About us
Sarah Haskins
Owner
Sarah has an extensive background in animal health care. Sarah’s first job was at Harwood Oaks Animal Clinic in Bedford, Texas. She started as a kennel Technician and after a year of training she was offered a job as a vet tech at Animal Mobile Medical services where she worked for 10 years. During that time she also worked nights at the Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas. In 2008 Sarah expanded her knowledge in animal health care by becoming a Certified Pet Groomer and on October 20th 2009 she and Arthur moved to the coastal bend to open Salty Dog Grooming Salon. Since 2009 they have expanded Salty Dog to be a full service pet resort. She is also a Pet Tech First aid and CPR Instructor, Licensed Dog Trainer and has started a grooming internship program teaching new pet groomers. She has a passion for animals and enjoys making Salty Dog Pet Resort a second home for pets in the coastal bend.
Arthur Helmsteadt
Owner
Arthur is originally from New York and moved to Texas around 1986. He owned a restaurant maintenance company in Fort Worth for 10 years before moving to the coastal bend to open Salty Dog with Sarah. With his dog Fred by his side, he and Sarah built Salty Dog Pet Resort from the ground up. Arthur has the amazing ability to take Sarah’s ideas and make them a reality. Aside from helping with the daily workings of Salty Dog, he is also a licensed captain and a scuba diving instructor.
Sarah Haskins
Owner / Groomer
Sarah has an extensive background in animal health care. Sarah’s first job was at Harwood Oaks Animal Clinic in Bedford, Texas. She started as a kennel Technician and after a year of training she was offered a job as a vet tech at Animal Mobile Medical services where she worked for 10 years. During that time she also worked nights at the Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas. In 2008 Sarah expanded her knowledge in animal health care by becoming a Certified Pet Groomer and on October 20th 2009 she and Arthur moved to the coastal bend to open Salty Dog Grooming Salon. Since 2009 they have expanded Salty Dog to be a full service pet resort. She is also a Licensed Dog Trainer and has started a grooming internship program teaching new pet groomers. She has a passion for animals and enjoys making Salty Dog Pet Resort a second home for pets in the coastal bend.
Arthur Helmsteadt
Owner
Arthur is originally from New York and moved to Texas around 1986. He owned a restaurant maintenance company in Fort Worth for 10 years before moving to the coastal bend to open Salty Dog with Sarah. With his dog Fred by his side, he and Sarah built Salty Dog Pet Resort from the ground up. Arthur has the amazing ability to take Sarah’s ideas and make them a reality. Aside from helping with the daily workings of Salty Dog, he is also a licensed captain and a scuba diving instructor. He loves the ocean and, if you get a chance, stop in to see his 225 gallon salt water aquarium he built in the lobby of Salty Dog.
Katie Horvath
Assistant Manager and Groomer
Katie grew up in California. Her mother, owner of Happy Trails Pet and Livestock Services, encouraged Katie to help with all aspects of the business. At a very young age Katie learned animal behavioral traits, proper animal health care, grooming skills and boarding procedures. She moved to Texas in 2015 and in pursuit of advancing her animal career, she began working at Salty Dog in January of 2016 as a kennel assistant. It wasn’t long before she was promoted to our assistant manager. Katie has also successfully completed our grooming internship program and she has been a full time pet groomer since February of 2017.
Shaulene Hoyt
Dog Groomer
Shaulene started working at Salty Dog Pet Resort in April of 2013 after moving to Rockport from San Antonio. She has worked with animals in vet clinics since 1994 and has been a dog groomer since 2001. Shaulene has a gift with scared and shy dogs. She and her fur baby, Lyssa, come to work every day excited to meet new dogs and customers. She loves being a Dog Groomer almost as much as she loves living in Rockport.
Elizabeth Geers
Dog and Cat Groomer
Elizabeth was a customer with her mom’s Pomeranian before starting work at Salty Dog in February of 2014. She soon realized how much she loves animals and wanted to become a pet groomer. She joined Salty Dog’s grooming internship program and in January of 2016 and after 6 months of training she became a full time groomer. She has a huge heart and will go out of her way to make every pet, customer and co-worker have a great experience while at the resort.
Melissa Albrecht
Groomer
Melissa is originally from Port O’Connor but moved to Rockport a couple of years ago. She has always enjoyed working with animals. During high school she was very active in 4-h where she raised and showed chickens, rabbits, pigs, and goats. She started working at Salty Dog in 2016 as a kennel assistant and pet bather. She has recently completed our grooming internship program and is now a full time pet groomer.