PetSmart Under Fire After Another Dog Dies During Grooming Appointment | TODAY 

And today in 2020 Petsmart is being sued again because a groomer was abusive to a dog. The proof was on video by another customer.

Pet groomers should be required have a license

Grooming should go virtual ...we should be able to see them while are they getting groomed. Groomers should wear cameras.

The grooming sessions need to be live streamed for the owners.

They need security cameras

You should stay with your pet while they are being groomed.

I can’t trust any dog grooming service for my life after watching this. I’m scared for my puppy.

Died while getting your hair cut? Wtf pet smart? Good thing you don’t handle toddlers

My sister in law took their 4 year old Pug to PetSmart to get bathed and a nail trim. When she returned to pick him up, the dog was having problems breathing. She immediately took him to a 24 hour emergency pet hospital where they saved his life. The problem? Heat stroke. His temperature was 107 degrees! The doctors said if it had been another 10 minutes later, he would've died.

If my dog died at Petsmart, there would be a DEAD EMPLOYEE at Petsmart!!!

I took my dog there once and they clipped my dog's nail way too short. It wouldn't have been something I was mad at except they didn't tell me. I didn't know until I was in the car driving. I had black seats so I put down a beach towel so my seats wouldn't show hair. I was at a stop light, looked in the back seat and there was blood all over the towel. I freaked out and almost cause a car accident. When I pulled over to look, I could see that the nail was sooooo short and that the blood was steady coming out. I held pressure and called the vet. They told me what to do and to not go back. From then on, she did not like her nails clipped. I took her to a groomer that owned his own shop and he took me through nail care to make her comfortable. I called Petsmart and told them. I was the angriest I'd ever been over the phone (not rude) and insisted that they tell people if someone did something like this. Things happen but communication is important.

Let me just say PetSmart is ALL about the money!!! That's all they caste about....no matter what they say on camera!!!!

The reason I groom my own dogs cus I don't trust pet groomer

I would just stay at the PetSmart and wait for my dog.

That's why i wash my dog and clip his nails by myself. Instead of letting some stranger do it.

My dog goes for a grooming at a different groomer. I almost took him to pets smart but I am so glad I didn’t. My dog was so badly abused, physically, verbally and starved so badly. When we rescued him he had blue and purple marks on his body like someone hit him and punched him, he had mange all his fur was completely gone. He had fleas, ticks and heart worms. Today he is 9 years old and he still has huge and gigantic trust problems with other people. When taking him to the groomers I always have to tell the groomers, be careful, be gentle and don’t be aggressive with him. He’s healthy like nothing happen to him but the emotional scares r still there on him, he hates it when I leave the house to go to work and thinks I’m never coming back.

I have taken my dogs to the PetSmart Flemington groomers starting in late 2018. They have totally restaffed their groomers with experienced and knowledgeable people. When grooming they give frequent updates, and even ask many questions about the dogs before grooming starts. They also thoroughly log and record everything they do when grooming the dogs and give you a copy once complete. One of my dogs, a westiepoo, has very bad anxiety, and they always be sure to take good care of him and make him feel comfortable, which is obvious by the way he acts when I pick him up. They groom out in the open so you can watch them do it. My two dogs always come home happy. My schnoodle gets very bad matted fur, and they are gentle when removing them. I feel terrible for the bulldog who died there, it's an awful shame. I'm just glad the store took proper action and completely reformatted everything with their grooming policy and staff.

Not sure how this even happened because Petsmart makes us express groom or bathe all breathing challenged breeds including english and french bulldogs, boxers, pugs, and a few others. They aren't even allowed to be put into a kennel, let alone be kennel dried! You have to dry them with a velocity dryer. So idk how this even happened. Someone needs to be fired. -Petsmart bather

“We love pets and their well-being while in our care is a responsibility we take very seriously.” you’re gonna act like we didn’t see you smash them bag of hamsters against the table in PETAS video, eh? 🤡

My 4-yr-old Boston Terrier (also named "Abby") died after I boarded her at a Pet Smart in So. California for 1 very regrettable night. They called me next morning to say she was having seizures ... which had never happened before. When I arrived, they called a security guard who got in my face and said, "No charge and you need to take your dog somewhere else next time." Abby died within a few weeks. PET SMART DOESN'T CARE BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROOF! (Mrs.Rugby)

people need to groom them at home dont be stupid.dont trust them all groomers do it at home

It’s not the groomer, it’s their boss and Petsmart pressure to be too fast, take too many appointments, no receptionist so groomers are forced to answer phones constantly while grooming (very dangerous). And groomers have no time to do things properly under Petsmart policies. Like doing more than superficial cage cleaning. Cages never get thoroughly cleaned!!!

