I've reached my limit--?!?!?!!!?

Question

My next-door neighbor has me dog sit their maltese-poodle mix, who turns a year old this week. I've taken him for walks and had perfect STRANGERS come up to me and yell at me because he hasn't been GROOMED in months! I've offered to pay for the grooming myself, tried to explain that the dog will be happier, gotten a dog expert to come and talk to them, etc.--all to no avail.

This is it! They are away in LA at a wedding. I am taking the dog to a groomer tomorrow morning and having him done. Nothing drastic--just thin the hair, trim out the toes and the butt, cut the nails and get the hair out of his eyes.

Do you think they'll notice? Do you think they'll send me to jail? How will I explain this?

To swtsadhoney: I've already given him a bath and brushed/combed his hair. I did cut out the matted parts, but he is still miserable.

To ritaalabama: These dogs don't shed and develop diseases if they are not groomed; it isn't just an aesthetic thing. The family doesn't want him groomed because he's apricot-colored, which they like, but almost white underneath, which they don't like. He's really cute, almost like a muppet, all wavy and orange-brown, but it's really sad.

Me groom the dog? ME?? Oh no; I'm not gifted that way; I'd probably jab his eye out, cut a toe off or something worse.

The saga continues--I took the dog to the groomer, who wanted to see papers since this was our first time there. I didn't have any, so back home we went. I am now waiting for Brownie's owner to come home, and tomorrow we will have a serious talk when I return the dog.

Answer 1

Don't have him grommed just yet. Tell them that if he isn't groomed then you will not be dog sitting for them anymore. Explain that if someone called the Humane Society on you, that you could be put in a boat load of trouble. Explain that it is cruelty to let a dog's hair grow to umanagable lengths. Be polite yet firm about this. You don't need the hassle, and you definately don't need to foot the bill.

Answer 2

First off, don't lie... I don't like the idea of using any of the excuses people have suggested. You have obviously expressed your concern about the grooming issue and I am sure they would know you are lying. In any case, you are in the right and you should tell the truth and stand up for what is right. That poor dog is suffering because his owners don't wan't to affect his coat colour.. that is vain and ridiculous.. if they properly maintenance his coat it will stay much nicer and the same colour.. however if they leave it to mats their only option will be to shave it all off to the root. The dog will get ill and very uncomfortable as a result of matted fur. If they just keep him trimmed and brushed/bathed regularly he will be much happier. Since the dog can't stand up for himself and his owners are being neglectful I think it is not only your right but your duty, and indeed the duty of us all to stand up for dogs when we see they are being neglected, abused or starved... They can't send you to jail, but do make sure to take pics of before and after, as evidence that the dog needed to be groomed. I can tell you right now if people on the street have yelled at you, it must be pretty bad.... and if it is that bad then you are in the right to get the dog groomed no matter what the owners say.. All you have to say is, I had your dog groomed because it was the right thing to do..

Answer 3

I doubt they would be mad. They will probaly be pleased that you had their dog cleaned and groomed for them while they were away. I once took care of a Yorkshire Terrier over night for a family. I decided to give her a bath and trimmed her up a little around her face and feet. The next day when they picked her up and told them that i had groomed her and they were pleased and thanked me. Then 2 weeks later they called me asking if i wouldn't mind grooming their dog on a regular basis once a month because i did a better job than what they get done at the groomers. Ever since then i've been grooming their dog at my house once a month. Although i wish i had never groomed their dog because she's a very difficult dog to groom.

Answer 4

They will notice but they won't send you to jail. Grooming isn't just to make a dog look 'pretty' but it is to help maintain it's health. Mats can get so bad that they begin to pull the hair out of the dog and they can interfere with the dogs' walking, cause sores underneath them, be nesting places for fleas, cause physical pain to the dog. The nails need to be trimmed as they can curl and grow back into the dogs' foot or the dew claw can grow into the leg. Long nails can cause the dog pain when it walks on them. There is risk of them splitting.

If the groomer finds the dog too matted there won't be much choice but to use electric clippers on the dog. We have groomed a badly matted dog on several occasions and had to use clippers to remove the coat and it came of in one piece like a pelt due to the mats. The poor dog had been suffering until we got that off of it.

Do the dog a huge favor and let the groomer do what she/he needs to do to make the dog comfortable.

Answer 5

Just be honest and explain that it is abuse not to groom your pet, and you were saving them from receiving a massive fine, If they're cranky, get a vet to ring them and explain the consequences and explain that the dog would be very uncomfortable not being groomed, Let them know about the verbal abuse that you've suffered from strangers when walking the dog, and explain that you were only trying to do the right thing by the dog, and hope that they understand, the worse they can do, is not let you look after their dog anymore, and i bet they soon come around, when they can't find anyone else to look after the poor thing, Good luck, I'm glad your getting the dog groomed, if nothing else, i know the dog will be very appreciative

Answer 6

If you don't mind a little minor deception AND they ask you, just tell them you washed and brushed him. This is true after all. If they aren't familiar with the groomed look which seems like a possibility, then you are in the clear.

You could also bring up the grooming but tell them it is a gift to them for allowing you the pleasure of the dogs company. Few people will show upset when presented with a gift.

If you are jailed I hope you have access to the Internet! Good luck...

Answer 7

you probably know them better than anyone else on this forum :)

I'd be hesitant to get the dog groomed especially if it isn't terribly knotted, they may be going for the long coated hair to their feet look.

If the dog is terribly knotted and in pain or sick, I would consider reporting them to the authorities anonomously because the dog would be better off without them.

If you want an excuse you might try telling them a young relative/friend of yours was being careless with bubblegum nearby...

My only other thought on this topic is that getting the dog groomed as a one-off isn't going to fix the issue long term, hopefully you can make them realise that the coat needs to be maintained afterwards as well.

Good luck

Answer 8

Chances are they are going to be very upset.

If you insist on going through with it, then have the groom just worry about around the eyes, clean the ears, express the anal glands, clean the feet and trim the toes. The rest, well let the groomer know the situation, and let the groomer know you are not trying to cause trouble, but this is your gift to the neighbours.

Best of luck. I do admire your desire to take care of the poor pooch.

Answer 9

Tell the owner, the dog got gum stuck in its fur. The Groomer had to cut the fur to get the gum out.

Is the fur matted? If so, tell them the truth. Matts hurts dogs. The matts pull at the skin, causing the dog pain. Not to mention, that fur in the eyes will irritate the eyes.

Answer 10

Go for it. Tell them what you told us, about the strangers yelling at you and whatever. In some places its a crime not to take a fuzzy long haired dog to get groomed. I saw on one of those real life animal control/vet shows an officer telling an owner that he'll have to fine him if the dog is not groomed when he comes back to check on the dog. The officer told the camera in the car that that the matts in the dogs fur can cut off blood circulation.
I can't imagine your neighbors complaining saying something like "Why did you make our dog look nice and clean?!!!"