HORRIBLE!
This groomer was referred to me because the team was supposed to be trained in working with anxious dogs. The website advertises "fear free grooming." Our rescue had been badly abused and was skittish and fearful of people. I called multiple times to talk to someone in advance about how they handle anxious dogs. It took multiple calls to reach anyone, but then I had a conversation of 20 minutes, relating his experience, my concerns, and asking questions about how they would handle his fears. I was told that the groomer would be ready for him, to make him feel as comfortable as possible right from arrival. That "high quality treats" would be used to gain his trust, that he would "set the pace" and we would take what time we needed. So I made an appointment over the phone about two weeks in advance because the groomer was going to be out for training and couldn't see him right away. I was told on the phone to bring him hungry that morning so that he would be receptive to the treats. So I did. I didn't feed him except for one calming dog treat in advance and arrived a couple minutes early for the appointment I had scheduled on the phone. I was met with complete lack of recognition. The woman I talked to on the phone apparently didn't write down the appointment in her book, and then told me that *I* hadn't made one! I did what any customer would do: call and schedule. I didn't show up in person and write it myself in her book. Who would do that? On the phone, she told me I had an appointment. She did not communicate that there was anything else I needed to do to actually make the appointment I was setting REAL. But apparently, *I* didn't do enough, because when I arrived, nothing was done in advance to prepare for this sweet, anxious pup's arrival. The receptionist, who doesn't give her name or wear a nametag, said she would check to see if they could work him in and the groomer came walking briskly out into the room, setting him on edge, as if she had NO knowledge at all of approaching a dog with an abuse history.
This "fear free grooming" is a total farce. They don't know what they are doing, and I got the sense that they don't care.
Additionally, there was no acknowledgement or apology on their part for agreeing to an appointment and preparation over the phone and then not recording it or preparing. And the audacity to say to me, "You didn't make an appointment"! No responsibility for their poor office practices but shifting it to me, who did everything I knew to do to prepare them and to come prepared.
STAY AWAY. Your pet will not be safe here. I am appalled and angry, but so thankful I didn't subject my rescue to even further trauma by those people at Fairview Boarding! read more
