We could all use a happiness break
in this next story is going to help
with that creative dog groomer
Gabriel Feitosa has racked up more
than a million Tiktok followers as
he transforms dogs into works of art.
Both an artist as well as an
advocate for safe pet grooming.
It's easy to see why people can't get enough.
How did you get started grooming dogs?
I started when I was about 12 years old
in the outskirts of San Paulo, Brazil.
It's a very small town,
partially because I need it,
but I also fell in love with
dogs and it became my passion.
I went to take my sisters dog to
the grooming shop and the lady
was super busy and I said hey,
can you just teach me how to bake
my own dog and I'll still pay you
and you're like sure, of course.
So I started doing that and
eventually she needed help and I
started going every day after school
and then it just went from there.
From job to job and yeah here I am
well and you do some pretty
amazing artistic work.
I don't even have a dog,
but watching your work makes
me want one just so I can make
it look like a tiger.
I know I think I.
I think I will well where do you
come up with these great ideas?
The inspiration comes from anywhere
you know if I go to the zoo I'm
always observing the animal patterns,
how their expression looks like
if I'm playing video games,
bringing anime emoji, pop culture,
anything that any art that
is out there can be from the
simplest form to natural beauty.
Inspires me to make a dog look cool.
You know
how much say does the actual pet have?
I mean, do you look at an animal?
For a dog's personality and
decide what it's going to be.
Yeah, definitely.
There is people that email me and or call
like oh I wanna tiger I wanna draft.
And then when I look at the
dog doesn't really go.
Sometimes that personality or that vibe.
So then I always suggest something
else or we just sweep the idea.
For example, if the person wants a tiger,
I can make a tiger but look
like a plush bear tiger.
So it goes to the dogs personality.
So I'm always like tweaking
the idea to away that you would
enhance the personality and like
really showcase who the dog is.
I love that. You know,
I also really enjoyed that.
You kind of addressed anyone
concern about animal cruelty
or issues with the dye,
and you showed the dye and even
put it on your tongue. Yes, yeah,
it's completely non toxic.
It's vegan and I understand that people
concerns because it comes from a place
that everybody loves dogs and wanna
make sure the dogs are OK and you
know my life was built around them.
Dogs literally kept me from getting
into trouble and they saved me.
I will never do anything to
stress or harm a dog.
It's just a really cool. Haircut
you're a good person. I like you.
Thank you you too
well for all of us who own pets.
How important is it
grooming for their health?
I know for cats 'cause I'm I'm
a cat person and I have cats.
I I was told they have that one.
It's good for their digestive
tract to brush them.
I mean it's important
to groom our pets right?
Yes, grooming
our pets are essential because especially
in the modern days where they live inside,
it's not only hygiene,
but it's essential for their health.
That's why very soon when
the pandemic happened.
Though for certain people,
like how do we grow more dogs?
Probably get their nails,
it's hurting them.
How do we keep up with their skin routine?
Because there's some dogs that really
need constant medication bats and
you know they get mad at and people
don't know how to take care of them
and that can lead to skin infection.
Ear infections I've seen
dogs are mad at your point,
they can barely open their mouth.
I hadn't even thought about the
pandemic because I cut my own cats
nails and such, but as a dog owner
I I didn't even think about that.
Thank you for sharing.
You are a finalist on Pooch Perfect.
Yes? What was that?
Like very stressful.
It was an amazing experience, you know,
growing up from Brazil where it came from.
I never imagined that I would
end up in Hollywood with,
you know, a Rebel Wilson leader,
vendor bomb party Doctor Kelly,
amazing people that I've seen
on TV and grew up watching.
I never thought that I would be
right by their side and competing
doing what I love and they aren't
being represented worldwide
and to be able to get there and
become the Brazilian there went.
The furthest you know,
reality competition in America ever.
It was like you know such an honor.
And today I have goosebumps to think
about that experience that that happened.
You know, it seems like a dream.
Now well deserved indeed.
People have really responded to your
tick tock how does that feel to kick?
Kind of that, that excitement from others.
It is pretty amazing that I can do what I do,
what I love doing can't touch so many people.
You know, a lot of people say hey,
I needed this, you I I was having
a bad day and I'm no longer
having a bad day makes me smile.
I had people that said my son
has autism and now he wants to
become agreement because of you.
Those things are.
You know, I I can't express how that
makes me feel because for a long
time people don't didn't recognize
we rumors as artists as we are.
You know when you tell when I told
my friends or family that was going
to become a group or not everybody
understood they were like hey,
why don't you go to school?
Why don't you do something else?
And now I'm glad that I can show this
path for the new groomers coming up
form of art that people can have
their dogs looking special that they
can get the dogs a lot of attention
on the streets for dogs that love
attention and make people smile.
That's just priceless.
We're smiling, well, we love Gabriel.
He's really such a fabulous artist and
it really is fun to just watch his work.
Thank you for the inspiration.
And thank you for spending
time with us today.
You can watch me tonight on evening
at 7:30 right here on KING5.
Enjoy your day and we'll see you next time.