LICENSED GROOMERS
When are we going to make the states take care of our beloved pets and protect them from this abuse? Just because they can not talk does not give anyone the right to harm a loved and cherished family member. Read the following articles and you decide.
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A local family is devastated after a visit to the dog groomer ended with a horrible accident. They took their dog to PetSmart last week, but it escaped.
Just days after losing their pet, the local family is speaking out. They want others to know about PetSmart's polices and business practices and to be warned.
Emma and Oliva Cohn now cope with the loss of the family dog.
"It was like taking my brother or someone really special away," Emma, 10, said.
You can try to replace him but it's not going to work," Olivia, 7, said.
The irreplaceable dog nicknamed Superman died Friday. The tragedy began during a grooming appointment at PetSmart.
"They said we've had an emergency with Max, he has gotten out of the store," said Mary Cohn.
The Cohns and store employees searched near the PetSmart around the West Loop and Westpark. By early afternoon devastating news came. Max had been hit by a car.
"I just couldn't believe that my Superman was dead," Mary said.
"This dog died a very violent death on the highway," said Angeline Dinzik.
"I just took him to be groomed for our holiday photos, you know how does that happen?" Mary said.
In the days following the death, the Cohn's have found answers from PetSmart, less than satisfying.
"They said we looked up the value of your dog on the Internet, we want to give $600," Keith Cohn said.
Equally troubling are questions about the store's policies and practices.
"How can a 60 pound great dog get away," Emma asked.
A spokesperson for PetSmart's told us Max got away after he slipped off a leash and then ran through a series of open doors just as people were walking through them.
She also said, "Incidents of this kind are extremely rare" and "we believe every policy and procedure to keep animals safe when they are in a grooming salon was followed."
The Cohn's wonder how that is possible as they face the holidays, one family member short.
"My question for them is what's gonna make them step up to the plate and take some moral and financial responsibility," Keith asked.
PetSmart's spokesperson says they are still working with the Cohn family to find the best possible situation for them because the company understands Max was a member of the family.
The Cohn's hope to share their story with as many pet owners as possible.
RESPONSE:
I worked for Petsmart for 4 years and was the salon manager for a year. They had policies that no one seemed to follow. They would leave dogs unattended on the table and I know of three in my surrounding area that either tore the cruciate or broke their leg. I know of at least eight dogs that had ulcerated eyes from the shampoo, and five that escaped in one summer I worked there. Our salon had the half door and the door that opened outwards and was in the front of the store. I know some petsmarts have well trained groomers that went to an accredited school and have had proper educations, but most have received grooming educations at their "Academy" stores and are train by their so called "Master groomers".
When I was hired I trimmed one dog for their "Master Groomer". It was my sister-in- law's dog that I shaved down with a #5f and did a round head. I had been trained for 4 months by a local shop but had decided to go to Petsmart for the benefits. I never thought they would hire me as a groomer, I applied for a bathing position hoping to go to Arkansas Pet Grooming School for training. They said I did not need the training and hired me as a groomer.
I look back at some of the photos of dog's I groomed there and wonder why the grooming police did come and shoot me. I learned and moved on.
I am not saying all these accidents are happening at Petco or Petsmart. There have been several at independent salons as well. When I googled "Grooming Beware" and "Grooming Dog Death" I was shock at how many have made headlines in the last six months.
I was against mandatory licensing at first, I was nervous that the government would try to control the industry too much, but after reading more on it and these recent developments I have decided that we as an industry should push for licensing, mandatory or not. I think it would be great to inform our clients that we are licensed through some sort of board like the American Boarding Association has or AHHA for Vets. I know I would do it in a heartbeat.
I am recent CMG through IPG and I am looking into doing my NCMG.
I am very sad for the families that have lost their pets through groomer carelessness, I agree accidents and accidentally cutting a dog happens, but It seems to either be happening more or just getting more publicized.
CHRISTIANSBURG -- A Floyd County man has filed a lawsuit against PetSmart, claiming one of its groomers nearly killed his puppy.
Jeff Dalton, who is an investigator with the Floyd County Sheriff's Office, filed the civil suit in Montgomery County Circuit Court, naming PetSmart and groomer Chris Roop as defendants. Dalton is seeking $175,000 in damages.
According to the suit, Dalton took his Yorkshire terrier puppy, Chester, to the Christiansburg PetSmart to be groomed on Jan. 26. He was asked to return at 9 p.m. to pick up the dog.
He returned instead at 7 p.m. and was told that because of difficulties in grooming Chester, the grooming was incomplete. He was offered a discount.
An employee went to a back room to get Chester for Dalton. "At that time," the lawsuit states, "Chester appeared lifeless and was struggling to breath [sic]."
When Dalton asked for information about Chester's difficulty breathing, he was told that Chester had been very "wiggly" during the grooming and had "finally given up," according to the lawsuit.
Dalton paid for the grooming and carried Chester to his car. Chester immediately began throwing up blood, he said.
Dalton went back inside the store and demanded to see a manager. A manager agreed to call Town & Country Veterinary Clinic, a 24-hour veterinary service. Dalton took Chester there.
According to the lawsuit, Dr. Kelly Burdette at Town & Country told Dalton she wasn't sure Chester would survive.
She found that Chester had received severe pulmonary contusions and significant bruising "which could have only been inflicted by cruel and deliberate force during the grooming," the lawsuit says.
Chester underwent surgeries and survived, "but will continue to suffer stress, anxiety, and a weakened pulmonary function," it reads.
Dalton later questioned the store manager about Chester's treatment. The manager, who is not named in the suit, "stated that its groomers were not adequately trained in the recognition of signs of stress in a dog" and told Dalton that PetSmart would retrain its groomers, according to the lawsuit.
A spokeswoman for PetSmart said the company doesn't comment on pending litigation. Dalton is being represented by Floyd lawyer Jonathan Rogers.
Dalton said Tuesday that Chester was 4 months old when the incident happened. Now, the puppy is nearly full-grown at 4 pounds, 7 ounces.
Chester was one of hundreds of puppies rescued in November from the overcrowded Horton's Pups in Hillsville.
Dalton believes Chester would have died at PetSmart if he hadn't shown up two hours earlier than he was scheduled.
"His eyes were open but he was just lifeless," he said. "It was all he could do to get his breath."
Dalton said the veterinarian had to turn Chester upside down to drain the blood from his lungs.
Chester was kept at the clinic for four days, he said. The dog is doing better now, Dalton said, but coughs a lot and must be sedated to be groomed.
At a well-known and well-respected company such as PetSmart, he said, "they should be trained enough to know that, hey, this is a lot of stress on this little dog."
