Emerald Paws: Your destination for personalized pet care

For Christian Strother, the owner of Emerald Paws, pet grooming is about more than appearances. It’s about creating a calm, personalized experience for animals and meaningful connections with the people who love them. 

Located in the heart of Downtown Muncie, Emerald Paws has quickly become known for its one-on-one approach to grooming, welcoming atmosphere, and strong ties to the downtown community. We sat down with Christian to learn more about how Emerald Paws got started, what makes it different, and why Downtown Muncie feels like home. 

A more personalized grooming experience 

Before opening Emerald Paws, Christian worked at PetSmart. While she originally started her career there working with reptiles, she eventually transitioned into the dog grooming department. 

During that time, she also adopted a senior Labrador retriever named Ace. Whenever she brought Ace into work for grooming, she noticed how anxious and overwhelmed he became in the busy, fast-paced environment. 

“Seeing how stressful that experience was for him really stuck with me.” 

Combined with company changes happening at the time, those experiences inspired Christian to create something different: a more personalized, low-stress grooming experience where animals could feel comfortable and safe. That idea eventually became Emerald Paws. 

Grooming without the chaos  

Today, one of the biggest differences at Emerald Paws is the business’s one-on-one grooming model. Instead of having multiple dogs dropped off at once and waiting in kennels for their turn, pets stay with the same groomer throughout the entire process. Once their appointment is finished, owners come pick them up right away, meaning there’s no long waiting period. 

The shop is also kennel-free. While safety practices are always maintained and animals are carefully kept separated when needed, eliminating the traditional kennel environment helps create a calmer experience overall. 

Christian also believes consistency matters. At larger grooming operations, multiple employees may handle the same dog throughout the day. At Emerald Paws, pets stay with one person from start to finish, helping reduce stress and build trust. 

Finding community in Downtown Muncie 

For Christian, Downtown Muncie’s sense of community stands out immediately. 

“It’s very welcoming. You can walk into an event and people will greet you right away.” 

She especially enjoys spending time at The Muncie Maker’s Market and appreciates how connected local businesses and residents are to one another. 

Emerald Paws also looks for opportunities to support the downtown community directly. Last summer, the team set up outdoor dog watering stations during Fire Up DWNTWN and regularly participates in donation drives that help keep resources local. 

That support goes both ways. Christian says the downtown community has been incredibly welcoming to Emerald Paws since opening. One thing she loves most is how naturally businesses in the area support one another. Since many customers don’t want to drive home while their dogs are being groomed, they often spend time exploring downtown shops and restaurants while they wait.  

She’s heard from the staff at Savage's Ale House that many Emerald Paws customers have become regulars there as well. 

More than grooming  

Beyond grooming appointments, Christian hopes Emerald Paws can continue serving as a resource for local pet owners. Whether someone has questions about brushing techniques, grooming maintenance, or general pet care, she wants people to feel comfortable stopping in and asking questions. 

Above all else, she hopes pets receive the experience they deserve. Emerald Paws was created to offer a more personalized alternative to traditional grooming environments, especially for anxious dogs or animals that may struggle in louder, more chaotic settings. 

Christian also hopes pet owners leave feeling more informed and confident caring for their animals at home. 

She states, “I love being able to make connections with not only the animals but the people who own them.” 

Those connections are what make Emerald Paws more than just a grooming business. They’re part of what makes Downtown Muncie feel like home.