Today, June 13, 2009 I brought my shih-tzu to Petsmart in Warwick,RI at 10:00 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. I received a call from Petsmart saying they were trying to cut my dog's nails and they think she busted a blood vessell in her eye. I flew to get her; the manager had no compassion. While the girl who called previously said many Petsmart would pay for the vet bill,the manager said only if I brought paperwork back stating they were at fault. Jaida had the pressure in eye measured and was given ointment for the eye. Hopefully, it should improve in a week. The vet said it was probably due to the collar around her neck that caused this damage but I have no documentation to bring back to Petsmart. Oh, Petsmart said "excitable" dogs like this can get "special dedicated" appts. that cost more. I did not reply, was astonished they think I would return there. They are not patient with the dogs are on a schedule and have to groom these dogs quickly.

This is such a sad story. Who would ever think that bringing your pet to the groomer could end in tragedy?

This happen to my 10 week old puppy today in the morning at Petsmart grooming, I seriously dont know what to think right now, Im at odds. My puppy was perfectly fine before taking it to the groomers. They are going to do an autopsy to see what really happen to my pekingese puppy.

Sorry if this offends anyone....BUT!!!!!!!........... I would absolutely never leave my English Bulldog at any groomers. They have to many breathing problems etc etc. My breeder and my vet have both told me not take my dog to the groomers.

As ususal, there has to be more to this story. How long did the woman wait before deciding to to an autopsy? No service does it right away! It's ridiculous to lump all Petsmart grooming services into the bad apple basket. Pretty darn sure the store I frequent is not made up of a bunch of drug users.

I was a groomer at PS. Lots of the groomers admitted drug use. One had been arrested 3x in a year for drugs and the Manager told me of his LSD trip that week-end. Anyone thats dog does live should consider themselves lucky. I work at a nice salon now and the dogs are happy to come back. If your dog is scared to go in ask yourself why.

This is so sad. I guess we should all think about who we trust our pets with!

Although people may disagree, I cannot see anyone not caring enough to not properly care for the dog they are grooming. There has to be underlying problems that these dogs faced. Maybe being a pet lover it is just difficult to think about this happening around me, but maybe people should not assume. Innocent until proven guilty, right?

I hope this story allerts pet owners to the risk they are taking, by having their dogs groomed at Petsmart. I suppose this type of thing could happen at any groomers, but I've never heard of it happening around here. So is it lack of training, or lack of caring??

Wow, I never read anything about dogs dying while being groomed. I have never taken any dogs to be groomed, because they have been short haired. I can understand a dog with heart problems being very stressed and dying, but if a dog was strangled that seems very strange. I read the comments of the dog groomers and can see their side. However, if it was my dog that died in their care, I would thoroughly investigate.

I have heard this story before and I would NEVER take an animal to PetSmart to be groomed.

Sounds like grooming can be a scary thing for the owner and the dog.

Petsmart has a lot of groomers in a lot of places. While it's very tragic that these dogs died, I hope it doesn't mislead people to believe that ALL Petsmart groomers are dangerous places.

As a groomer for PetSmart, I have to say this: what happened was tragic for the families, BUT THAT WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT AT ONE STORE. Not all salons are like that! I LOVE my job there! We are hired on as Bathers, where we are only booked dogs that come in for Bath n Brush packages. After several months of proving ourselves as Bathers, we are sent to PetSmart Stylist Academy, held at another store in the city. When we complete Academy, we must complete 100 successful grooms under supervision before we are considered "PetSmart Certified Groomers". I've been a PetSmart PetStylist for a year and a half now, and this is definitely a job that requires a great deal of patience, skill, behavior knowledge, and confidence. The English Bull Dog breed has a HUGE issue with collapsing tracheas. That's their breathing tube.They have a MULTITUDE of health problems due to overbreeding, and in many, the life expectancy is around 6 years. In a lot of them, the trachea can be as big around as a drinking straw. with more severe cases, the dog can be running around at the dog park, panting and snorting, and pass out from lack of oxygen (this is a true story told to me by the aforementioned Bulldog's owner). It is HIGHLY likely that this dog was thrashing around during the nail trim, panting and freaking out, and perhaps, the bather handling him didnt recognize the signs of stress in an OEB. She should have. Once the trachea collapses, the dog can strangle. This is one reason my store keeps Old Englishes in the most visible kennels, so we can be constantly checking on them.

In the 2 years I've been with PetSmart, I've dealt with two incidents that led to the dogs being taken to the vet. One was an elderly retired racing Greyhound. She was around 10, and I was absolutely thrilled to be bathing my first Greyhound (i LOVE sighthounds). Greyhounds can be shy, but with enough sweet talking, I had her leaning on my legs, getting me soaked as I bathed her, taking my time so as not to startle her. Then, in the middle of me rinsing the conditioner, she sort of froze and toppled over and started thrashing around. I immediately unhooked her groom loop, knelt down, and held her head in my lap, trying desperately to calm her. I knew she was having a seizure, and I didnt know if i should yell to the groomers up front and risk scaring the dog further, or jump up and run to the front. I yelled for my manager several times and finally bundled towels under my greyhound's head and raced from the bathing room to the front of the salon, and got help. They took her to the vet, and i sat in the bathing room and cried. This beautiful greyhounds lived, and her owners were extremely understanding. She was just too old to handle the stress of grooming--and this was at 8am, she was one of the only dogs in the salon!

