Hearing Wednesday On Bill To Protect Pets At Groomers

MIDDLETOWN, RI—It was just a year ago that Ollie, the pug, died at the Middletown Petco. The 5-year-old dog had been in good health, but didn't survive a short trip to the groomer to have his nails trimmed. Public outrage followed, and Smith Hill took steps to insure no other pet and family suffered the same sad outcome. House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi, D-Warwick, reintroduced a bill to require dog groomers to have training before working on people's pets. But his bill had failed to muster support before. Would this time be any different?

Then on May 31, Daisy, a Maltese mix, was killed at the Dirty Dog in Warren. She was choked to death after the shop owner, David Russell, tied her to the wall with a slip leash and did not notice when she fell off the grooming bench. But Daisy, age 8, wasn't the last pet to die at a Rhode Island groomer. In February, Cloudy, the cat, didn't survive grooming at the University Heights Petco in Providence. According to WPRI-TV, the state vet suspects the cat's death was the result of overheating while being dried.

But there was no necropsy (or pet autopsy) performed to say for sure.

The state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated all three cases and found no evidence of deliberate cruelty. Petco denied it was responsible for Ollie's death and said the necropsy showed a medical condition was to blame. RISPCA said Ollie's death was likely an accident, but found Petco's groomers were not adequately trained. They were vague about the type of restraint used on the dog while his nails were being trimmed and apparently did not recognize the signs the dog was in distress.

It did find David Russell had been grossly negligent and was directly responsible for Daisy's death. But once again, no charges could be pressed. And his shop was not closed down. Currently, there are no laws to address an injury or death due to the groomer's negligence in Rhode Island.

Last year, Shekarchi's bill was referred to committee for additional study. Now, after three fatalities at Rhode Island groomers in 365 days, state lawmakers are holding hearings on Wednesday on a measure that's designed to better protect the pets. Passage is not a slam dunk. There is opposition to the bill, which would require groomers to obtain safety certification and pay a $25 registration fee. The Rhode Island Pet Groomers Association is against the bill as it's currently written, according to its president. They are currently talking with RI SPCA and the state Department of Environmental Management about wording. Gail Mastrati, spokeswoman for DEM, said the pet groomers' association asked for help "reviewing the proposed language and identifying the best possible path forward for the certification of groomer." She said DEM is in charge of "ensuring the well-being of animals and developing statutes for pet shops, kennels, breeders, etc."

Also, the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association is against it. They don't think any licensing is necessary. Plus, they might have to comply, if this bill passes.

"RIVMA notes that the definition of grooming, as presented, is overly broad and includes any act of clipping fur, bathing, and trimming nails," the organization said in a statement. "There is no exception for veterinarians or veterinary hospitals. As presented, veterinary hospitals and hospital employees would have to register and maintain certification to address simple daily tasks that are routine to veterinary medicine."

Beth Iiams, of Bristol, Daisy's owner, would like to see the law pass. She had asked the RI SPCA to investigate after her dog died.

"It was an awful thing that didn't have to happen," she said.

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As she began to ask questions about groomers and the laws in Rhode Island, she realized there really aren't any regulations here. Anybody can open a grooming business. And if the dog dies, as Daisy did, the law makes it difficult to hold anybody responsible. She would like to see that change. She would like Daisy's loss to mean something.

Daisy was the pack leader in the family, Iiams said. Her death broke their hearts. They still miss her every day.

She will testify today to ask lawmakers to help prevent another dog from suffering the way Daisy did. Although the bill isn't perfect, it will be a start, she said.

Related Stories: RISPCA Will Investigate Dog's Death At Middletown Petco; Another Dog Grooming Death: This Time, Daisy; What Happened To Daisy; Cloudy The Cat Dies After Petco Grooming

Courtesy Photo of Daisy, Beth Iiams