Our Family

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Shari Lovreta Fiorentino
Founder & Director
Shari is the visionary founder of FurBaby Dog Daycare & Grooming, a Perth-based business built from passion, purpose, and an unwavering love for dogs. In 2014, inspired by her two Shiba Inu, Marishi and Akatsuki, Shari made history by opening Australia’s first dog café — a chef-run kitchen serving people and welcoming dogs. This extraordinary concept paved the way for the integration of dogs into everyday community life, setting a new standard for pet-friendly spaces in Perth and beyond. What began as FurBaby Boutique & Café evolved during 2020, when Shari pivoted in the face of COVID challenges to create a premium Perth dog daycare and grooming salon. Today, FurBaby is known for exceptional dog care, expert grooming, structured enrichment, and a safe, social environment for dogs of all breeds and sizes. Holding two university degrees, Shari combines academic expertise with a professional background in national customer service roles, blending world-class client care with her deep commitment to canine welfare, safety, and positive experiences. Now, she is expanding FurBaby’s offerings to include structured dog training programs for obedience, behaviour, and socialisation — ensuring dogs across Perth enjoy happier, healthier lives. Under Shari’s leadership, FurBaby remains Perth’s trusted hub for dog lovers.
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Rachel Higgs
Rachel’s love for dogs began in childhood — she happily admits she spent much of it pretending to be one! That early passion grew into a dedicated career in the pet care industry, specialising in dog daycare, puppy training, and canine behaviour management. After graduating high school in 2010, Rachel completed her Certificate III in Companion Animal Services at Challenger Institute, launching her lifelong journey of working with dogs. Her career has spanned animal rescue, professional dog training, and structured dog daycare, giving her a wealth of hands-on experience with dogs of all breeds, ages, and temperaments. In 2018, Rachel joined FurBaby Dog Daycare & Grooming in Perth, playing an integral role in creating and growing our thriving daycare program. Today, Rachel leads the daycare and training team with a focus on safety, enrichment, and fun. She is deeply committed to ensuring every dog feels loved, secure, and engaged — whether they’re here for dog training, puppy socialisation, or a day of play. Constantly expanding her skills in canine behaviour and puppy development, Rachel’s mission is to help dogs across Perth live happier, healthier lives through structure, positive experiences, and expert care.
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Helen Loader
Dog Daycare Attendant
Helen is a valued member of our FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare team in Perth, bringing warmth, creativity, and years of experience to our dog daycare services. With a Certificate II in Animal Studies and over four years working in professional dog daycare, Helen made the rewarding move from human care to canine care—and hasn’t looked back since. Day-to-day, Helen is surrounded by Perth’s cutest pups, spending her time supervising playgroups, giving cuddles, and creating a safe, engaging environment for every dog. She’s also the creative mind behind many of our fun and heartfelt social media posts, proving that even a self-proclaimed technophobe can make magic online! As a mum of four grown-up kids and proud dog mum to rescue pup Digi, Helen is affectionately known as the “Mum of the Team.” Her love for dog behaviour, enrichment, and crafting meaningful moments shines through in everything she does. Helen is passionate about ensuring every dog feels safe, loved, and part of the FurBaby family—and we think her career change was definitely the right one!
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Monika Ivanoska
Dog Daycare Attendant
Monika is one of our dedicated dog carers at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth, combining her passion for animals with her growing expertise in animal health and behaviour. Currently completing a university degree in animal studies, Monika brings a strong academic foundation in canine welfare, backed by hands-on experience from various volunteer and placement roles. At FurBaby, Monika plays a key role in our dog daycare team, ensuring every pup feels safe, enriched, and loved throughout the day. From supervising playgroups to offering cuddles and tailored enrichment, she creates a positive, structured environment that supports socialisation and wellbeing. Monika shares her life with two dogs—one full of joyful goofiness, the other a serious little boss—and uses her real-life experience to better understand each dog’s unique personality. Outside of FurBaby, she’s often found studying in the library or training at the gym, staying strong for all the running, lifting, and playing her role demands. On her way to becoming a vet, Monika is always learning, and her commitment to top-tier dog care shines through in everything she does.
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Joshua Bennett
Senior Dog Stylist
Josh is one of our skilled and enthusiastic dog groomers at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth, bringing years of experience and a true passion for pups. He began his grooming journey at just 17, studying dog grooming in college and going on to earn his professional qualification. After a brief overseas break, Josh returned to grooming and spent six years working for one of the UK’s largest pet retailers before making the move to Perth and joining our team at FurBaby. Day-to-day, Josh transforms your four-legged friends into their freshest, fluffiest selves, giving each dog the care and attention they deserve. He has a soft spot for Bichon Frises, especially his own beloved Lola who’s back home in the UK—acting as a self-appointed security guard from the dining room table. Josh is known for his upbeat, fun personality—often breaking into song thanks to his 16 years in amateur theatre, or doing a happy dance in the salon. If he were a dog, he’d be a Labrador: snack-loving, full of energy, and always up for a good zoomie! At FurBaby, Josh is committed to making every grooming experience a positive one—for both dogs and their humans.