The other experience I had was a severely matted poodle. The owner told me that the dog was in perfect health, and at 9 months old, this was its first groom. We see a lot of severely matted dogs, and this one was pretty bad. I shaved the coat carefully, and the whole thing peeled back in one piece. The dog was scared, but sweet, and returned my kisses throughout the process. After she was shaved, I took her to the back, bathed her, and heard a customer up front ringing the buzzer. So i wrapped the poodle in towels and took her to the front with me (i dont like leaving scared dogs soaking wet in the kennel). As I checked out the customer up front, the poodle went stiff, and began seizing. I rushed to the back and covered her eyes, something you're supposed to do when dogs seize. The tremors stopped in moments and another associate who had seen this happen had already called the vet. The owner was called, and she told me "oh yeah, she used to do that all the time, but the vet said she'd grow out of it". Riiiiight.

As Groomers we aren't perfect, and yes, there are those that do it for the money, not out of the joy of working with dogs and people. But customers can tell someone who truly enjoys grooming their dog and does a good job at it, and hey--you can ALWAYS request a particular groomer. If you're uncomfortable, express that to your groomer--I ALWAYS let concerned parents watch from the window, so long as they watch from somewhere where their dog wont see them and start jumping up and down and dancing on the table. If you don't like what you see, leave and never come back. But please dont assume all PetSmart PetStylists are ignorant, untrained, impatient dog abusers who are only in it for the money. Most of us truly care and will go to any reasonable lengths to make grooming a low-stress, satisfying experience for the dogs we groom and their parents as well.

Too bad the autopsy couldn't be done, would have answered a lot of questions.

how awful....do these people have any training at all?

this is horrible. ive heard stories about petsmart in the past with their grooming service but that was just about fleas. i have never taken my dogs there and i dont think i ever will. i take my dogs to a local groomer who i know very well and have for many many years. i will pay the extra money to keep my pet safe.

That is unacceptable. I guess i'd stay with my dog from now on. Did no one try CPR????

I think further investigation is warrented on the training and the methods the groomers use if these were docile friendly dogs.

Wow! This makes you stop and think about taking your pets to someone for grooming. I would have never have thought about anything like this happening!

This is very sad, but accidents happen at the groomers all the time. If it hadn't been a big chain, you probably wouldn't have heard about it. However, it does make me wonder what experience or education their groomers have. I prefer to groom my dogs myself. I don't like leaving them in some one else's care.

I guess we dog owners have to watch the groomers and not leave our dogs. What a shame.

two dogs within six months....hmmm

the groomer should be checked out

Since the owner did not choose necropsy, her options are limited. A new dog, different breed, will do more for her than anything else. Legal action is financially and emotionally draining. The only recourse is to move on and heal.

Tragic. I know my vet and I know my groomer. I don't let Lucky out of my sight with "strangers". I just don't trust too many people with my girl. I took her twice to Petsmart to get nails clipped and I stood right there where I could see them and they could see me.

He was a regular there at Stockton Blvd Petsmart in Sacramento/Elk Grove, CA. A loving, obedient German SHephard that everyone loved. He had bad hips which I always inform and it's on his records. WHen I came to get him from the groomers they told me they were just going to call me ( no one called me) and that he fainted while she did his back nails. SHe bathed him and while still wet proceeded to do front nails. I asked why she didnt dry him first and she said if she did dry him first then he would think he was done and give her a hard time with the nails ( not true-he's obedient and tolerant) SHe said she called for her manager and he got BAinesfield Vet to come get him. The Vet said he was near death when she arrived. After what happened after I got so many conflicting stories and lies. They said they would pay for BAinfield to do necropsy and cremation. I couldn't think I was stunned. I decided to remove him from there the next day and was told he was no longer there that they had taken him away. I asked who took him and where and they could not tell me. They only said to call in the morning and speak to the vet. I called in the morning and the girl at Bainsfield said he was there and would get picked up on Wednesday after lab results for cremation . I later got a call from the vet telling me he was not there and that I could not pick him up. He couldn't tell me anything only that I am not allowed to get him. I told him did he want to lose his license over this and keep telling me the lie that he wasn't there? Then he went off saying things that did not pertain saying that if I came to get the dog that he would call the police. He was very admant about calling the police. I left and called the police myself on the way and met the Sheriff there to help me get my dog out of there. Petsmart gave the Sheriff trouble, not giving or answering what he asked and he got so mad he said he used to take his dog there but will not again after what they put him through. Even with the sheriff there they were not going to release the dog because I authorized the necropsy .He said it's like everyone was hiding something. They pushed the immediate autopsy on me to have it at Bainfield and I should have taken him to another hospital had I could think better. They never offered anything else or go over any other alternatives. The sheriff and I waited there 1.5 hours trying to rtetreive the dog and kept getting answers like I can't say or give you this. The vet has to (and she wasn't there) The vet working that day that lied and told me Daz wasn't ther wanted to speak to the Sheriff but refused to speak in my presence and only in private with Sheriff. Daz's eyes were pushed outward and his tongue stuck out. I am told by others that that is a sign of aphixyasion- oxygen cut off to the brain as in strangulation . Preliminary tests showed no tumors. ( i was able to get initial test results of Bainsfield autopsy). He was a strong healthy dog when brought in that day.
There is more to what happen in the way of deceit and lies and resistence from Petsmart and Bainesfield but I'm suffice at this.
I was able to eventually leave with Daz in my car.

