Hello!
Hello! I’m Thea Steele, owner and groomer of Sassy Tailz Pet Grooming, LLC, a business I proudly launched in 2015 to combine my love for animals with years of hands-on experience in veterinary care and grooming. Based in Northern Virginia, I specialize in mobile grooming services for both dogs and cats—bringing a calm, compassionate, and professional grooming experience right to your doorstep.
I’m part of a loving military family that includes my husband, our energetic 14-year-old daughter, and our rambunctious 4-year-old son.
My grooming journey began at just 13 years old, caring for horses on professional hunter/jumper farms while training in equestrian jumping. That early hands-on experience sparked a lifelong passion for animal wellness. I later transitioned into veterinary medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Meg Miller Turpin, DACVIM, where I spent seven years working in Equine Internal Medicine. During that time, I became the first certified technician at the Equine Hyperbaric Center of South Florida, operating advanced oxygen therapy chambers used in healing and rehabilitation. I continued my veterinary career at Surgi-Care for Horses in Tampa, Florida, where I gained hands-on experience with equine surgery, anesthesia, and hospitalization care.
Following my husband's transfer to Virginia Beach, Virginia, I ventured into the care of small animals and began working at Salem Veterinary Clinic, where I built a strong foundation in preventative care, diagnostics, dental procedures, and grooming. In 2014, I realized grooming was my true calling. In 2015, we moved to Beaumont, Texas, where I officially founded Sassy Tailz Pet Grooming. The business quickly flourished, earning a reputation as a referral-only, waitlisted service.
In 2019, our family relocated to Northern Virginia, where I reestablished Sassy Tailz and expanded the business with a specialized focus on feline grooming.
My passion for feline grooming has become an especially important part of Sassy Tailz. I am proud to have earned the designation of Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) through the National Cat Groomers Institute of America. I am now one of fewer than 500 Certified Feline Master Groomers worldwide—a distinction that reflects the specialized knowledge, skill, and dedication required to safely and professionally groom cats.