The owner of Scruffles has admitted that she knew that Scruffles had pre existing conditions and that it was their fault. There are going to be bad groomers regardless of if you go to corporate or mom and pop shops, and not all groomers at shops are created equal. You need to form a good relationship with a groomer and find one you trust that your dog trusts.

Where are these getting these people from? Don’t work with animals or children if you don’t have the patience.

"seperate?" "Unrelated?" They al died after being under one roof, petsmart or rather "petnotsosmart". Close the place down and get a groomer to come to your house. OMFG!!!!

I was told by petsmart that my dog didn't like grooming and that they weren't responsible for the outcomes if he misbehaved. I told the lady..."so you're saying yall cake hurt my dog and it's ok because he doesn't like it? He's a 1 year old terrier". I didn't even make another appointment and have since been grooming my own dogs

Groom your babies at home Even if the haircut isn’t great At least you know your dog was handled with love and care ❤️🐶

I work at a vet/grooming salon & A lot of people don’t disclose health problems, They just want to drop their dog off get them groomed & we have had people who have been rejected previously for disclosing certain health information and now when the go to a different groomer are afraid to disclose this information in fear of getting rejected again! It’s unfortunate 😕

This is why I NEVER take my dogs to the groomers. Ever!!!! It's inconvenient sometimes but obviously much safer to do it yourself.

I worked for petsmart for about a year as a bather. I had to go through one week of online classes and certification courses before I could step foot in the salon. Once I was in the salon for had to shadow groomers or another bather for about 2 weeks before I was allowed to bathe a dog. The only thing I was allowed to do on my own with the animals was take the dog from the owner and place them in a kennel. Once i had 10 complete bathes was I allowed to be on my owns with the animal. In that year only 2 dogs had to be taken out of the salon. (Stop groom/bath) 1 was a groomers dog who began to shake violently during a brush out and had to be rushed to the vet. (She was ok and it was determined to be an underlying condition no one knew about). The #2 dog was husky cross that I was handling. He was very afraid of the blow dryer. And even more so of the small kennel. In a clam fashion, I turned the dryer off and walked him around a bit in the kennel area and did my best to reassure he was safe and gave lots of pets. He settled down. So I got him back on the drying table and slowly got him to be ok with the blow dryer. All was good and he was dried just fine. Took him out to clip his nails and brush him out. He was a bit unhappy with his feet being messed with (as a lot of dogs are) so I turned my focus to brushing his teeth and ear cleaning. Back to his feet. Almost done when some yahoo lady came flying into the salon and slammed her hand down on the desk. My dog jerked back. Fell off the table. Spooked 2 other dogs. I’m trying to get my dog back on the bench so he doesn’t hang himself. The lady is screaming her head off. Everyone got their dogs down and secured a grip came to my aid in getting my pup back up on the bench. Got him up and safely down on the ground. The manager is called in and the lead groomer is taking care of the psycho lady. My dog is freaked out so I made the decision to get him to the vet for a good check over to be sure he wasn’t hurt. So just so you all know, not every bad thing that happens to an animal in a grooming salon isn’t always the dogs fault or ours. That lovely lady was asked to leave and was also told that if any of the dogs were harmed due to her outburst she would be held accountable.

I just got a job at petsmart as a bather just a couple weeks ago. I can tell you that we give a lot of care to the pets in our care. We have a chat in the back for dogs and cats that cannot be dried with the kennel dryers. For my position it was 35 hrs of computer and book training. In a few months the bathers have the option to go to a grooming/dog behavioral school for 800 hours to get certified. There will always be a bad seed no matter where you go but, I can promise you, petsmart is safe.

I will completely concur with the statement. I dropped off my dog at a PetSmart groomer and first-hand witness from the window the woman not watching my dog. He almost fell off the table with the collar around his neck. He could have been seriously injured and I never took my dog there again. The woman just wasn't paying attention or taking the threat seriously that he could have fell off the table. Last time ever!

If they would all file lawsuits they would be closed down

The first time I took my puppy there was the first and last!!! I was looking through a window at them “grooming” my puppy. She was on a high table with a leash around her neck like a noose around her neck. The girl turned around and went in the back!!! My puppy then tried to get down and yup you can guess what happened!!! I dropped everything to the floor and ran in there. The girl who was tender to another dog put her dog on the ground and saved/helped my puppy. The one girl was very nice but the other was stupid and careless. I would never ever take a pet to petsmart for any kind of grooming or health care.

Rip to those puppy don't take your dogs there don't trust them

I work there and it’s the worst job I’ve ever worked

I had bad experience in petsmart. I brought my dog there for nail trimming. When the groomer took my dog, she put on him their leash, my dog doesnt want to go with her so,she pulled it so hard which my dog can't breathe. I said, wait my dog is choking. Then i left, when i'm coming back to pick up my dog i heard him crying so loud. I felt so bad. When we reached home. My dog was biting me whenever i hold his paw. I found out that the nail was trimmed so short which is very painful to my dog. I called the manager and complain about it. She apologized and offering me a free grooming to my dog. I said no! I don't want my dog to have another trauma from them. My husband was so mad too and he wants to sue petsmart!

