Los Angeles nonprofit uses grooming to help shelter dogs find homes

In Los Angeles, a nonprofit is transforming the way shelter dogs are perceived, using professional grooming to increase their chances of adoption. The Hollywood Rescue Grooming Foundation, founded by the owners of Hollywood Mobile Grooming, provides free grooming services to homeless and shelter animals across the city.

The foundation began more than two decades ago, with the idea that grooming could help neglected dogs become more adoptable. Today, the organization serves dozens of shelters each year, offering baths, trims, nail care, and other grooming services. In 2024, the nonprofit reported having groomed over 700 pets, primarily dogs living in shelters or with people experiencing homelessness.

“A dog can walk into a shelter scared, matted, and invisible — and walk out looking confi