My experience as the owner and operator of MASTER Groomers... I have been grooming for the past 8 plus years and worked at the same salon my entire career. I recall the situation that "Brenda W" referred to and was shocked and appalled as were my clients by this elaborately over dramatic recap of the days events. This person clearly has no concept of anything to do with pet grooming and merely walked by and started accusing me of abusing a client's dog. I would not have a wide open grooming space, which not all groomers have, if I was in business to just make money torturing people's furry family members. Lets address exactly what was said in her "review..." I am confused by the "tied down" comment as the dog was on a standard grooming noose that is used for their safety to keep them on the center of the grooming table. The dog that was referred to was a male sheltie named Marley who has been getting groomed at my salon for the past 7 plus years. I am sorry that someone misinterpreted Marley's face as "eyes were wide and filled with terror," that is his face, and I consider him quite handsome, I am sorry that someone did not feel the same way as I do. I use very efficient tools at my salon and if I were to "scape a dogs bones and other tender areas" the dog would have been rushed to the vet, as he certainly was not, his parents simply thanked me for the service I provided to their beloved pet. I would have to assume that common knowledge would lead you to believe that grooming is my CHOSEN profession and that if all I did not love and care for animals I would not choose to spend everyday of my life making them feel and look better. I would have to assume that any individual would be defensive if someone entered their business establishment and started accusing the of "torturing animals." The owner of Marley specifically let me know that in his older age now he has gotten nippy with them, and that I might need to use a muzzle for my safety and his, the dog had accrued such a dense and matted undercoat because the owners were unable to brush him out themselves. The "yelling in the back room" was my bather telling her dog to be quite as she tends to bark at strangers. Katie is an amazing dog and my bather gets to bring her spoiled daughter to work with her everyday to lounge around, eat treats, and meet lots of fellow furry friends. The "cages" which most knowledgeable pet owners typically refer to as kennels were almost completely empty as my work day was almost over. The kennels are there for the dogs to safely wait to be groomed with an eye always on them to make sure they are safe. Very sad that someone would ever refer to my salon as a "torture chamber." Now that I hope I have cleared some things up that were obviously over exaggerated to dramatize the situation. I love all animals and am honored to have an amazing reputation and loyalty of my clients. Grooming dogs and cats is necessary for the well-being of both pet and owner. I perform the services for peoples furry family members that they themselves cannot or do not wish to perform. Every service that I provide to to maintain a happy and healthy dog and yes, reality is that not all pets enjoy being groomed, just as some people hate going to the dentist, or doctor. Kids hate having their hair detangled... the list goes on. I have made it my life and feel fulfilled knowing I am making pets healthier and happier overall. I encourage people to call me anytime and inquire about the services I provide and choose to decide for yourself who you feel most comfortable leaving your pet with. There are very bad dog groomers out their and some of my clients have experienced such things, and for that I am truly saddened and hurt. I love animals, always have and always will, I look forward to doing so for the rest of my life. Proudly pampering the paws that love you, Master Groomers Inc. read more

as a groomer this negative review very much upsets me!!! i'm sorry that this situation upset you brenda, but you very obviously know nothing about grooming, dogs, master groomers or erica!! first off from a groomer's perspective, a muzzle is a very necessary tool. a large percentage of dog's need to be muzzled...some for things as simple as nail trims or ear cleaning, others for an entire grooming. i work at veterinary clinic and every vet that i work with would definately support that piece of knowledge. if we did not do what every dog on earth did not like we would have a lot of very matted, sore, sad, infested, stinky and unwell dogs running around. most dogs do not walk into a grooming shop or vet clinic willingly just as a child does not love to get a bath or have their hair brushed out or get shots. this does not mean that we love this part of our job! just as a doctor does not like making a baby cry or give bad news. but sometimes we have to do what is neccesary for a better outcome. my own dog who's been going to work with me since she was 6 weeks old hates to brushed and have her nails clipped and will squeal or growl when she's in the mood. this does not mean i'm hurting her, just that she does not approve of it happening. second master groomers is a great grooming shop! i have been grooming in whatcom county for over 9 years and i do not know any other place or groomer i would recommend besides myself other than erica and master groomers. having worked with erica for a few years i know that in fact she IS a definate animal lover!!! there were times when pets would come in the the shop in horrible condition and we would be so upset for the pet (this goes along with what i pointed out before....not the groomer's fault that the animal was allowed to get into such a bad condition, but b/c we work for the animal, we have to do what is necessary to help it back to a better condition, even if this mean doing something that makes the animal upset), enough so that we shed tears. we love our clients and get atatched so much so that when they pass on we feel a void and share in the loss with the owner. i encourage anyone who is thinking of going to master groomers or even curious after reading these reviews to stop by and talk with erica. the entire business is very open and you can see what is going on and watch if you are interested. i've never known erica to turn anyone with questions away. (by the way...i do not know the bather or her dog personally, but i do know that she has always been friendly with clients (furry and human alike) every time that i have stopped by to visit. the hackled dog is her own dog and she hackles up every time i walk in and talk to her. thats just who she is) read more