Im planning on working as a groomer purely for my love and care for animals. I would never let this happen and will make sure all the animals feel loved and comfortable): Im the type of person to stop what im doing just to pet and hug a dog, even if its a complete stranger I see in public, I have a such a big heart for them it hurts to see this happening.

This is the most horrific & unfortunate situation I've ever heard of. I bathe my dog at home & only take her to a groomer when I have the time to sit there & watch them.

Petco is why I have to have my dog’s nails cut at a vet now . They cut his nails too short and made him bleed making him scared . I thought ok sometimes that happens it was an accident but when I gave them another chance it was a disaster . They said he started screaming and supposedly tried to nip the groomer and they muzzled him to cut his nails ! I couldn’t believe it, It was horrible and he never goes there anymore . It’s taken a long time but he now is comfortable with my vet tech and isn’t scared anymore . Supposedly they stopped muzzling dogs but they never should have done it to begin with !

STAY WITH YOUR PET, DONT LEAVE IT!!!!!!!!!

This is why I bathe and groom my own dogs

I worked for Petsmart 10 years as a groomer.They would just take anybody off the street and hire them to bathe and dry dogs..No one including me was put in a grooming school.I was taught by an experienced groomer there ..hands on and just experimenting on people's pets until i learned.i saw horrible things and I complained to deaf ears.I needed the money and I did a kind and careful job.But it got so ugly and sad. I quit after 10 YRS.i wouldn't take a pet there for a million dollars.Alot of Veterinary Clinics groom.i would feel safe going there.

Owners should be allowed to stay in the waiting room and watch their pet being groomed This approach would be helpful.

PetSmart needs to be shut down.

I lost my dog at a private groomer she did not secure the dog to the table. A customer came in my dog jumped off the table and was hit on the bypass

But seriously, if my dog was part of the family, and got terrified during procedures, HELLO I wouldn't just drop the dog off and leave to go shopping...

If you love your pet, don't have them groomed at Petsmart.

i took my dog to pet smart once for grooming and the lady put their collar and leash on my dog and put it too tight that it was choking my dog. my dog couldn’t breathe properly and was coughing because of how tight she put the collar. and my poor dog was whinning to back to us and she kept dragging him by the neck and choking him even more. she kept doing this to a point where my dad told her to let go of the leash and checked my dog to see how he was and have it back. the think is if we say smth to the ppl ab how they r harming our dog they could get mad and show it on the dog. who knows what the do inside that room. and on top of that they keep the dogs in little crates till they come to the dogs turn so i was scared my dog would choke so bad he would faint. after that my dogs been rlly scared to go back their. he is an extremely friendly dog but when he goes there he gets scared and angry. he is just 5 months old :((

Most dogs “put their breaks on” coming into a salon. Unless it’s a show animal that’s perfectly conditioned they all have some nerves. If you really think your dogs being abused because he looks a little skidish you have some serious behaviour research to do.

They really need to have video cameras, so that customers can see their pet being groomed. That’s the only way I would trust Petsmart.

Pet smart should be SHUT DOWN, they are horrible and very mean to animals. Took my puppy there years ago and he's been traumatized from water EVER SINCE

This is very old news, the company used to be called Pet Stuff and had this Dane problem, lost a class action lawsuit, closed and the rebranded as Pet Smart a few years later

The fact they don’t have cameras speaks for itself! shut these monsters down.

Why didn't she wash the bulldog herself instead of going to a groomer? How lazy.

Ey people!!! Groom the dog yourself, boom!!

I didn’t think this can actually happen 😥 But clearly this world has rotten apples everywhere. This isn’t fair.

Try to groom your own dog if possible. Don’t trust these people with your canine companions

Can't trust anyone ever. To leave your pet or child. Grooming your dog is not hard use to do it. Learn yourself that way you know.

If that lady cared so much why didn't she just clean the bull dog herself????

not gonna lie, petsmart is stupid with their training they want them to be patient, take their time, etc yet each pet is “timed” by the moment they’re checked in and each groomer is rounded by the end of the week for how many sales they could get and by the least amount of hours per dog 🙄they want their sales up and give each groomer a report on how many they take in a day and how fast they can do it... the more add ons, the more dogs and the least time on each dog gets praised and whoever is “slow” has to be “coached” or view more videos

That’s why I groom my own dog’s and I got to say they loved ever minute of the pampering I gave them

I took my dog to a groomer and she dropped her. 🤬

Stuff like this shouldn’t happen but there are so many good employees as well. I’m a bather at petsmart and let’s say a nervous dog comes in but it too old or breathing challenged for a kennel dryer but is terrified of the velocity dryer. I’ll towel dry and brush the dog until it’s dry and even sit on the floor to make the dog more comfortable instead of putting it on the tables

Shut down PERIOD!!! What more evidence seriously!!!... thank God never ever have I taken my fur baby there.. it's insane ... poor fur babies!!!🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐶🐕🐶🐕

I hope they all go to jail for a long time because all those dogs does not deserve that to die like that I feel so bad for you guys God bless you and your dog

Died? Listen people, we need to stop giving the care away of our beloved animals and young children. Do it yourselves.

