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Second Dog to Die at Petsmart Grooming in Six Months

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CALIFORNIA – In a Bakersfield California Petsmart this week, a dog died while getting groomed – marking the second death for the chain store's grooming department in recent months.

The last animal to die was an English bulldog named Brutus from Tucson, Arizona. Brutus' owners believe the dog was accidentally strangled as employees attempted to clip its nails. That incident happened last April.

This week a cocker spaniel belonging to Janie Phillips died accidentally – Phillips believes a muzzle used during the cleaning was too tight. Petsmart claims the device was properly fitted.

Phillips said she and store employees rushed the dog to a nearby vet – but it was too late.

Phillips initially decided not to have an autopsy. She later changed her mind, but by then it was too late – the dog had been cremated.

Petsmart is investigating the incident – and says it will work with Phillips should she choose to get another dog.

Meantime, Phillips has not pursued legal action – although she says she has spoken with an attorney.

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504 comments found.
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HSSCshelter
HSSCshelter
1 year ago
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That is terrible!
 
verano
verano
1 year ago
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Can anyone say disciplinary measures to those who are in charge of this? Good Point me if you agree!
 
Stephanie
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This is so sad. Petsmart really needs to take a look at their practices. This is unacceptable.
 
starlitegirl
starlitegirl
1 year ago
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Interesting and a point I tried to make at PetsMart. I worked in grooming at the PetsMart in Austin. I wanted to get a job just to have something to do so I thought I would work with dogs because I love them so much. Got a job in grooming and also got a rude awakening at how the dogs were treated there. It was an unpleasant job as I could not take the rough treatment of the dogs in the bathing section behind closed doors. The only thing they were interested in was getting them in and out as fast as possible to make more money. Most of the dogs were shaking all over and I would try to comfort them but my boss would complain and tell me not to do it again. They are literally thrown from kennel to bath to unbelievably powerful dryers, roughly brushed and then thrown back in the kennels.I complained several times to the grooming manager but it continued. After three months I quit and wrote a very detailed letter to the PetsMart manager about it. I told him that I could not tolerate the way the dogs were handled and if the owners knew how their"babies" were being treated they would die. One time they even switched two dogs with their owners(two white poodles) One of the owners didn't even realize it till he got home and the other didn't realize it till she was called by the store! Now, this is the grooming section. I like PetsMart itself and do all my shopping there but I would never,never,never have my dog groomed there!
 
mistymastiff
mistymastiff
1 year ago
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Wow, you should have gone higher up in management when something wasn't done. That is absolutely ridiculous that those groomers were doing that. You also should have transferred if possible. ALSO, with your comment you are saying for people not to go to ANY Petmart to be groomed. You worked there - so you're saying even with you working there people shouldn't go. You're also saying that all Petmart groomers are like the assholes you worked with, how is that fair? How would you feel if you read the comment you just wrote when you were working there DOING THE RIGHT THING? How would you respond to it. Wouldn't you let people know that it depends on WHO YOU GET?
 
mistymastiff
mistymastiff
1 year ago
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How would you respond to this comment that YOU left when you were working there still. You would probably explain that it depends on WHO YOU GET. That is horrible that those groomers did that. You should have gone all the way up management until you got to corporate and transferred if possible. I just think your comment is ridiculous coming from a person who cared about dogs and worked there, but then to turn around and say that ALL GROOMERS at Petsmart are doing that to people's dogs.
 
mistymastiff
mistymastiff
1 year ago
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How would you respond to this comment that YOU left when you were working there still. You would probably explain that it depends on WHO YOU GET. That is horrible that those groomers did that. You should have gone all the way up management until you got to corporate and transferred if possible. I just think your comment is ridiculous coming from a person who cared about dogs and worked there, but then to turn around and say that ALL GROOMERS at Petsmart are doing that to people's dogs.

/sorry if this is a repost.. it's not posting for me.
 
pkormash
pkormash
1 year ago
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This is such a tragedy no matter how you look at it.
 
Dawn M.
Dawn M. (dmmsheep)
1 year ago
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Eek, I will never take my dog to a petsmart. They don't do very well from what I've seen. Prefer to groom my dog myself!!
 
Meghan
Meghan (mcatlover)
1 year ago
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I would never take a dog there if another dog had already been killed.
 
