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.

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.