I am extremely upset and concerned about my experience with my dog today.
I scheduled him for the first appointment of the morning at 9:00 a.m. specifically so he would not have to sit at the groomer for hours while other dogs were being groomed. Nearly five hours later, he still was not finished, and during that entire time I did not receive a single phone call informing me that they were running behind or that he was stressed or having difficulty with the grooming equipment.
When my husband finally went to get him, my dog still was not ready. My husband told them he was taking him home anyway because he had already been there far too long.
When he got home, he drank approximately half a gallon of water. This concerned me enough that I called the salon specifically to ask whether he had been given water while he was there.
I also asked to speak with the owner because I wanted an explanation for what had happened. Instead of addressing my concerns or apologizing, I was told, "Well, I have video of your dog. He was trying to attack the blower machine."
That statement made me even more concerned. If he was so frightened or stressed by the blower that he was reacting to the machine, why wasn't I called? I would have immediately come and picked up my dog. There was absolutely no reason for him to remain there for nearly five hours if he was experiencing that level of stress.
I repeatedly expressed my concerns about him, the length of time he had been there, and the amount of water he drank immediately after coming home. Not once did I receive an apology. Instead, the response continued to be that they had video of my dog "attacking" the blower machine. The call ultimately ended with the woman hanging up on me.
As his owner, I entrusted this business with his care. If a dog becomes excessively stressed, frightened, or difficult to groom, I expect a professional groomer to stop, contact the owner, explain what is happening, and allow the owner to decide whether the grooming should continue.
I am extremely concerned about his treatment while he was there and about whether he had adequate access to water. I have requested that all video footage from the time he was in their care be preserved. I also intend to report my concerns to the appropriate animal-welfare authorities so they can determine whether he was treated appropriately.
I will never bring my dog back to this establishment. My biggest concern isn't that his grooming wasn't completed--it's that my dog was apparently extremely stressed, was there for nearly five hours, and no one thought it was important enough to call me. read more