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Lee McCormick
Senior Dog Stylist
Lee is one of our highly experienced dog groomers at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth, bringing over 10 years of professional grooming expertise to the salon. Skilled in working with all breeds and coat types, Lee has developed a special love for grooming small dogs—from the tiniest terriers to the sassiest toy breeds. She’s worked in both salons and with private clients, continuously refining her skills to provide the very best in dog grooming services. At FurBaby, Lee’s days are filled with gentle trims, soothing cuddles, and transformations that leave dogs looking fresh, confident, and happy. She prides herself on creating a calm, stress-free grooming environment, especially for nervous pups. Building trust with both dogs and their owners is at the heart of her work, and many clients return time and again for her kind and patient approach. Outside of the salon, Lee’s life is full of animals—from her own pets to helping with rescues—and even running a reptile business! Known for her bubbly personality and sense of humour, Lee is dedicated to making every grooming experience a positive one, so every pup leaves FurBaby looking and feeling their best.
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Ashley Varna
Senior Dog Stylist
Ash is one of our skilled and passionate dog groomers at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth. Starting as a bather/brusher, Ash trained at the Australian Dog Grooming School in 2022 and has been finishing full grooms since July 2023. She’s also completed advanced courses in Asian Fusion, teddy bear, creative grooming, poodle, terrier, and double coat styling—learning from industry leaders like Melanie Newman and Prue Hammond. Ash loves transforming dogs from scruffy to stylish with gentle handling, especially with seniors and first-time puppies. She specialises in scissor work and breed-specific grooming, particularly for double-coated breeds like Australian Shepherds, Spitz, and her personal favourite—Pomeranians! Now back in Perth after living in the UK, Asia, and Sydney, Ash lives with two dogs: Bitter Betty the sassy Pom and Sadie the sweet rescue oodle. Known for being a bit cheeky and always up for a laugh, Ash is also a competitive groomer, recently placing first in Asian Fusion and second in group at national competitions. Ash’s motto is “humanity over vanity,” and she is always learning new techniques to bring out the best in every dog.
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Harper Wilson
Junior Staff Member
Harper is one of our friendly and energetic salon assistants at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth. Currently still in high school, Harper supports the grooming team by keeping the salon clean, safe, and running smoothly. She also helps out in the dog daycare, spending time with her furry friends and making sure they feel happy and loved. Known for her bubbly personality and love of a good laugh, Harper brings great energy to the team. For Harper, working at FurBaby isn’t just a job—it’s her daily dose of joy and puppy cuddles!
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Georgia Balch
Dog Daycare Attendant
Georgia is one of our dedicated daycare attendants at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth, with a strong passion for caring for dogs of all breeds and sizes. Her professional journey began with dog walking and pet sitting through MadPaws, which sparked her interest in grooming and led her to complete an online theory course in dog grooming fundamentals. At FurBaby, Georgia plays a key role in our dog daycare team, ensuring every pup is safe, social, and stress-free. From supervising group play to preventing unwanted behaviours like humping, barking, or scuffles, she helps maintain a peaceful and enriching environment for all dogs in our care. Of course, her favourite part is greeting the dogs each day—with cuddles, calm energy, and lots of love. Georgia’s favourite breed is the Golden Retriever, especially her own one-year-old golden girl, Beans. Outside of work, she enjoys DIY crafts, beach days, and long walks with her dog. Known for her calm, caring nature and love of doggy pawpaws, Georgia brings warmth and positivity to the FurBaby family every single day.
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Scarlett Kelly
Senior Dog Stylist
Scarlett is one of our creative and caring dog groomers at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth, bringing a mix of artistic flair and grooming expertise to every appointment. Since beginning her professional grooming journey in 2021, Scarlett has developed a passion for making dogs not only look their best but also feel safe, loved, and comfortable throughout the process. With a naturally artistic background, Scarlett treats every groom as a work of art—tailoring each style to the unique personality and coat type of the dog, while ensuring the client’s needs are met. Her day-to-day at FurBaby involves full grooms, gentle handling, and building positive relationships with every dog that walks through our doors. At home, Scarlett is ruled by her cheeky Chi x Jack Russell, Darcy, who constantly demands belly rubs and sheds more than most—giving Scarlett firsthand insight into the importance of a good de-shedding service! Outside of the salon, Scarlett enjoys video games, drawing, and relaxing with her furry sidekick. Her calm, fun personality and dedication to compassionate grooming make her a favourite among clients and their pups alike.
