to Hammonton,” says Sharp. “We adopted Ruby during the pandemic, and she’s always been highly fearful and anxious in any new environment. Zoe has such a calm demeanor, and she was able to put Ruby at ease. She genuinely cares about the animals she’s working with, and she has an abundance of patience. And her supportive staff takes the same approach.”

Stote has a staff of three groomers who assist her with appointments in the salon and the mobile grooming unit, as well as with scheduling and other logistics. Grooming services include nail trims and filing, ear cleaning, baths and brushing, breed-specific cuts, and color dying for special occasions. Pricing varies based on coat condition and length.

When it comes to cat grooming, Stote focuses on providing a calm and quiet environment away from the dog grooming area. 

“The cats have their own special room and the whole building is fairly quiet, unless there’s a dog barking a couple of doors down,” says Stote. “I work with them one-on-one and don’t keep them any longer than necessary. We offer a simple groom with a bath or lion cut, address any matted areas, and get them back to their pet parents as soon as possible.”

For clients who can’t make it into the salon, Stote’s mobile grooming service is available twice a week, and by appointment. 

“I had a lot of clients in the Philadelphia area that were driving down to Hammonton to see me, and now I’m able to come to them,” says Stote. “I also specialize in working with senior pets, many of which have senior owners who are no longer able to drive to the salon, or it’s difficult for them to get their dog in and out of the car, so the mobile unit has been very helpful for them.”

Stote’s caring demeanor and attention to detail keep clients coming back again and again. 

Valerie Pino of Hammonton has been bringing her 5-year-old mini-Labradoodle, Ohana, to Paws & Rufflect since she discovered the salon while driving by one day.

“Zoe does a great job, and it’s always a clean and welcoming environment,” she says. “Last time we were in was the day of my son’s prom, and Zoe asked what his school colors were. Ohana came home with a red bow on her collar to match the prom theme. She’s very thoughtful that way and is always very accommodating.”

The part-time job that was supposed to get her through college has led Stote to a fulfilling career that she says she wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

“I really feel like I’m living my dream,” says Stote. “I get to do something that brings me so much joy every day, as well as bringing joy to my clients and their pets. Every animal is like a new friend that I get to meet, and every day is different because each dog, or cat, has a different personality.

“Even if you give them the same haircut, it’s a completely different experience every time.”   

Paws & Rufflect is located at 120 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ. To schedule an appointment in the salon or the mobile unit, visit pawsandrufflectnj.crd.co. or call or text 609-573-1925.