Cindy Lange-Kubick: 'Groomer Has It' finalist coming to Lincoln

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Jorge Bendersky picks up the phone at the New York Dog Spa and Hotel in Manhattan, where he has just finished shampooing Bella, an apparently disheveled — and clearly barking — cockapoo.

“She came in with tons of hair and she’ll go home looking so lovely,” declares the dog stylist in his enchanting Argentinian accent.

It’s trendy tattooed Jorge.

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Jorge Bendersky was a finalist on "Groomer Has It." He will be at Kenl Inn in Lincoln on Sept. 6. (Courtesy photo)

Jorge Bendersky was a finalist on "Groomer Has It." He will be at Kenl Inn in Lincoln on Sept. 6. (Courtesy photo)

The fabulous Jorge whom fans of “Groomer Has It” will recognize as the man who made it to the finale of the reality TV furfest before being (some might say unfairly) ousted.

Some of those fans, namely several employees of Kenl Inn on Old Cheney Road, tuned into Animal Planet every Wednesday this summer.

And they dished about it the next day at work.

They even watched the finals together on Patty Hutchison’s living room couch.

And when they had a chance to invite one of the show’s fiercest groomers to Lincoln, they did.

Dian Quist-Sulek explains: Kenl Inn’s grooming supply company is Forever Stainless Steel in Omaha, which provided the bathing tubs and tables for the aforementioned TV show.

And when Kenl Inn found out Jorge was the company’s poster boy, they sat up and begged for the chance to bring him here.

To which Jorge responded:

“Nebraska is about to get Jorgelicious!”

He’ll come to Lincoln Sept. 5.

He might even groom your dog!

But he can’t leave Manhattan before Pet Fashion Week is over.

“A dog is very much a part of everyone’s social life here,” he explains.

“You take them to restaurants and mall shopping. You don’t want to be walking around in your Manolos next to some scruffy thing.”

Kenl Inn has organized a two-day JorgeFest, Quist-Sulek says.

On Sept. 6, a Saturday, Jorge will dish about his time on reality television and his work with the rich and famous  — “My dogs are my celebrities!” — and share his experiences teaching animal care to inner-city kids.

Then he’ll pose for pictures with fans and their pets.

But Friday — Sept. 5 — is the Big Day.

That’s the day Jorge will drive up to one lucky pet owner’s home in Kenl Inn’s mobile grooming station (featuring Forever Stainless Steel’s  “fabulous” equipment) and leave behind a Jorge-inspired makeover for their pet.

“To have a fabulous final product you need to have a fabulous tub,” says Jorge, plugging the company that helps feed him.

It’s a contest for the animal owner who submits the best “Why my dog deserves a celebrity spa treatment” plea.

Anyone can enter.

And they already are.

The people who own a puggle named Josie think they have a case:  “I believe Josie deserves a celebrity spa treatment because she takes care of everybody in our family by running around in circles with overflowing energy to make us smile when we've had a bad day…”

So do the people who love Grizzy, the border terrier: “She is a celebrity in certain travel circles and needs the Celebrity Spa Treatment because she … needs to look her best all the time.”

Others are pimping their pooches, too: Bevo the Bernese mountain dog; Barley, a shih tzu/poodle mix; Toby, a silky terrier who hasn’t had his hair cut in a long, long time.

Jorge won’t speculate on the kind of makeover he’ll offer until he sees his canine client.

“I like to be creating a style for every dog that will match the owner’s lifestyle,” he says.

A sporty cut for the pup of outdoorsy folks.

Something longer and more foofy for a dog that might oh, say, fit in a Kate Spade bag, or spend hours lounging on Egyptian Cotton sheets.

In any case, the makeover will likely be very fabulous, says Jorge.

“I’m all about good hair.”

Reach Cindy Lange-Kubick at 473-7218 or clangekubick@journalstar.com.