Susan Divine Sholar

For over 49 years Susan Sholar has worked in the pet care industry.  While living in Hawaii, she was a veterinarian technician, one of the founding members of the Shetland Sheepdog Club of Hawaii, was a member of the Windward Hawaiian Kennel Club and owner of grooming salons in Hawaii and California.  Her special pride is having received special recognition from Hawaii’s Governor Ariyoshi for her care of animals.

Susan’s first introduction to legislation and state government began as Hawaii state representative for the Maui Kennel Club. Susan later also spent many years walking the halls of the California capital in Sacramento, as President of the California Federation of Dog Clubs.  There she worked with the assembly and senate on animal-related legislation.  Upon returning to the mainland, Susan owned a grooming salon and kennels in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California.   She continued showing all-breed dogs professionally throughout the country and Mexico.   During that time, she was a member of the Professional Handlers Association, later known as the Certified Professional Handlers Association.  Within her personal dogs she bred and exhibited Shetland Sheepdogs, Alaskan Malamutes as well, Poodles and Shih Tzus’.

Susan later founded the California College of Pet Careers, International College of Pet Careers Inc., where she was licensed by the State of California to teach: all-breed dog and cat grooming (pet and show), animal nutrition, animal massage, and aromatherapy as well as animal first aid and CPR.

Susan has judged AKC dog shows for 20 years in 5 of the 7 AKC groups and grooming competition at industry tradeshows.  She now serves as the AKC delegate for the Black Russian Terrier Club of America and serves on the All-Breed Delegate Committee of the American Kennel Club.

Ms. Sholar developed the AKC S.A.F.E. Groomers/Salon Certification program and traveled the country teaching and testing groomers on groomer and salon safety for pets, groomers, and clients alike.  This program has certified thousands of groomers across the United States.  This program can be found at https://www.caninecollege.akc.org/   It is one of a number of wonderful canine programs the American Kennel Club has developed over the years.

The advantage of working with both the American Kennel Club grooming program and as President of the  American Professional Pet Groomers Association, Susan says is, “I have met some of the nicest, driven for perfection groomers you could ever imagine; with a passion for caring for the dogs and cats that come to them for grooming”.