Photo Pam
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I applied at a local Persmart's grooming dept not too long ago-and I've never professionally bathed an animal. I'm sure training is given to new employees, but I'd wager if I'd actually been hired there, I'd be doing poodle cuts in a week. Since they are a chain, they can afford to have 2 people on an animal-one to work on the dog, the other for prevention.
 
fruitopee
fruitopee
8 months ago
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No, that's not true. You have to be a bather for at least 3 months, and then you go through a month of training, and after the training, you need to shave 100 dogs before you're actually a certified groomer. I've been there since August, and I'm only just now being sent to the academy in April.
 
Megan
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Phillips should really sue...that's really sad...it may have been an accident but still, these are animals here and whoever is taking care of them should be careful.
 
lauren g.
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i would not trust them find a local person to do it with whom you trust
 
moodyetal
moodyetal
1 year ago
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I can't imagine that a properly applied muzzle could choke a dog.
 
patter5
patter5
1 year ago
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This is an outrage! Pet smart grooming sucks! Never go there!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Chad
Chad (cvieth00)
1 year ago
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Petsmart should be held, acountable for this action. the people working for them some have some kind of degree with animals, but then they would have to pay them more right, and we all know that can not happen, because the corp. up top would not be able to line thier pockets with that green stuff.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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3alex3
3alex3
1 year ago
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I wonder what is going to happen if people keep putting there dogs in cenals or a groomong place and they are going to die. They should have sued them the first time it happened.
 
AquaDaydreamer
AquaDaydreamer
1 year ago
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Pretty suspicious
 
PrincessDaisy
PrincessDaisy
1 year ago
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This is scary. Petsmart Grooming is the ONLY place I use.Luckily i'm in IL. We Love Petsmart Groomers. I hope nothing like this happens at ours. Does anyone know if there's a way to find out if there's been any deaths?
 
Patrick L.
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I know my local petsmart is very gentle and kind. Really think its more of a few bad employees that dont know what there doing than petsmart.
 
Karen M.
Karen M. (kmoquin)
1 year ago
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I always worry when I take my dogs to PetSmart and get their nails clipped. I am ALWAYS present should something happen or I don't like the way things are going. I actually have them grind their nails while they stand... they are less freaked out by it!
 
janfiffer
janfiffer
2 years ago
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As a vet tech, nail trims can be really truamatic for some dogs. We have a standard that if you have to wrestle the dog to do a nail trim, we won't do it. We tell the owner sorry , you will have to sign a sedation agreement to do this, take your dog elsewhere or do it yourself. It is not worth stressing the dog out to trim the nails.
 
einstein4614
einstein4614
2 years ago
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Well, this is good to know i guess i'll think twice before i leave my dog with a groomer!!
 
Cyn041
Cyn041
2 years ago
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This is sad that this had to happen.
 
Jamie
Jamie (jamiepchs)
2 years ago
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These things do happen, but twice. Questions was this at the same location or 2 diffrent stores. If it was at the same store then they need to be investagated.
 
Grace @ T.C.
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I would do more than go for another dog if i were you i would go for the store.
 
amy c.
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This is so awful. i def. am going to think before taking my dogs to get groomed there.
 
amy c.
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i love petsmart... but that is absolutley awful. im def. going to think before i take my dog to petsmart to get groomed.. this is scary :(
 
River
River (Riverwaif)
2 years ago
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I am not unsympathetic to the loss of these loved dogs, however I do have more questions before I would form an opinion.
This story doesn't tell how many stores there are that groom in this corporation and how many dogs are groomed each year. Then compare that to all other chains and see what the rates are.
Secondly did these pets have any pre existing conditions that maybe the owner knew or didn't know?
Not so quick to jump on the bandwagon of critics.
I used to groom and I know how hard it is, but I never lost a pet.
Last point I have is... if your standing there and the dog slips from the table with a restraint on, it doesn't take but a second to either grab the dog or tip the table all the way over if the dog is to heavy.
So I am not so sure that the screaming headline was anything other than a scare tactic and a way to sell more papers. Where is the investigative reporting? Not enough answers in this story.
 
lambrhondal
lambrhondal
2 years ago
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How sad for the owners. When I take my pets for care, I am placing a valuable piece of me in the hands of supposedly trained personnel. Every business associated with animal care should make certain that employees are qualified animal caretakers and know what they are doing. I am afraid that many people work in this field as a way of making a living and do not have the love and gentleness for the animal that is in a strange location being handled by unknown people. Their little life is snubbed out when it could have been such a different outcome.
 
slade3
slade3
2 years ago
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Petsmart should be closed pending full investigation. They should be sued and never allowed to take responsibilty for the care of animals again; under the guise of grooming. I think they need to step up and take full responsibilty for these murders.
 
