Question for dog groomers?

Question

I work at a dog groomers, and yesterday we had a German Shepherd come in that probably weighed twice what she should have. She was morbidly obese. I was doing her toenails, (I had to take about 3/4 of an inch off, and left about 3/4 of an inch that was all quick) and I noticed a horrific smell. She smelled like ear infection so bad I almost passed out. While I was bathing her I noticed her butt was EXTREMELY infected (obviously from SITTING in pee and poop almost nonstop). I cleaned her up and when we had her laying on the table to brush her, we lifted up her rear leg and between her fat rolls, her skin was literally ROTTING away. It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen. Unfortunately we are not allowed to turn people in for things we see at work. We are an upscale groomers and everyone there really cares for the animals. I was just wondering if any of the groomers you know or work for have that same rule, and if so, why?

Of course we showed both the owner of the company and the owner of the dog. We have what we call 'vet cards' that we write up if there is anything wrong with the dog. When we showed the owner of the dog, he said "Oh yeah, she gets those and then we put some ointment on it, and then it goes away. But then they come back." Obviously, if it is coming back, there is SOMETHING causing it!

The dog was either 12 or 14. (Our profile said 12, but when her owner came in, he said 14). The other thing is, I have no access to any information about her owners. All I could have known was their last name, but I don't remember it. Furthermore, I highly doubt they will bring her in again, considering her age, and the fact that this is the first time she has ever been to our shop, although I could be wrong. If she is in the same condition if she does come again, then I could try to find out more information.

Answer 1

I work training dogs,
I had a beautiful goldern retreiver puppy sign up that I knew was being left up out back and was already showing signs of fear aggression at 4 months.

I took thier address and passed it to the toronto animal services and they discreetly drove by pretending that there was a neighbor that complained.

Answer 2

I understand there are some rules you have to keep but this sounds pretty serious to me. Okay so these owners must care about their dog to some extent because they made the effort to bring her to you, but the condition the dog is in seems very worrying. If you where a hairdresser and suspected that the child whose hair you where cutting might be getting abused at home what would you do? I think you should definately go with your gut feeling and report this owner, anonymously if you have to.
I think dog groomers may have this rule because they don't want to jepordise their clients trust or custom.
If the same owner comes back into your shop, try asking more questions, like; How old is the dog? Where did you get her from? How long have you had her for? You might be able to get some more information this way. From what you have said it seems as though the owner doesn't see any problems with the health of her dog, and if the dog is as bad as you say surely she would be more co-operative.
Then again the dog may just be overweight causing these sores etc and the owner is telling the truth, if so try advise for her to visit the vet. If she cares about the dog's welfare am sure she would get her seen to as soon as possible. And if not? Them am sure you will know the answer.

Answer 3

I am a self employed part time dog groomer. When I use to work in a pet store, I use to see this kind stuff all the time. How old was the dog you did by the way? Did you know\remember? To avoid this kind of situation, when we checke in a customer we had to check out the dog also to see if it was matted or had skin problems, ect. and talk with the customer about hair cuts and suggest a special shampoo or packages we offered (like a medicated coal tar for the dog you did) or specific cut\shave to help the dog. Especially if they were a new customer and not familiar with the things we offered. If the owner choose not to do anything extra, oh well. Sometimes when it was obvious the animals coat was suffering I would do an extra shampoo and conditioner anyway so I would spend less time having to brush it out later. Just don't do it all the time, and be sure and let the owner you did it for free this time, and see if they like it, and next time it will be $____. If it was matted it had to be shaved anyways and the customer could accept that or go somewhere else. Period. They always thought we were vets and we could "fix" their dog with our "magic wands" you know? But by checking out the dog you are describing beforehand I wouldn't have taken it. I would have not felt comfortable doing it. And they could go to a vet if they wanted him cleaned up so bad. And if the customer got argumentive I would have called in the manager to talk to them and see the dog, and why you should no longer proceed with the grooming her. Those people should have been embaressed to bring that dog into a grooming shop. That dog needs a vet, and I suggest the next time that those people try and come in there with that dog, that you refer them to one, and you tell them why. Its not safe for that dog to even be coming in there with who knows what kind of infection (s) she could have and give it to the other dogs in there. I am a bit concerned for you guys if you are really upscale groomers, and you don't consider the possibility of diseases entering your shop from dogs like her. I can see that you guys reallly do care for the animals and that is why you probably took that dog, but you have to conside the other animlas well being too. Something I had to keep in mind when I worked in the pet store was I wasn't a vet, and not trained to do things they would do to animals, and I had the right to refuse servise to anyone. This is just some good advise that you guys maight want to follow to in the future.

Answer 4

You're not allowed??! You're not allowed to turn in animal abusers??! You should get an award for turning in owners of abused animals since you are in the dog care business! I would anonomously call the police and report the crime (because it is a criminal offense, at least where I live) and just give the address of the owner and the condition of the dog. You don't have to tell authorities where you saw it, but I think that as a human being, you have a responsibility to report it. That animal is being neglected and you are in a situation where you can help her. Report the owner.

Answer 5

I own a grooming shop and if I saw anything like that I would either be following the dog and owner to the vet or be reporting it to the local shelter that is just cruel. I would also refuse to groom the dog again until I had spoken to the vet that this dog has gone to just to make sure it's safe to have that dog in my shop among all of my other clients dogs.

Answer 6

i became starting off to also imagine there became some canines groomer conspiracy / secret occurring because the finest few circumstances my mixed breed has lower back from our canines groomers, he has lengthy gone out of his thanks to locate water at modern-day and then set there and drink finished bowl after finished bowl. The comments the following has placed my thoughts at relax, notwithstanding, i'm positive it really is likely those dryers they have and use, and the actual shown truth that regardless of if water became made obtainable to my little JoJo, he's likely too excited to drink any at the same time as there. I wasn't wondering a sedative, notwithstanding, i became wondering they were giving canines some thing to diminish urination, i.e. salt pills or another dehydrator. yet now I comprehend how ridiculous that sounds, and it really is a reliable element, because we adore the way he seems at the same time as he's performed getting groomed by those human beings we've been utilizing lately--Sandys Pawz of San Marcos, Calif.

Answer 7

Wow, that's awful. I see that sort of thing with the animals who get seized in neglect cases or strays at the local shelter. I'm really surprised she even got brought in to be groomed. Maybe she got a new more caring owner, I hope? I wonder if there is any way you could get their address and perhaps make an anonymous complaint to animal control to check out. Good luck!

Answer 8

We would always have a vet tech check it out before the owner arrived to make sure it was not a sever ehealth risk. Anonymous tip to animal control does the trick. Help those poor animals you can always get a new job (better one too).

Answer 9

Personally if you have the owners details an anonymous call to the relevant humane society to check them out. I think it is morally and ethically wrong to forbid people to report abuse, especially on the scale you have described. How on earth is she ever going to get better if no-one reports it.

Answer 10

Oh my god! if you see anything wrong even if its just a blister. You should go tell the owner about it and advise him to take the doc to a vet. poor dog :(