The owner of the pet should be allowed to watch while they wait, problem solved.

It's almost always PetSmart where a pet dies

Just watching this makes my eyes water with sadness

That was years ago now they ask before getting them in and give them a health checks and they ask if dog has any conditions so they won’t get sued

I'd go to jail if this happened to one of my boys

never taking my french bulldog again.

Y'all got some wild Petsmarts

Groom your pets yourself.

Ask people for recommendations. Some people are not cut out for this profession. You need compassion and patience.

When are they going to shut down this horrible business????????? Seriously why are they still open??????

Typical corporation not taking responsibility for individual employees.

You should be able to watch your pet being groomed if there is nothing to hide.

I wouldn’t take my babies to PetSmart if it was the last place on earth

That’s why I switched to my friends grooming buisness. It’s his house with a fenced in field with Other dogs. They let us wash them if we want I always do that 🥰.

Thank you for this I recently atop taking my dog to Pet smarr and changed Petco I noticed breathing problems at Both now I know why!

Any bulldog owner knows never to let a groomer bathe their dog. The outcome for this poor bulldog was almost predictable. If a person can't bathe their own shorthaired bulldog, they should consider another breed...

Pet smart is the worst place to take your pet.

My dog died after going to a ma and Pa small business. It was a new owner I did not know. It was five days later he died. I think he had some kind of shock and then his kidneys failed. My guilt, and my depression was horrible.

How does a dog die from grooming what the heck are they doing to them?

So then hold groomers accountable. I hate everyone but how can you look into any dog’s eyes even in your worst day and hurt them.

Petsmart employees know nothing about animals. The groomers are the worst.

If the pets safety is a responsibility that they take very seriously why have dogs died while being GROOMED.

“Putting the brakes on” when a dog goes to be groomed is not a red flag. Common sense and anyone who understands dogs can tell you that dogs don’t like to be bathed and groomed and have their nails cut by some person . The whole process is stressful even with the most gentle groomer . Get to know your groomer. Follow them on Facebook, it’s very easy to tell if someone doesn’t have the right temperament to be a dog groomer . Dog grooming successfully takes a ton of patience and more importantly an understanding of why the dogs are behaving frightened or stressed out . I’m a dog groomer . I absolutely LIVE for dogs . 85% of the dogs that come to me are not happy they are about to be groomed . The important thing to note is how they behave toward me AFTER their groom. They follow me around for treats and play with me . There is no fear. It hurts to hear someone say that a dog not enjoying the grooming process must be a red flag . Nope . But you will know in your heart if you pay attention . And stop sending your dog to every groomer that’s on sale . Keep a consistent person because that helps your dog to understand what is happening and the whole process is smoother for them

Omg this is horrific. They shouldn’t be allowed to be in business after this. Poor babies 🥲 boycott petsmart

This is why I groom/bathe my own dog. I don’t trust people with him.

You should be allowed to stay with your pet while your pet is being groomed. I would insist on being there with the dog.

Everyone is effected by this who has a pet. Those who lost, should start petitions to have them have a license, and if they refuse, spread the word and boycott them in all 50 states, every country, etc....

I groom my own animal. Problem solved.

Trust no one with your pets!

I'm appalled and disgusted. As a Senior Student Majoring in Vetinary Science at TCTC I'm highly disgusted. There are many things to do to keep a dog safe. No matter what there should always be 2 people on a dog this allows team work and Help restraining the dog safely. Another thing be with the dog at all times dont think about getting the dog from the kennel until table is fully ready. Also keep one hand on the dog this allows you to stay table side and not let the dog fall off the table. Also ask the owner if there are any concerns about pet health or safety then put the info to use

They are horrible, I will never let them groom any of my dogs again. My dog hid for almost a week, she'd been to a groomer since 16 weeks old, she was almost 5 years old. They don't let you see the dog till you pay. If you do take your dog there, watch them like a hawk.

Took my Little Husky to PetSmart for training classes and the lady would always kick him and step on his paws now he is afraid of PetSmart and won't go in.. I reported her and she was fired.. For now on I will take care of my own dog.. You don't hurt my fur family..

And this is why I don't get anything done for my dog, I do it myself 😭