MADISON, NJ – Local professional groomer Olga Zabelinskaya was the proud recipient of one of the Grooming Industry’s highest achievements; the 2009 Cardinal Crystal American Groomer of the Year Award. One of the highest honors attainable by a professional groomer, the American Groomer of the Year award is the industry’s version of the Best Picture Oscar. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she was also the proud recipient of the 2009 Congeniality Award. Both honors are categories of the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in the field of competitive and professional grooming. The award ceremony was held at the Intergroom Awards Banquet in Secaucus, New Jersey on Saturday, April 17, 2010.

Olga Zabelinskaya is the owner of the Elite Pet Spa & Boutique located in Madison, New Jersey. She is a Certified Master Groomer and a proud member of the International Pet Groomers Association and National Dog Groomers Association of America. Her extensive list of competitive grooming victories includes a Best in Show Honors at the Carolina GroomFest, in Columbia, South Carolina. Olga was a Top Ten member of the professional stylists that make up the prestigious Groom Team USA for 2008. She has styled a "copy" model for Maggie Good, the owner and groomer of the Top-Winning Sealyham Terrier of all times, “Charmin” and one for Pet Fashion Week in New York City.

Presented by leading pet product manufacturer Cardinal Pet Care, the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards were established in 1988 to recognize excellence and professionalism in the grooming industry. Cardinal was founded in Los Angeles in 1948, and currently operates out of Azusa, California. They produce the highest quality pet care products. The Cardinal family of brands includes Crazy Pet, Gold Medal Pets, Pet Botanics and Pet Botanics Naturals. On October 29, Cardinal officially converted their manufacturing and distribution center into a 100% solar-powered facility, showing not only how much they care about the quality pet products they produce, but also about the environment for pet generations to come.

“Individuals like Olga Zabelinskaya have done much to raise the level of professionalism among groomers, greatly benefiting both the industry and the pet-owning public,” said Barbara Denzer, Vice President at Cardinal Pet Care. “As a supplier of high-quality pet care products, we are very proud to present these awards, which gives recognition to Olga’s accomplishments and the example she sets for the industry.”