Meet The Team
Meredith Owens (Owner & Head Groomer)
Meredith describes her work with pets as a calling. Her first position in pet care was at the Oconee County Animal Shelter when she was just 15 years old. She formed strong bonds with the shelter dogs and that quickly set her future towards a career in canine care. From there, she learned as much as she could about the veterinary field, dog grooming, boarding, the pet food industry, and dog training. In 2003, She apprenticed with master dog groomer Liz Strahlos. After graduating from Lander University, Meredith opened The Better Bark's original Central, SC location in 2006. Her experience with shelter and rescue animals contributes to her ability to work with dogs whose previous life and grooming experiences may have been negative. She is very active on the rescue dog circuit and several of our clients are dogs that she has helped to be adopted!
Kristin Peters (Scheduling & Reception)
Kristin is the first smiling face you will see when walking into our salon. She handles all scheduling, questions, etc. Although she has always had a heart for animals, Kristin spent most of her working life in childcare which is actually where she met Meredith. She was Meredith's youngest son's preschool teacher until finally leaving the industry to come work with Meredith at The Better Bark! She is excited to get to know and love your pups. Call, text, or come see her and let her help you set up an appointment today!
Krystal Hoskins (Groomer)
Krystal is the former owner of Wag On In, a dog grooming salon that was located in Wallhalla. She has been grooming for 10 years, and is a longtime friend of Meredith. She actually worked with us previously at The Better Bark, before leaving to start her own business! After starting a family, Krystal decided to take a step back from running her own business and has returned to work alongside Meredith. Affectionately dubbed our "Master Fluffer," Krystal excels with specialized breed cuts. We are thrilled to have her on our team! "Wag on in" and see her today!
Chelsea Kompier (Groomer)
Chelsea has come to join our team from Petco in Clemson, but has mentored under both Meredith & Krystal in the past. She has spent her life working with animals from veterinary offices to horse stables. She graduated from the PetSmart grooming academy in 2018 and has been grooming at Petco for the last 5 years. Looking to make a change, she has decided to join our family here at The Better Bark! In her spare time, she loves spending time with her two cattle dog mixes, Zoe & Dozer and adventuring in her Jeep. If you’ve been missing your favorite Petco groomer, come find her at The Better Bark!