PetSmart's Pet Grooming - a Review
I used to have an eleven year old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mixed dog. He was a little overweight at 51 pounds, but not really. I always took my dog to his veterinarian to be bathed. Almost two years ago when I called my veterinarian for an appointment, though, they didn't have time to do a bath in addition to seeing him. And my dog really needed a bath. So I made the appointment for them to see him, and then started looking for somewhere else to do the bath.
PetSmart was the first place that I considered. I had heard only praise about PetSmart locations in other areas. And since we had one here in Lynchburg, VA, I decided to call for an appointment. They told me that they have to keep the dog for two to three hours. I thought this was rather odd since that wasn't how my vet's office did it. They explained that they wash the dogs, towel dry the dogs, and then leave them to air dry. They admitted that it's faster to do the dogs in a group and that they keep them so long because most people don't want their dog until it's dry. I told them that I might as well take my dog sooner if that were the case and to call me when they were finished. Then, I walked down to a sandwich place to eat while I waited.
I surprised them when I came back earlier than they had expected. My eyes immediately locked onto my dog. He was tied to the outside of a cage on about a foot long little piece of rope---his nose bleeding.
What I couldn't understand was why they didn't call me. My dog was obviously upset and needed me. Then I glared at the lady behind the little desk. She put my dog's leash on him and handed it to me. The dog smelled worse than when I had brought him in because they put this stinking dog cologne on him. He apparently hated it too since he was sneezing. I told the woman that I didn't request dog cologne, and she said that they do it automatically. Getting no where with her, I told her to ring me up. When the price was higher than it was supposed to be, I demanded to see the manager.
A lady came in and I explained to her that not only was my dog bleeding, but that they did all these extras services that I didn't request. My bill was about 50% higher than what they had quoted me over the phone. They claimed not to know why his nose was bleeding, and suggested that he may have had something dried on his nose that came off in the tub. She twisted the whole situation trying to say that it was my fault. She removed the extra services from the bill, but I was appalled that the bath wasn't free considering the dog's nose was still bleeding.
After I got the dog in the car, his nose finally stopped bleeding. I was thankful that I had already made an appointment with my vet about the wart on his head so that they could also look at his nose. The vet waved off my concern about the wart saying that it was harmless. I told the girl assisting the vet about the dog's nose bleeding and how rude the manager at PetSmart had been. The girl looked at me strangely, and then declared that the manager of PetSmart in Lynchburg was not a woman. I really wasn't surprised to learn that woman had lied about being the store manager.
My dog had always been healthy and never had any problems. A month after this experience, his anal glands became infected and he had a stomach virus from licking the infection. He was on antibiotics for two weeks and his diet consisted of only homemade chicken broth. My dog became better and he was eating like he should. We took him back to the vet and they agreed that he was better.
My dog died two weeks later. I'm not saying that it's PetSmart's fault, but I don't think his experience there helped him either. I called the real manager at PetSmart and told him about how the female assistant manager impersonated him, about the rudeness, my dog's nose... He said that he'd love the chance to make it up. Then I admitted that the dog had died. He was shocked and went quiet for a few moments. He told me if I got another dog to give him the chance to make it right.
While they didn't kill my dog, something did happen there to make his nose bleed. And I'm not convinced that he didn't catch something while he was at PetSmart. For all I know, they put all the dogs in one big tub together... But either way, it wasn't PetSmart's fault that he died.
When I did get another dog, a Keeshond, I called the manager of PetSmart again. He had me bring the new dog in for a free grooming to make up for the previous service not being free. But mostly, he wanted to show me what an excellent place they were. I requested for it not to be the same person who bathed my previous dog. When I arrived, the groomer came out to meet me. She was so friendly and they did an excellent job. It was very hard to believe that this was the same place, and only two months later from my first visit to them.
The groomer was so nice in fact that I had decided to continue using PetSmart as long as it was the same groomer. However, things didn't work out with that new adult dog and I took him back to the person I got him from. Knowing that I couldn't love another dog as much as I did the one that died, I never got another dog.
I recommend PetSmart in Lynchburg. But be sure that you meet the groomer, even if you have to ask to meet them. However, I still think using your own vet's office is better.
Published by Angelie MacKenzie
Was also on the 2007 Top 1000 List. Writing has been a passion for as long as she can remember. View profile
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21 Comments
Post a CommentI brought my dog into petsmart today to get the puppy treatment.. I was told two hours.. When I got there they were unorganized, and not nice.. I received an attitude , than they got one back. When my puppy was finally done.. A half hour later she was still damp nail were fast done and not done well.. And there was no bow!! TERRIBLE TERRIBLE SERVICE AT THE PETSMART IN APEX, NC I WILL NOT BE BACK ANY MORE!!!