Master Groomers and Erica are wonderful. Erica is experianced and has been an animal lover all her life! I have personaly known Erica for over 10 yrs, helped out in her shop and spent many hrs in there hanging out with her and the dogs. Brenda obviously does not know much if anything about grooming animals. Dogs often reguire a muzzle at the groomers, vet and many other situations. As for being "tied down" no dogs are ever tied down, they are however leashed to the grooming table to keep the dog in one place to work on them and the table is elivated so jumping from the table is unsafe for many dogs. I have NEVER seen Erica be cruel or violent towards a dog or any animal inside or out of Master Groomers. In fact I have seen Erica turn dogs away that are to agressive, to old or to weak to be groomed. Instead of choosing her bank account she chooses to politley educate the owner as to why grooming the dog would be more harm than good for the animal. That right there should prove her love and care for all animals. These "cages" are called crates, the same crates that many dogs are in at ANY groomer of VET's office when not being worked on at the moment. These dogs can not all be loose at once for very obvious reasons! All 3 of my dogs LOVE going to Master Groomers and LOVE Erica. They go there regularly for grooming, loving and a good handful of treats. I have personaly left my dogs in Erica's care at Master Groomers and while out of town, she always takes excelent care of them. I would and DO recomend Master Groomers to anyone I know or meet that has a dog or cat in need of a good grooming. Please visit Master Groomers so you and your animal can experience great groomer for yourselves!!!! read more

I don't usually write reviews but am compelled to by the insane person who left the nasty review. I've taken my cats to a number of places for their yearly, or twice yearly trimming and they come back mellow and happy with fabulous results. My allergies are relieved, the house is cleaner and the cats seem to love not coughing up hairballs. They parade around in their dr. suess hairdos which are done with fabulous style. I've taken them other places only to end up with angry cats who are trimmed sloppily without the awesome details of the poof tail and cute shaped manes and paws. Yes, there are animals in cages waiting their turn, and some of them are not too happy about it but have you ever been the the vet? (hope you have if you have a pet). It's entirely normal for them to be a little stressed out by a different environment than their own homes but it's part of animal care. The women who run the place and do the work are fabulous and obviously animal lovers, they always say my cats do really well with the grooming which I can't image is easy for the groomers, they come out as mellow as they went in and believe me my cats let me know if they are not happy. So I've been with Master Groomers for years, angry PETA lady needs to get a grip on reality, Lisa Polinder - happy long time customer. And paws up from Mookie and Max who will be seeing you next week. read more

I have been taking my dog to Master Groomers for years and have never had a bad experience. She goes in every 4-6 months and they always remember her...even making comments about her collar that she had on the last time, etc...not just the "generic" comments about how sweet she is, they remember specifics which always makes me feel like our dog is loved when she goes in. She is petrified of cages, and they know that, so when I make my appointment they tell me the exact time to come in so that she never has to be put in a cage and even call me 30 minutes before she is done so that I can be standing there waiting for her, and again avoid the cage. I feel my dog is treated very well there and when I pick her up it seems as though the staff is sad to see her go. Every grooming has been perfect and their pricing is really reasonable. I am so happy that we found Master Groomers when our dog was a puppy and refuse to take her anywhere else....if they are booked up then she simply does not get groomed. Thank you Master Groomers for taking such good care of our beloved animals...Bellingham is a better place with you here!!! read more

I would like to just say that I have never had anyone take such good care of my Westie as Erica at master groomers. My dog is not one who likes to get his hair done and he loves her. He is your typical terrier who does not like to be groomed and will put up a big fight. Erica is a dog lover herself and understands dog more so than anyone I have had groom my dog. Erica understands that just as being a good parent at times you have to make animals know who is in control and mind you. It is those who allow their animals (children) rule the roost that makes people like me not like to be in the same park (or where ever bad behaving children are) where their pets are disobedient. Erica I can honestly say that you are one great groomer and I can not find anyone who does the job you do since I have moved away. Duncan misses you and so do I. You continue to do what you do best and DO NOT allow those who would say anything different affect your talent. Sherry G. read more

