My poor baby was traumatized

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

For grooming, I usually have a pet groomer come to my house.  This month, I decided to go to Petsmart grooming to save a buck or two.  Coming to the house is very expensive, but I like the fact that Bailey is back in the house clean in a little over an hour.

When I went there, everyone was very friendly and I spoke for a good 20 minutes to the girl, who happened to be the manager, about how I wanted Bailey to look, and also, how much to cut off.  Her hair is very long and I wanted about an 1.5 inches cut off.  She told me that she would be ready around 5:00. 

I dropped her off about 12:45 and walked away wondering if this was a good move.  She knows Michael, our regular groomer, and I felt guilty about changing her routine. At 5:00, my DH suggested we get in the car to go get her.  I told him that they hadn't called yet and to wait.

Well, at 5:15 the groomer called to tell me that Bailey was still very wet and that she had not even started cutting her hair! I asked her why and she said that they were having trouble drying her because she doesn't like the dryers.  I said to her "what have you been doing for almost 5 hrs?"  She replied, "trying to dry her."  I was shocked!!!!  I was so beyond angry.  I just said "I'm on my way to get her."

We brought towels with us to wrap her in, jumped in the car and drove there.  I was almost jumping out of my skin with anger.  My DH kept telling me to calm down.  I just felt so bad for her and I kept picturing her in the drying room just freeking out scared.

I walked in, and she said that she will go get her.  She came out with Bailey, I grabbed her and walked away.  I did not want to cause a scene and yell and scream.  I was worried about what I would say. I do intend to write a letter on Petsmart.com and complain about it.  If they had called right away, I totally would understand, but to leave her there and do that to her for over 4 hours, is animal abuse.  

Now, I have a wet dog that needs a trim badly.  I called my old groomer and I hope he can come by and just brush her out and trim her today. I should have taken a picture last night, but we were late getting ready for a neighborhood holiday party.

Anyone in the Rancho Santa Margarita area - don't go to Petsmart grooming.  They are Grinch's  

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

The way I see it... they did not start to bathe her until late in the day and just used that as an excuse.  I have heard good stories and bad about their gooming here in NJ.  Since I groom myself and have a wonderful little grooming place within walking distance of my house that I have used one with great results I don't think I would take a chance with Petsmart.  As for Banfield.... Oliver goes to Banfield and has a wonderful vet, and never had any problems with them diagnosing something he did not have.  They always treated for what I brought him in for and nothing more.  Until I have a bad expierence I will continue to go there.  Sasha goes to my regular vet since she was sooooo sick as a puppy and I had her before Oliver.  Soooo so far so good with Banfield.

[Bryce P]

I feel bad for Bailey. The only good reason is that they were SUPER busy and still I would have called the owner ahead of time and advised them about the wait at the time of drop off.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I spent a reasonable amount of money when i got Cooper - I have 4 different types of scissor plus thinning scissors. I have a les pooches brush (but I got the puppy one and need to get a new one) and an oster dematting rake. I groom her myself. I keep her fur long, around 5 or 6 inches, unless it gets hot in the summer when I cut her down to 2 inches. I used to have an old table i used cor cutting, now i just get down onto the floor.

I used to work in a pet food store near a pet smart. The grooming girls would come to our store to buy grooming supplies. They would buy the cheapest, worst quality supplies (that i wouldnt use), and state they were better than all the ones at petsmart. Alot of the girls werent trained groomers and I could do a better job. I saw some terrible shave jobs from there (they dont scissor cut)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm not overly optimistic that a) they will "investigate" very far into it, b) any changes in policies or proceedures will occur or c) that they will ever admit that it was just unacceptable or any wrong doing on their part. But, I've been wrong before and would love to see them adjust practices.
I watch the young ladies at the store when I go to pet smart as I like to get little grooming tips that way, and they are usually very young and treat it like a job or business that it is. There just doesn't seem to be any time or inclinations for TLC in their environment. I think it's just what you could expect at a big store with high volume and have to know that going in and accept that it's not like a small grooming shop or mobile groomer.
I bought a very nice hose and shower head attachment at Bed Bath and Beyond for my spare bathroom and that's where I bath them in the winter.
Do you have a garage? I groom them out there too, on a table DH made out of saw horses and plywood. He also uses the horses, so it's not a waste of equipment or space if I only use it once or twice a yr.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Also, have you joined the grooming site? Lots of tips. Try it, you might like it. I'm sure Bailey would.