Doggie Style Pet Grooming

IRRESPONSIBLE ANIMAL CARE:

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 we took [redacted] (our 12# shih pooh) in for his grooming appointment with [redacted] at Doggie Style. After retrieval of [redacted], he exhibited nervousness and withdrawal from us, shaking his head profusely - clearly not his normal friendly, playful behavior. We checked him for visible trauma and noticed blood on the exterior tip of his ear as well as abrasion on his inner thigh. He wouldn't eat his dinner (very unusual) that evening and wouldn't stop shaking his head or licking himself. We thought he might be having an allergic reaction to the shampoo, so re bathed and conditioned him.

This condition continued the next day, so called [redacted] to take him in. Upon her examination, she stated that she missed cutting the inner hair on one of his ears and noticed where she had cut the other groomed inner ear, like a cut here and there was normal. Upon arrival at home, we dabbed ointment on his inner ear cut and repeated dabbing his outer ear and abrasion on his thigh.

The next day, Saturday, [redacted] was still exhibiting this strange behavior, so we booked an appointment with our veterinarian that evening. [redacted] was diagnosed with ear infection with instruction to apply pharmaceutical topical ointment and administer oral tabs twice daily.

Almost a week later on Wednesday Oct 23, 2013, [redacted] is still not back to his normal behavior. [redacted] returned my call today from my phone message to her yesterday, Oct 22nd, of my disappointment in this grooming episode. [redacted] said she didn't accept any responsibility and that we should own responsibility for this as his hair was matted and long and this outcome should be expected because of that.

What??

I said, You cut his ear on the exterior and interior by your own admittance, which resulted in ear infection and extreme discomfort, followed by veterinarian visit and medicines, and stress for [redacted] and us worrying about him, and this is our fault?

[redacted]'s reply was that she could have reported us for animal cruelty and neglect, with No apology no acceptance of responsibility, just finger pointing at us. I told her to report away. She said sheepishly, well, I'm not going to report anything.

I informed [redacted] that I had taken [redacted] for a walk in the fountain park before his grooming appointment, so he could have picked up some grass. And added that [redacted] is well cared for, bathed regularly and is like our child. We chose to experiment, letting his hair grow out, skipping scheduling [redacted]'s last routine grooming appointment. We did have to groom more frequently at home with trimming, shampooing and conditioning, but finally concluded that managing [redacted] with shorter hair would be more advantageous for him and us-less maintenance and more doggie playtime. We and our family/friends like his hair curly, so brush/massage him with our hands, not using a brush, which [redacted] likes.

[redacted] persisted in us owning this mishap with no responsibility from her, with no apology or regret or concern about [redacted]'s well being.

Realizing that this conversation was too incredible to continue, I told [redacted] that this conversation was over and that I was reporting this episode. Good day.

Summary: Instead of getting a apologetic or caring response from a concerned groomer, I received defensive and very accusatory statements and absolutely no concern for how [redacted] is doing, even though she admitted damaging him.

My reply to her disrespectful manner is to remind her of the damage and most likely the pain [redacted] endured while in her care. It makes me very sick to my stomach to know that I put my pet, who is a part of my family and well loved, in the hands of such a horrible person. And to make matters worse, she made awful accusations with no former knowledge of me or my relationship with my pet.

I hope that [redacted] can live with herself knowing there is a little dog out there, my [redacted], in pain due to her lack of care while grooming him. This is another animal abuse situation that will be brought to light in order to save other animals from being hurt in [redacted]'s care.

Please, if you love your animal, find another place to have him/her groomed.