The newest addition to Oak Harbor’s grooming salon Posh Puppies may have rolled into town in June, but starting this month it officially welcomed its first furry clients.

The salon’s new grooming van is on the move and the staff is ready to bring its services to homes around the island and beyond.

Owner Laura Thompson said she had been thinking about getting a mobile unit for the salon for a while, but the COVID-19 pandemic helped finalize the decision.

“People, they’re not comfortable with going places, and that’s okay,” Thompson said.

Canines may also want to stay at home for a number of reasons. She explained that some dogs don’t travel well or can’t handle the stress of a new environment or the interaction with other dogs.

The new van will operate 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday with two groomers. It will travel anywhere on Whidbey, but will also go as far as Anacortes, Mount Vernon and Burlington. On Fridays it will park at Optimum Dog, a dog training facility in Mount Vernon.

Instead of making appointments online, Thompson urges customers wanting to book the van for an appointment to call the salon at 360-279-9777 to schedule a time.

Prices will differ for the mobile grooming.

“This is something that we really felt like was a good thing we could offer, and it just keeps us being able to accommodate everybody,” Thompson said.