I just want to express my great disappointment in the "service" that we received today at one of the PetSmart stores. We had our 2 dogs get the "defurminator" de-shedding treatment and get their teeth cleaned. First of all, they were very unfriendly, disorganized, and rushed when we checked in. All the information I had given them on the phone had to be repeated and they had a hard time finding our reservation. Once we finally dropped them off, it took 5 hours for the services to be completed! 5 hours!! What could possibly take that long? Once finally got the call that they were ready and we went in to pick them up, our bill was a lot more than we were quoted. Candice told us that for our Flat Coat Retreiver it would be $36 for the de-shedding treatment. In reality, we were charged $66 for her and $44 for our Mini-Dachshund. Both of those prices are higher than what she told us. And now that we have them at home, as we pet them, we are still pulling out clumps of sh
awful, heart-breaking dissaster of an experience for me & especially my poor dog. Don't get grooming services at petsmart!
I took my sweet 2 year old dog to the groomer yesterday to have his nails clipped/ground. The "having a very bad day" Groomer took my dog as I entered and told her what I wanted. She gave me a nail package and ear cleaning? She was supposed to grind my dogs nails- just clipped them- very bad job, half were not even clipped enough. ground one nail- I watched her do it- said my dog bit her, when she was grabbing his front paws and pulling his leg until he yelped. She muzzled him, man handled him, treated him like crap and as she gives me my 90lb dog says "You should have warned us your dog bites!" My dog doesnt bite. The only reason that might have happened is because she was mistreating my dog. This lady obviously had no experience whatsoever with animals. I will never take my dog to the North Fayette, PA. PetSmart for any type of grooming again. $16. unbelievable.
I worked for Petsmart for two years as a groomer. I started there with no experience, went through their 'training' program, and still knew nothing about grooming. I had to get outside help from other industry professionals, at the discouragement of my boss. The people that they hire know nothing about dog behavior, nothing about grooming, and most importantly, Nothing about customer service. I saw some things that almost make me want to cry. If you think cutting an ear or a paw pad is bad, wait until the back door closes and you have these women picking up puppies by the head, screaming at scared dogs, throwing them on the floor...it was horrible. I saw a girl strangle a dog once, and then say the dog was fighting with her and wouldn't calm down. She gets a slap on the wrist and the customer has to pay to have her dog's eye surgically fixed. They care about money, hello...$20 to grind a dog's nails??? Insane. I started my own small grooming business and have accumulated a lot of my fo
I personally was a dog groomer for Petsmart for 5 years as well as the Grooming Manager for 2 of those years. To straighten some things up...
#1 We don't bathe all the dogs in the same bath tub. The bath tubs are used for smaller dogs that are easy to lift into bath tub. Large dogs and bathed on the floor to provide them the safety so that they don't fall or get hurt.
#2 You may have asked to speak to a store manager at the Petsmart, but store manager are not always there or on hand so an assistant or another manager would then be the acting manager.
#3 You should always read the package deals for grooming and bathing. They do include some things such as a specific shampoo or cologne. Both bathes and grooms include cologne. If you do not want it you can tell them not to and they will make a note on your account or you can even smell the different ones they offer and choose a scent you like.
#4 Petsmart really go above and beyond to try and help out customers. You have to
please don't trash all petsmarts for the ONE you visited. WE are not all the same. Many of them have very experienced and talented people. and for people who use vets, in home groomers, and "mom & pop" groomers.. how much training do these people have? are they insured? do they take any responsibilty for any faults? how are they trained? because all of Petsmart's groomers are trained by other certfied professionals, and if something happens to YOUR dog, we take care of it ALWAYS! heres some food for thought.. dogs behave how their owners let them. so if youre embarrased, do something to make them behave on our tables
I just took my dog and was appalled at the treatment. The Petsmart I took her to has an open window and you can see what is happening to your pet. My dog is only 8 pounds and the treatment while she was being groom was unacceptable. The were slapping her face and paws and VERY rough with her. I thought maybe is was just a mistake but as I continued to watch the treatment was getting worse and worse. I will NEVER set foot in a Petsmart again!!!!!
I brought my cat to petsmart for grooming (everett, Mass.). The manager of the grooming dept. was working alone b/c her staff called in. She was a big lazy woman and was mad she had to work and was being very rough with my cat, I took my cat and left. Someone dropped of their dog to be groomed and she was yelling at him to shut up because he was barking. that fat lazy woman should be fired.
I frequently took my Pomeranian to Petsmart for a trim and to get his nails clipped. For 60 bucks for a 12 pound dog, I figured they were doing an exceptional job. So much, in fact, that I could never find his dew claws. Low and behold, they never clipped his dew claws and they were grown into his fur/skin. Luckily I opted to take him to a cheaper and independent groomer where they found the problem and were quick to fixing it. I would never take him to Petsmart grooming again.