Canine Philanthropist

August 13 Fundraiser for Veronica Nemila-Whit

If you are one of the lucky dogs Veronica Nemila-White grooms at her shop, Red Carpet Grooming, you know you get treated with attention, kindness, and love. Veronica (aka "Vernie") has been grooming pets in Tehachapi for thirteen years, and she has owned and operated Red Carpet Grooming on South Street since October 2006. She is someone who is quick to give help but reluctant to ask for it. But now Veronica's friends and customers have an opportunity to give back a little bit of that kindness and love to help her keep her pet grooming business alive while she recovers from a series of complex spinal surgeries. She is scheduled to have surgeries on Sept. 8 and 12 in Pasadena. Afterwards she will need a six to twelve month recovery period before she can get back to doing the work she loves. Thankfully, Veronica has medical insurance that will cover the majority of her medical costs, but her savings won't stretch far enough to keep her beloved shop open and pay her living expenses while she is off work.

So Tehachapi canines (and people), here's how you can help:

Come to the parking lot at Red Carpet Grooming (20608 South Street) between noon and 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. It will be an afternoon of music, food, and fun, with the proceeds going to assist Veronica with her expenses. Enjoy some great food, including BBQ tri-tip, mac & cheese, baked beans, and corn on the cob for $5 per person or $15 per family. Check out rummage sale items, buy a raffle ticket for some themed gift baskets, and grab some goodies from the bake sale (featuring treats for humans and canines). When you're done chowing down, Shannon Gonzales-Burns will be doing chair massages for $1 per minute, and Walter Fimbres of Bosco's Tattoos will be doing flash tattoos with pet themes for $30. Kids can get a free paint-on tattoo. All proceeds from the event will go to support Veronica. (If you have items to donate or want to help with the event, please call Red Carpet Grooming at (661) 823-1119.)

On September 3, the Moose Lodge will host a benefit luncheon for Veronica from noon until 3 p.m. Enjoy a great lunch, check out the silent auction, or buy a raffle ticket. Call Sue Meyers with questions at the Moose Lodge (661) 822-3889.

You can also make a donation to support Veronica at Red Carpet Grooming, the VFW, the Moose Lodge, Hemme Hay & Feed, or U-neek Findz. If you would rather go online, go to GoFundMe.com (enter "Veronica Nemila- White" to see the page set up on her behalf) or search on Facebook (enter Veronica Nemila-White and her GoFundMe page will pop up).

If you've known Veronica for more than five minutes, you know how strong her love of dogs is, and how much she will be missing her canine clients during her recovery. Although she may not be back to work in six months, she says she plans to come in to the shop as soon as possible to "supervise" and to socialize with her canine (and feline) customers. During her recovery period, Red Carpet Grooming will remain open thanks to groomer Julie Trapp, and possibly with part-time help from another groomer. Please drop by one of these events and support a wonderful person – and tell 'em Cash the Wonder Dog sent you.