More of my observations with SB 969 Dog Grooming Bill. Please feel free to cross post. Jacquie
Dog groomers apprentice under experienced dog groomers, or at least they should, unfortunately that is not usually the case. Most often dog groomers come out of school and think they are qualified to groom dogs. I get a lot of dogs that have come from inexperienced groomers, and Petco is a big one.
Most dog groomers careers last just 10 years. It is physically demanding, and grooming 5, 20# dogs a day you have physically moved 1 TON of weight usually by noon. My back, shoulders, and wrists are shot.
Pet owners out there, do your research, observe, ask for references, take the time to find a groomer like you would finding a doctor for your child. Even then accidents can and will happen.
Most dog groomers careers last just 10 years. It is physically demanding, and grooming 5, 20# dogs a day you have physically moved 1 TON of weight usually by noon. My back, shoulders, and wrists are shot.
Pet owners out there, do your research, observe, ask for references, take the time to find a groomer like you would finding a doctor for your child. Even then accidents can and will happen.
I have been grooming for almost 25 years, and I specialize in biters, and guess what, if a groomer is bitten they have no recourse against the owner. A groomer I know got bit in the face and sued the owner, the judge told the groomer that bites were an occupational hazard of the job, and threw out the case. I assume all little dogs that enter my shop have bad patellas, and that all big dogs are dysplastic and treat them accordingly. I have had two dogs die while in my care, one of kidney failure, and the other from a heart attack neither of them my fault, and both of them died while I worked at a vets office. I go to people's homes and groom their dogs in their bathrooms, or yards. I groom show horses and I have had my nose broke, been kicked and stepped on, and I groom show lambs for 4-H kids. I have been bit only twice, once by a dog that was trained to bite, and by a cat with a brain tumor. I have had dogs bit my clippers hard enough to break the case, and have had clippers, and toe nail clippers kicked out of my hands resulting in stitches to me not the animal. Animals are animals and you need to expect the unexpected to keep the animal and yourself safe. There are people who change dog groomers as much as they change their clothes this is not good for the animal, and sometimes people change groomers because their dog is a bitter or has other issues, and you know what, the owners LIE to you.
There are three simple rules for grooming dogs:
1) Don't leave them tied up anywhere, bathtub, or table they WILL hang themselves or fall (I have caught a few unattended dogs falling off tables at dog shows), and no choke chains, or leashes in kennels, again, they will figure out a way to hurt themselves.2) Don't leave a dog in a dryer cage, or with a force air dryer hooked to the kennel running unattended ever, even ambient air dryers use surrounding air be that 60 degrees or 90 degrees to dry the dog.3) Be honest with the owner, I don't know your dog, it doesn't know me so give me at least 4 hours to do the dog. Do new dogs when you have plenty of time. Take your time and don't get distracted that's when accidents happen.
Regulations? I am against them, I can't raise my prices any more, if I do people will do their own dogs. So my options are to drop my health care, or shut my door and start a new career at 50. I am hanging on by a thread now because of the economy. Oh, and one last thing, I don't have to have a business license where I live, my business is in the county not the city. Everyone knows who the bad groomers are, just do your homework and ask.
I have one really big question. Why am I being punished and made to take the fall for a dog owner who didn't research where they were taking their precious pet to begin with? I AM SICK TO DEATH OF PEOPLE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. It is really sad that dogs or any animal gets hurt, but the responsibility ultimately lies directly with the dog's/animal's owner PERIOD.
Jacquie Brown
I totally agree. This proposed law is a bogus attempt by Juan Vargas to garner votes and media attention. Our system has many ways for a dog owner to get regress or take action against a groomer that is incompetent or reckless. Damages can be recovered in small claims court and social media and sites like Yelp are quite effective at routing poor businesses. This law punishes all groomers, taxpayers AND animal owners. Cost will be born by taxpayers and those who use those services. Like most Government Agencies this will not insure competence, monitor services or improve anything. It will allow another opportunity for government to collect fees and destroy business.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you, my dog groomer is a responsible pet owner/groomer too, who will be greatly harmed or put out of business by this Bill. Unfortunately it will also harm her clients because they cannot afford the fee increase that will trickle down from the states fees. she has never caused harm to and in fact has saved animals by having their owners take them to a vet when she observed ailments. I too, agree that the owners have the responsibility to investigate potential groomers prior to their selection, and, that they are the ones reponsible for what happens to their pet.
ReplyDeleteUsing a professional dog groomer is good decision because dog grooming companies are familiar with the correct way to groom dogs and they know what is best for your particular breed. Between visits, it is important that you continually groom your pet as well.
ReplyDeleteToronto Dog Groomer