I just wanted to keep you guys posted as to the situations that were arising at Club Barks and the outcomes. Before I went away the harassing never stopped, I was belittled, talked about behind my back, and was called and I quote, "lazy" and "needing mental help" by the owners of the establishment because I refused to torture a Samoyed who lived outdoors all summer and came in for a grooming on Christmas Eve. I refused to demat the dog knowing I could cause him so much stress it would be hazardous to it's health. I expressed that shaving was the only option and was told we need to make the customer happy she just spent 1,000. I'm sorry but I WILL NOT put an animal through that for money. It's just not my perogative. I groom and train because I love it. I would rather lose a client than put an animal through something that can ultimately cause the dog harm. The condition the animal came in was basically borderline animal neglect, and because it "costs too much" the dog only comes in 1 or 2 times a year and for a Samoyed, that is extremely too long in between groomings. I put my foot down before I left, and another groomer was hired "just to fill in when you are away and to help when it gets busy". Well, I had planned on leaving when I got back because I was given an amazing opportunity at Camp Bow Wow in Elmwood Park. At Bow Wow they have the same respect towards the animals as I do and it isn't just all about making the customer happy no matter what the dog has to endure. They are looking to expand their training program and we are all excited to roll out a full curriculum this Spring from Puppy Classes to Click a Trick Clinics! I went into Club Barks on Friday because they said "we have to talk to you", and let me tell you that lifted a weight off my shoulders because I wasn't sure how they would react to me handing them my resignation letter. It entailed how I was unhappy at the lack of maturity on the owners part, the lack of common grooming knowledge and when dematting is an option and when it is too dangerous, and just in general the owners not really knowing anything about dogs except for what they look up on the internet when something arises. I was told "we are going a separate way" and the reason was because a trainer over there offered her services to a woman in desperate need of help with her reactive dog and wanted 125.00 just for a consultation. The woman expressed to me it was too much and that she could not afford it. Being a trainer new out of school, I offered my services to her free of charge in the hopes of using this dog as a learning experience for me and to make sure he got the training he needed. Well needless to say the trainer got mad because I was"unprofessional" taking clients from her, the owners said "you are just out of school, you don't know anything" and then proceeded to tell me all the other trainers helped decide that this was not a place for me to work because I have no respect for "veterans". I was fired, handed in my resignation letter and left with a smile. Unbeknownst to the owners I contacted several of the trainers, and they reassured me that they played no part in the decision to fire me. THye said that since the trainer who got mad is friends of the family with the owners, they would rather fire me to make her happy than to keep me and have the trainer be mad. I knew that being in that environment was potentially damaging to my careed anyway, if I had dematted that dog god forbid he got seriously injured or stressed to the point vet care was needed, that's my reputation on the line NOT THEIRS! I also knew it was my time to go when several dogs were becoming injured and it was toned down or not even mentioned to the pet's owners, because again I knew this was happening and was letting it go on. The last straw when it came down to health of the pets there was when an employee's pet came down with giardia. He was told it was okay to keep bringing his dog in because we knew what it was and it wasn't a big deal. To any knowledgeable professional we know that giardia is highly contagious and transmissable to dogs and humans alike. I observed several dogs in the week before I went on vacation with tell tale signs of the parasite and we were told "it's just stress". Again my reputation and credibility was going down the tubes for not reporting it to the health department. I am pleased to announce this week I am starting my positions at Camp Bow Wow and PupCake, and I can't wait. They are the exact same thing I have been doing, but with more pride and love for the animals.

Here is my new grooming ad as listed on CraigsList:

We here at PupCake are proud to announce a great addition to our staff, groomer and trainer Andrea Vilardi who is featured in the newly published Popular Dogs Gold Series Puppy Care Basics magazine from the authors of Dog Fancy magazine. Andrea also comes to us with the title of 2008 Best Groomer in NJ voted by the readers of Jersey Tails magazine. Andrea graduated from grooming school in 2003, dog training school in 2009 and comes highly recommended. She specializes in terrier cuts and is also a cat groomer. Andrea is a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America and is awaiting membership in the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Grooming services are available on an appointment basis but walk-ins are encouraged. Training services are available in home or group classes are also available. To book your appointment visit our website: and to read more about our newest addition please visit her website: