DOGTOWN GROOMING & DAYCARE
- k.financeco
- Jul 25, 2025
- 3 min read
At k.financeco, we’re all about backing small businesses - and THIS is one for the many, many pet lovers in our community!
In the heart of Moorabbin, amongst a bustling industrial strip, there’s a place where tails wag non-stop, fur flies (in the best way), and humans feel just as welcome as the dogs. Welcome to DogTown Grooming & Daycare, a business built from scratch by local powerhouse Jaime-Lee.
FROM REAL ESTATE TO RUFF LIFE
Before DogTown, Jaime-Lee spent 15 years in corporate real estate - managing departments, dealing with commercial property, and chasing KPIs. From the outside, she looked successful. On the inside? Miserable.
So, she made a radical change. Armed with a pair of clippers and a vision, Jaime-Lee started grooming dogs from a single-car garage. For five years, she built a loyal client base, eventually outgrowing the space as demand exploded - especially when people started asking, “Do you do daycare too?”
She took a leap and moved into a 500sqm warehouse that was, let’s say, a fixer-upper - graffiti on the windows, old carpet everywhere (ripped out with the help of a car), and no shortage of elbow grease needed. But it had potential. And Jaime-Lee had purpose.
“I knew what it felt like to be that person racing through the door, saying, ‘Sorry I’m late!’ I wanted to create a space where people felt supported, not judged. A safe place - for dogs and their owners.”
BUILDING SOMETHING DIFFERENT
DogTown isn’t just another daycare or grooming spot. Jaime-Lee has poured her heart into creating an environment that feels like an extension of home - for the humans and the dogs.
One of their proudest quirks? As far as they know, they’ve got Melbourne’s biggest dog ball pit. (It’s cleaned often. Don’t worry.)
But more than the space, it’s the culture that makes DogTown special. Jaime-Lee and her team of seven are all “goo goo gaa gaa about the dogs,” as she puts it - and the relationships they build run deep. She’s been invited to client weddings. Attended funerals. Cried with owners. Celebrated milestones.
"Authenticity is everything. The relationships with our dog owners - that's what I live for. I'm here to win people and their pets over!"
HIGHS, LOWS AND DOGGY CHRISTMAS PARTIES
Like many small businesses, DogTown didn’t have a smooth ride. After launching, they survived a tough first year, then got hit with COVID, and returned to a totally different economy where people no longer needed daycare like they used to.
But Jaime-Lee adapted. She re-earned people’s trust, found ways to keep her staff and space going, and continued showing up for her clients.
An amazing highlight? Their annual doggy Christmas parties, which have grown so much that they now run two in the same week. There’s always a homemade treat for every dog, and this year - a custom bauble with a Polaroid photo. It's those extra touches that make DogTown what it is.
WHY KINGSTON?
A proud East Bentleigh local, Jaime-Lee chose Moorabbin for a few non-negotiables: an incredible community, outdoor area, street frontage, and a space that felt right. She got all four.
And long term? She’d love to semi-retire nearby and rescue senior dogs. (Did we mention she has two of her own?)
IF NOT THIS, THEN WHAT?
When asked who she’d trade places with for a day, her answer was simple: no one.
Jaime-Lee is exactly where she belongs. And it shows.
"This is my heart."
SHOUT OUTS & SPECIALS
A big shoutout to another awesome local business: PlumBest Plumbing in Bentleigh East — Jaime-Lee’s go-to for anything plumbing-related.
And if your dog’s in need of a fresh look or some social time, DogTown is:
Taking new grooming and daycare bookings
Welcoming big dogs for grooming (not all places do!)
Offering your first daycare day FREE as a trial
You’ll find Jaime-Lee and the team at 650 South Rd, Moorabbin - surrounded by loved-up dogs, probably holding a tennis ball, and always happy to welcome new faces (and tails).
READY TO BOOK YOUR PUP IN?
📍 650 South Rd, Moorabbin VIC 3189
📞 0449 894 332
📲 Follow them on Instagram: @dogtown_grooming
Want your business featured on Kingston Uncovered?
We’re always on the lookout for passionate local legends.
Reach out to hello@kfinanceco.com.au and let’s make it happen.
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