When Grooming Your Dog Is Deadly

As any responsible pet owner can tell you, proper grooming is essential to an animal's health and happiness. Many dog and cat owners pay a professional groomer for these services and just assume their four-legged friends are in good hands. But after two reported deaths at a PetSmart grooming facility in New Jersey, some folks are beginning to wonder just how safe dropping the dog or cat off at off at the groomer's really is.

Danielle DiNapoli said she brought her healthy, 8-year-old bulldog Scruffles in to the PetSmart in Flemington, N.J., around 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2017. At 10:35 a.m., DiNapoli got a phone call letting her know Scruffles was at Flemington Veterinary Hospital. She raced there and was told by a veterinarian that Scruffles was dead upon arrival at the hospital and was unable to be resuscitated. (Read the full story here)

The DiNapoli family said they were told Scruffles' condition worsened during the drying process, but they don't know any further details. Wanting answers, they've launched a Justice for Scruffles Facebook page in an effort to raise awareness about their dog's unexplained death. The page has became a forum where other pet owners have come forward to report their troubling groomer experiences.

Tara Fiat wrote that her dog Ranger died suddenly two days after a routine grooming session at the Flemington, N.J. PetSmart. In a follow up message to Patch, Fiet said PetSmart told her the dog was fine when he was there.

PetSmart certainly isn't the only company affected, though. Last year, a pug named Ollie died during a routine grooming at a Petco in Middleton, Rhode Island. Another Rhode Island pup died at an independent facility when she fell off the grooming table and was asphyxiated by the slip lead leash attached to her.

Sadly, there are many reports of dog and cats who have been hurt or died while grooming facilities large and small all across the country. There are some states with active campaigns and bills in progress that would require groomers to be licensed, but none have yet been pushed into law.

A representative for National Dog Groomers Association of America told Patch that they "are advocates for state licensing, however it would have to be done properly." The NDGAA follows the standards of care, safety and sanitation for professional pet groomers and stylists set out by the Professional Pet Groomers & Stylists Alliance, but there's no way to enforce them at this time.

As a pet owner, though, there are some things you can check for before leaving your dog or cat at the groomer. As WebMD for Pets notes, here are three things you can do to keep your pet safe:

• Look for some kind of credentials; these indicate the groomer's skills have been evaluated against a national standard, and that he or she has passed a series of written and practical tests. A credentialed groomer will most likely have a better knowledge of the animals, equipment, first aid and safety procedures.
• Check out the cleanliness of the facility If it doesn't look or smell sanitary, you should think twice about leaving your pet there.
• Ask around to see who other folks like and trust to take care of their beloved pets. Talk to friends, neighbors, your veterinarian or local dog-sitter for personal recommendations.

TELL US: Do you trust your pet's safety in the hands of a groomer? We want to hear from you. Let us know in the comments, and as always, please keep it civil.

Photo Credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images