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Rebecca Loader
Junior Staff Member
Rebecca is one of the youngest and most enthusiastic members of the FurBaby team. At just 15 years old, she brings a strong passion for dogs and a bright, positive energy to the salon every day. Rebecca supports the team by helping to keep the grooming space clean and up to standard, ensuring every pup has a comfortable and safe experience. She's always up for a chat—especially if it’s about her own dog or one of the many furry friends she meets at work. With a dream of one day becoming an officer in the K-9 unit, Rebecca is already well on her way to turning her love for dogs into a lifelong career.
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Suki Lovreta Fiorentino
Administration Manager (Retired)
Suki entered the family as a little fluff ball, he was very tiny and insecure. Ishi was already three months older than him, and it was a bit scary for him to come home to a new family. That is why he was named Akatsuki. See his family wanted him to fit in straight away, and what better way to do this than to give him the same name as Ishi, but a little different of course. Akatsuki is the Japanese name for dawn. It was hoped that by giving them very similar names Ishi and Suki would become BFFs, and they did! Suki is so lovable, he just adores Ishi and follows everything she does. That gets a bit interesting for their Mum, because when they are together they get very cheeky. Suki can’t bear to be alone. If Ishi isn’t in the mood to play, because divas do need lots of rest, Suki will be found very close to his Mum. He loves lots of cuddles, pats, tummy rubs and attention. When Suki’s Mum started to work on Furbaby, Suki didn’t appreciate that she was spending so much time on the computer. He missed her playing with him, so he decided that every moment she was on the computer he was going to stay by her side and supervise. He even went to the effort of dragging his bed under her desk so he was nice and close. As he is always in the office with his Mum, he has been given the title of Administration Manager to make sure his Mum gets all the paperwork right.
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Ishi Lovreta Fiorentino
Quality Control Manager (Retired)
When Ishi was a little pup she use to wake up at the crack of dawn and cry and cry for attention, that is why her Mum named her Marishi. In Buddhism; Marishi is a diva that is associated with light and the sun. Marishi is called Ishi for short, as it is such a cute name. Ishi is definitely the princess of the family (maybe because she was named after a diva?). She always must have the very best of everything, let’s say she has very particular taste. It was her particularity where the Furbaby story began; Ishi would only eat the finest of foods, and what was originally brought home for dinner just wasn’t good enough for her. So, her mum searched far and wide for the most nutritional and wholesome food that was available. Then, Ishi’s Mum thought that other fur-parents would appreciate if there was one place where the best food, treats, apparel and toys were available, so Furbaby was created. Ishi was in charge of Quality Control for Furbaby Boutiqe & Café, as she has very fussy taste, and only the very best will do. Ishi gets to taste, smell and/or see all items that are brought into Furbaby, only after it has passed her strenuous tests will it be put on the shelf.
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Flirt Higgs
Chief Canine Officer
Flirt is our energetic and water-loving Border Collie who plays a special role in keeping tails wagging at FurBaby Dog Grooming & Daycare in Perth. With her boundless enthusiasm and sharp intelligence, she helps bring structure and fun to our dog daycare environment. Always ready to jump into action—whether it’s organising group play, joining in a splash session, or encouraging shy pups to join the fun—Flirt makes every day brighter. Her natural love for playtime is matched by her dedication to learning, as she eagerly hones her skills in canine socialisation and gentle leadership. She thrives in the hustle and bustle of the daycare, helping maintain a safe, happy, and stimulating space for all our four-legged guests. When she’s not keeping the energy up, Flirt can usually be found enjoying a well-deserved cuddle with her human and canine friends. Her affectionate nature, playful spirit, and intuitive approach to dog interactions make her an invaluable part of the FurBaby family—and a firm favourite among both staff and pups.
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Zedd Higgs
Chief Canine Officer – (RIP 2014-2025)
Our hearts shattered into a million pieces when Zedd passed away in 2025. His impact on our lives and FurBaby will be something we treasure forever. Rescued by Rachel back in 2014, Zedd came to us not knowing what human kindness was. With patience, dedication, and a lot of behavior modification, he grew into the most incredible soul—a testament to resilience and love. As FurBaby’s beloved Chief Canine Officer, Zedd embodied the perfect blend of authority and affection. His diligent oversight ensured that FurBaby’s Dog Daycare and Dog Grooming services ran smoothly, his commitment unwavering. Yet, beneath his professional demeanor lay a heart full of warmth and compassion. Zedd was always ready to set aside his managerial duties for moments of cuddles and companionship, bringing joy and comfort to both staff and furry clientele alike. His legacy of love and kindness will forever remain at the heart of FurBaby.

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