Our story
How It All Started
Denise raised four kids and four dogs, most of those years as a single mother. Keeping the dogs groomed was expensive, so she went to school to learn to groom them herself at home.
That is where the family found its passion and its mission: high-quality grooming at affordable prices. In June 2013, Denise and Alex opened their first salon in Anaheim, and it quickly grew into one of Orange County's most loved grooming shops. In 2019 they brought the same affordable service to Santa Ana.
The owners
Meet Denise & Alex
Between the two of them, they bring over 30 years of experience caring for animals.
Co-Founder
Denise Ulunke
Denise has been working with pets for more than 30 years. After learning to groom so she could care for her own dogs, she turned that skill into a family business built on gentle, one-on-one care.
Co-Founder & Owner
Alex Bakhtiari
Alex grew up an avid animal lover with a desire to make grooming affordable for everyone. He started Discount Pets with his mom in 2013 and runs both salons today.
2013
Anaheim salon opened
2019
Santa Ana salon opened
30+
Years of combined experience
570+
Yelp & Google reviews
Our journey
From a Home Habit to Two Salons
At Home
Denise learns to groom her own four dogs to save the family money.
2013 · Anaheim
Denise and Alex open the first Discount Pets on N Anaheim Blvd.
2019 · Santa Ana
A second salon opens on W 1st St to serve more OC families.
Today
570+ reviews on Yelp & Google and the same family, still hands-on every day.
What we believe
Our Promise to Your Pet
Every visit is built around three simple commitments.
Safety First
Your baby's comfort and safety is our #1 priority, in a calm, low-stress environment.
Quality Over Quantity
Each pet gets our full attention from start to finish, with one-on-one care throughout the groom.
Affordable for Everyone
We started Discount Pets so every family could afford professional grooming, and that has never changed.