I was referred to Master Groomers on the Guide Meridian by the staff at Petco. Their groomer was not in at the time. I went there with my cat to have his nails trimmed. We couldn't hold him still long enough to do it ourselves. When we went in the young lady working came from the back room and greeted us. And when she did, the dogs in the kennels were happy to see her. Not afraid or scared. She told us she could do his nails right away while we watched. We were quite sure she was going to have her hands full with our Finnigan! She pulled him out of his carrier, petted him, scratched behind his ears etc. Then in two minutes, she was done! Amazing! Finnigan had no idea or even cared about what had just happened. We paid only $10.00 for this service. What a professional, convenient, and inexpensive experience. We will be back and I tell everyone that I know who needs grooming services about Master Groomers. read more

I actually use to help Erica in the shop and what this lady is saying is totally wrong. Let's take in the fact that dogs bite, so there are some that must be muzzled. And the fact that almost every dog hates being groomed so obviously there are gonna be alot that tug and pull. Erica loves animals and would never do anything to intentionally hurt them. This lady obviously has no idea what she's talking about wanting to call this amazing shop "monster" groomers when she has probably never been around a shop before, or atleast that's what it sounds like by the way she doesn't understand grooming techniques. This lady obviously needs to get a better hobby instead of writing reviews she knows nothing about. I love ericas grooming and would def recommend her to any of my dog owning friends! read more

I have a high maint pup that I get groomed once a month. My regular groomer is closed for awhile, so I have been trying out some other Bellingham places. I had 2 AWFUL experiences at other shops, bad haircuts, bad environments, etc. This place was a breath of fresh air. The haircut wasn't 100% up to my standards, a little bit uneven, but really close, and I will have no problem going back in the meantime. My little girl wasn't stressed afterwards, like she was at the other places I tried. I liked the atmosphere and attitudes, and again unlike the other places I tried, they actually listened to my instructions. A little more pricey than most Bellingham spots, but it's worth it for the peace of mind. read more

There should be a policy against slander on here!! Ms. Jones is one of the best groomers in Whatcom Co. and this venemous "review" was written by someone who simply walked by the shop and made a determination, about a very aggressive dog, and the way it was handled. She has never been a client. For the actual clients of Master Groomers, they know the real story! Groom on Erica - you are doing a great service, and it is obvious by your full appointment book - that many people feel the same way!! The dog in question that came running out from the back belongs to the woman who works there!! read more

I am so glad we found Dog Gone Gorgeous. They did a great job on our dog Lulu and now we won't take her anywhere else. They are very professional and you can tell they really care. The owner took her time and talked to us about our cockapoo's dry skin and suggested a spa treatment (sugar scrub treatment, argon oil shampoo and re-moisturizing conditioner). We have been taking her once a month for the treatment and her skin is much improved plus she smells great! We joined a monthly club they offer which saves us money and keeps Lulu looking her best. read more

I have personally known Erica Jones since she was 6 years old. She is totally an animal person and in love with ALL animals. She would NEVER be mean to any animal. Obviously this person does not understand the grooming of animals. Sometimes the dog has an undercoat that is difficult to brush/shed out and it is a bit uncomfortable to get the job done. We humans experience the same thing daily. I would send Erica my 3 very loved and pampered corgis any day of the week. Keep it up Erica! read more

I have recently relocated to Phoenix AZ and have had no luck finding any groomers as good as Erica and her crew at master groomers. If i could afford it I would fly my Westie up to have him groomed by this animal caring crew at Master groomers. Erica and her Crew are the only ones that could satisfy this (me) picking dog owner. Thank you Erica for all your caring over the years. Duncan and I miss you all. We dont think we will find another groomer as good as you! read more

I don't usually write reviews, but after reading that last one I felt like I had to. I have been bringing my dog to Master Groomers for a while and I am more than pleased. They are very professional and are excellent at what they do. Who ever wrote that last review CLEARLY has NO clue what they are talking about. I have been to several Groomers around the area and recommend Master Groomers over any of them! read more

I take Both my dogs to Master Groomers every month and they offer nothing but the best service to my dogs Max and Keetah. The staff is top notch and most importantly they always get my dogs in and out on time. If you value quality, time and most importantly your pets well being, definitely use Master Groomers. This is the single greatest Professional Pet Grooming establishment I have ever seen. read more

A relative was visiting for a couple of weeks with their cute little furry mix & wanted to get their pet's "do" done. We haven't used a groomer since we moved up here due to our previous pet's road to heaven and she was recommended. She did a TERRIFIC job - in & out in a very short time; well-suited cut & brush-out and the nails were perfect -- not too short and even. read more

There is NO WAY that Erica was being abusive. We have taken our dog here for the past 6 years, and we couldn't be happier with the results of every grooming, the care of the animals, and the kindness shown to customers. I recommend this establishment to all I know, and will continue to be a very satisfied client, as is my dog, Lacey! Christy H Bellingham read more