Richard S.
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I can't imagine what I would do if one of our guys died this way. Heartbreaking.
 
kittypassion
kittypassion
2 years ago
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My daughter took her dog there in another state and had a horrible experience. I would suggest going to a reputable vet to clip toenails, bath, etc. One problem in this country is "sue, sue, sue." If someones sues, it should not be for money; it should be for guaranteeing the correction of the problem.
 
jetty0161
jetty0161
2 years ago
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Too bad they didn't get a necropsy and see what really caused this.
 
javijavi2010
javijavi2010
2 years ago
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Is petsmart treating these animals with respect they deserve?
 
PattiCat
PattiCat
2 years ago
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That is a horrible story. I'm so sorry for the poor dogs and for the owners. I certainly hope PetSmart takes serious action to make sure their employees are properly trained to do their jobs. My advice is for everyone to get references and only go to a groomer who you know is reputable.
Poor babies.
 
johnclinster13
johnclinster13
2 years ago
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I think thats terrible. That those two dogs had to die, I could only hope that something like this would never happen again. I'm shure that the groomers are deeply depressed that this happened in such fine establishment.
 
Tony B.
Tony B. (tonyblack)
2 years ago
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That is sooooo sad!!!!!!!! =(
 
elyse012
elyse012
2 years ago
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That is is so sad. I would be devastated if that happened to me. I would sue if i was her.
 
bcoo
bcoo
2 years ago
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I feel so sorry that this dog died. How sad.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
2 years ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Melissa
Melissa (mevrooman)
2 years ago
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Every grooming shop is different, even among the chains of a huge pet store franchise. Know the people who are caring for your dog. Just as you would throughly check out a boarding facilities and vets, the same care needs to be taken for grooming shops too.
 
RedHeadRule999
RedHeadRule999
2 years ago
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This is absolutely outragous no reason for it at all he should sue
 
daezusgrace
daezusgrace
2 years ago
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Oh geez, that is so sad.... I wonder about PetSmart's "services" appreciation & understanding for animals in general - I wanted to view their cat boarding facilities at one of their new "PetHotels" and they wouldn't let me...said only certified folks get beyond the door and I could only view the one cage that had a window to the lobby. Staff didn't seem confident in what they were doing and in the grooming area they looked a little overwhelmed as well, and the dogs looked "confused" rather than their usual "contended and distracted" behavior when in a grooming environment.
 
jenng80
jenng80
2 years ago
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This is very unfortunate, but accidents do happen. I know several people who take their dogs to PetSmart and they have never had a problem.
 
Melissa S.
Melissa S. (melissa)
2 years ago
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I would be pretty upset if my dog died at the groomer's, no matter what groomer it was!
 
DWillson
DWillson
2 years ago
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I will only take my dog to a groomer where I can watch him being groomed, just like I watch my grandaughter getting her hair cut and nails done. Petco has windows where you can watch the animal being groomed.
 
XpsGroomer
XpsGroomer
1 year ago
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Thats not good enough. I worked there I saw. For god sake our water we washed them with was cold! A dogs body temp is 101-102 our water at its hotest was 83 degrees. They did'nt get clean and the poor babies shivered.
 
DogtorC
DogtorC
2 years ago
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Accidents happen, but twice? I feel so bad for the owners of the dogs. It would be so hard to think that you might have been able to prevent your dogs death.
 
raelalee
raelalee
2 years ago
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I don't think that Petsmart should be in the grooming business especially when it seems that they hire people with absolutely no animal handling skills. It is unacceptable that a dog would die while only being groomed.
 
DispatcherOdie
DispatcherOdie
2 years ago
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Being a groomer myself I have to say that it is very sad to lose a pet who is such a big part of your family. I will agree people need to be selective when finding a groomer. I also must say that dogs act differently when being groomed for what ever reason. They are scared and nervous and a small percentage become biters when their owners leave them. A muzzle will be used to protect not only the groomer but the dog as well as long as the muzzle is fitted properly it does not hurt the dog and should only be on for short periods of time. I have only had to muzzle 3 dogs and I have been grooming for a few years now. You get as much of the grooming done and then release the muzzle for while, re-muzzle and continue to groom. A groomer must watch the dog every minute to ensure the dog is not in distress.
 
abakerrr
abakerrr
2 years ago
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Accidents happen. Not that I'm the biggest petsmart advocate in the world, however, in their defense, they handle a lot of animals and have hundreds, if not thousands, of franchises throughout the united states. Given the odds, I don't think assumptions that the groomers there are bad should be made based on these two different incidents.
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