Photos and story by Amanda Sciandra
Jonathan Dillio, the owner of Sun Dog Grooming, has truly dedicated his life to taking care of animals. Jonathan was born in Court House and grew up in Dennis Township. Growing up, he never had any pets of his own as he was one of four children, and his parents were too busy with work. But his grandmother, Virginia Dillio, always had pets, from dogs to rabbits -even a horse. Jonathan attributes his love for animals to his Grandmother Virginia.
“My grandma instilled in me the love and desire to care for things,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan knew that he always wanted to work with animals. When he was 16, he began work at Abri Animal Hospital in Cape May Court House. At 18, he got a job as a Bather at PetSmart in Rio Grande. It was there that he met Mary Ferrell, who he worked with at PetSmart for years. Mary opened Sun Dog Grooming in 2012 while Jonathan was in school to be a Veterinary Technician.
It wasn’t long until Mary offered Jonathan a job at Sun Dog Grooming, and he accepted.
“I only worked here one or two days a week while going to school. I was working at the animal hospital full time and this part time,” he said.
Eventually, Mary wanted to sell Sun Dog Grooming, and Jonathan put together enough money to buy the business that helped him kickstart his career. He saw it as a financial opportunity and a chance to finally be his own boss.
“What do I have to lose if it doesn’t work out?” Jonathan figured.
Sun Dog Grooming continues to be a thriving business thanks to Jonathan’s hard work. But he doesn’t do it alone. Jonathan’s husband, John Swain, is a helping hand in running the business. Jonathan and John have been together for almost 15 years.
Perhaps the biggest perk of running his own dog grooming business is that Jonathan gets to bring his own dogs to work. Currently, Jonathan has three dogs: Harry, Tater tot, and Sampson. He also has two cats and ten chickens at his home in Court House. Jonathan has cared for and fostered several dogs throughout his life, including five bulldogs from the MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue, an organization that helps rescue members of the oft-abandoned breed
A chocolate lab named Heartlee, a “very special dog,” came into Jonathan’s life rather unexpectedly.
“When I worked at PetSmart, someone left him in the bathroom tied to a handicap rail and I took him home that day,” Jonathan said. Though Jonathan tried to find Hartlee’s owner, he ended up taking him in as his own.
When he’s not working, Jonathan enjoys reading, gardening with his grandmother, and taking pottery classes with his husband. In the distant future, Jonathan says he eventually wants to retire and buy an RV so that he can do some traveling.
Although Sun Dog Grooming is not currently taking on any new customers, they are planning to open their books back up around Labor Day.
Check out Sun Dog Grooming for great styling and of course Jonathan Dillio, a man with his whole heart open for the dogs he cares for.