I could use help on this - It's one thing to maybe have a possible accident and it's another to hide info, lie, threaten to cover whatever tracks they are covering. Just because they are a big corporation that can afford fighting a lawsuit they continue to put the little shops out of business with their cheap prices while having no regard to the safety or care of our animals. People need to be aware of this.

Daz was our protector and companion and he's suddenly gone. He was a good dog and gave no one trouble with his fine obedience.

We miss him and our lives are suddenly upset. I feel "assaulted, lied to and left to repair on my own".

gee, why did the dog need to be muzzled for 1. people should take the time to socialize their animals and train them to be handled. owner should also have gotton the necropsy done. the dog also hay have been stressed and had a heart attack. who knows.

What is happening here. That is too much for it to happen once let alone twice.

I know accidents happen, but as a groomer, if the pet is struggling to much, something needs to change.

Poor dogs. I gave up trying to find a groomer who was kind and gentle, and that my dog liked. Luckily, German Shepherds can get by with a nice bath and look great. She hops right into the tub!

So glad we go to a GREAT groomer.

I don't think Petsmart should be allowed to continue grooming animals. I take my cockers to a local groomer associated with a vets office. I've been going there over 10 years and like the fact that the same groomer is always there. I don't like groomers where people can watch through windows. I think this makes the animal nervous and can cause problems.

i have been wondering why the groomers arent reporting these incidents sooner and getting the animals vet care quicker....they must know something is wrong with the pets as they groom them

very sad about the dogs. if i was one of there owners i would sue because once is really bad but twice that is nuts.

This is pitiful. This needs to be investigated thouroughly!

That is so sad... Petsmart needs to step up their owning abilities and take much better care of their animals until they are sold!

that is aweful, stories like this reensure that its a good decision to spend that little extra on a professiona groomer.

If I were the owners, I would take legal action and would sue Petsmart.

That is very sad about those dogs.

We always take our shih-tzu to Petmart, many different ones in fact. This is a very tragic thing to happen and i will be more considerate about taking my dog there. But...i am still going to take my dog there.

If this is the second time at the same store, I hope an invegtigation is being done.

this is so sad they should do something

I would NEVER take my dog to petsmart! A few yrs. ago I took my American Eskimo to petsmart to get her nails trimmed which I never took her anywhere but to my vets...but thought since I was there shopping I'd get them trimmed...they muzzled her! That ticked me off...there was NO reason for them to do that..she was a gentle dog and loved people..she was no threat to anyone! Needless to say, I never took her back there ever!!

Our local petsmart recently fired a groomer for beating a dog. I would never go to petsmart for grooming, but that was before all this happened.

I've worked at a PetSmart Grooming for 6 years, It is a great company that takes care of their customers no matter what, at least at my store. In 2006 we had a toy poodle died in our care, his name was Pepe, a very cute dog and first time customer. When we check a dog in we have "health questions" that the owner has to check and the owner check that the dog was in good health, nothing wrong with him, the dog walked fine and everything. Because of his age and breed we didn't use any kind of dryers on him, instead he was towel dryed and put in a kennel for about 30 minutes, when the groomer got to him, she found him laying there not moving but alive, I rushed him to the vet (located inside PetSmart) and called the owners. Pepe's heart was giving in. Pepe died shortly after the owners got in, when the Vet talked to the owners they told her that they knew he had heart problems, but he told us that Pepe was healthy..........so who's is to blame????? I agree if a pet dyes because of cruelty the groomer needs to get fired, but they have to investigate it first, an ecropsy confirmed that Pepe's heart was in very bad condition, of course Petsmart paid for everything, like I said, we take care of our customers. I had a dog almost bite my face, he only left red mark on my cheeks, and when I told the owner that I would't groom her dog she asked "what about the other groomers" I said NO, at least no today, she told me that I shouldn't have gotten so close to her dog......now how am I supposed to groom her dog at a distance?????? she went to my manager and filed a complaint, not happy with his answer she called corporate, PetSmart takes care of our customer but not her. I have many customers get mad becuase we can't cut their pets nails, they insist on us to keep trying and to hold them tight, but when we can't, I'm sorry, we can't, the pet and the groomer can get hurt, but they don't want to take no for an answer. I am proud to say that at my store in Houston we don't have careless associates.

THIS IS SO SAD....PEOPLE JUST OUT TO GET MONEY AND NOT HAVIGN ANY INTEREST IN ANIMALS! :(

omg keep the stories up. Some fo these stories really interest us pet lovers. I really wish this was still up! I want to read it!

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This story had expired. I wish I could have read it.