Today I brought my 18-year-old Pomeranian to the groomer, and what happened was unacceptable, unprofessional, and honestly heartbreaking. My dog is extremely small, fragile, and senior, so she requires gentle handling and extra caution. Instead, she was put in harm's way by her groomer, Ronnie F.
Ronnie called me to say that my dog had "slipped out of the leash" and fallen to the floor, hitting her hip. She delivered this news without any apology, without urgency, and without the slightest concern for my dog's well-being. Her tone was cold and dismissive, as if she was inconvenienced by the accident not responsible for it.
A groomer's FIRST responsibility is to ensure the animal is properly secured before picking up any tools. Especially with an elderly dog, safety should be the top priority. The fact that my dog fell at all shows clear negligence. But what disturbed me even more was the groomer's attitude afterward.
When I arrived, Ronnie continued speaking to me with a nonchalant, irritated tone--like she was the victim in the situation instead of the person who caused it. She still never apologized. Instead, she raised her voice, said she "needed to go to the back," and walked away as if she could not be bothered with the very real possibility that she had injured a senior dog.
I was polite to her the entire time, yet she acted as if she was being attacked, even though all I wanted was an explanation and reassurance that my dog was okay. My aunt asked how a secured dog could fall, and Ronnie's response was, "When they're this old, it could happen." That statement alone shows a complete lack of accountability. Age is not an excuse for negligence.
What happened today makes me seriously question how many other animals have been treated this way. Mistakes may happen, but a lack of empathy, a lack of responsibility, and a complete failure to show basic professionalism is unacceptable especially in a job that involves vulnerable pets.
My dog could have been seriously injured, and instead of compassion, we were met with attitude. That is not the kind of person who should be working with animals. read more