Growing up, all Icyss Wright wanted was a dog. Instead she had three brothers.
When Covid hit during her junior year of high school and classes went remote, she begged her parents for a puppy. They didn’t relent, so when Icyss graduated from Boston Community Leadership Academy in 2021 and went in search of her first “grown-up job,” she was determined to work with animals.
After some babysitting gigs and working as a swim instructor at Goldfish Swim School in Brookline, Icyss eventually landed a bathing position at Boston Dog Butlers, a grooming salon in the South End. There she discovered the less-than-glamorous aspects of the profession, such as wrestling reluctant Bernese mountain dogs into the tub, being serenaded by howling huskies, and pulling Samoyed fur from her eye sockets and nostrils. Still, she loved every second, and she learned more than she could describe during her two-year tenure at Dog Butlers.
Icyss joined the Urban Hound staff as a bather in 2024, where she continues to hone her bathing and prepping skills. In particular, Icyss appreciates working with large, hairy breeds, such as Newfoundlands, Bernese mountain dogs, and golden retrievers, and her gentle temperament helps to calm anxious dogs.
Outside of work, Icyss makes jewelry, a hobby she took up during Covid. She also enjoys experimenting with different cosmetic products and DIY Gel-X nail kits. While grooming, Icyss listens mainly to true crime podcasts and musicians Chappell Roan, Laufey, and Cigarettes After Sex.
In November of 2023, Icyss finally convinced her parents to let her have a dog, and Ellie, a rambunctious pit-bull/German shepherd mix, joined the Wright household. Ellie loves squeaky toys, Codfish treats, and taking long walks with Icyss.
