Students at Central Jersey Grooming Academy, who are trained by Hair of the Dog owner Dawn Ledbetter, are learning the art of grooming while giving back to shelter animals.

Ledbetter, a Matawan resident, has been in the professional dog grooming business for over ten years and started her school about two years ago. She always had a soft spot for displaced animals in need of a little love, so if a shelter received a dog in bad shape she would provide free grooming.

But with the start of Central Jersey Grooming Academy, offering free grooming to all shelters and rescue organizations became a no-brainer.

"I felt like since [the students] paid tuition, it wasn't like from a business perspective that I was losing any money," Ledbetter said. "It's nice to know that they possibly, just by something that we've done, will help them get adopted."

Editor's note: Mitsy, the dog featured in this video, is in foster care through the Aberdeen non-profit Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue. To find out about adopting her or to see other animals in need of a home, visit their website.