Update- Groom, stay or go?

[Baily341o]

I had mentioned in a post earlier this week that Bailey was going to go try a new groomer. It was only $25, and had rave reviews on yelp. So we get there, scary little part of town a little... but we will give it a try. It is in this old building. We go inside and there are is a cat sitting on the window and birds in cages and cats as well. There are 3 people working there, one older lady, her grandson, and her friend. We tell them what we want... blah blah blah. I look around and I see a sign that says, "Please check your dog before you leave. If you find fleas on your dog after you leave, we are on longer responsible." I got a little worried. But, I kept reminding myself that everyone loved this place, nobody gave it a bad review. So long story short, would you stay with this place. Her hair looked great, everything we asked for. But the part of town, and the sign, PLUS all the other animals kinda scare me. What should I do?

[azkaty]

I would go with your feelings and pass.If it does not feel right , it probably would not be right for you.You would really be upset if something happened..and if it did, what could you do about it?

[dawn27]

As long as they remain professional, the place is clean and they do a great job than why not stay with them and Support the small business in your community.

Sometimes it is the oddest places that you will find the best work. "Like a diamond in the ruff" It may or may not be the case... its your decision to make.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by azkaty

I would go with your feelings and pass.If it does not feel right , it probably would not be right for you.You would really be upset if something happened..and if it did, what could you do about it?

Going to a bad part of town would not be for me. There are some signs that I wouldn't be comfortable with and those are both the cats and the birds. Both would upset my yorkie. I agree to go with your feelings, because our intuition is seldom wrong.

[kdhawks]

The cats, birds, and threat of fleas would deter me. But you were the one there, and actually saw what was going on -- so I'd go with your gut.

[MY OSCAR]

If i were in that situation
i would not leave my dog there.....

[Baily341o]

I will really have to think this one through. Bailey looks FABULOUS, and so far no signs of fleas! Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm still wondering should I stay, or go.

[gracielove]

I guess I would be careful about published reviews. Some people only care about getting a cheap bath for their pet. Many people only take their pets to the groomer when they need to be shaved. Other times the owner can manipulate the reviews.

I guess if the place was clean and the people could tell me where they went to grooming school and seemed friendly and kind to animals I might consider it. I would also look for licensing and would never leave my dog alone in the building with not knowing the people.

[southernbelle04]

If it were me, if I felt uncomfortable in any way, I would not take KS there. I love our groomer now. She is a bit different, but it's just her personality. I don't mind it, but my husband thinks she is kooky. LOL. But she does a great job and KS loves it there. I wish it weren't so high, but I do love it there. Go with your heart!

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Baily341o

...new groomer...only $25...rave reviews on yelp....scary little part of town a little...old building...birds in cages and cats...3 people working there, one older lady, her grandson, and her friend. We tell them what we want... blah blah blah. I look around and I see a sign that says, "Please check your dog before you leave. If you find fleas on your dog after you leave, we are on longer responsible." I got a little worried. But, I kept reminding myself that everyone loved this place, nobody gave it a bad review. So long story short, would you stay with this place. Her hair looked great, everything we asked for. But the part of town, and the sign, PLUS all the other animals kinda scare me. What should I do?

Ok, so no offense is intended to anyone...ever...but...

This place was possibly not always in imperfect condition in a 'bad' or 'scary' part of town. That part of town may have morphed from being a 'good' part of town over any number of years. It is interesting that grandson is following in gramma's footsteps in the same business, and that her friend works there also. A gramma in a bit of a run down neighborhood would still be in business because...? This is the question you want answered, perhaps.

The other animals may or may not be an issue, if your dog doesn't mind...no biggie perhaps. If all is calm, it might be an indicator of 'normal' for that groomer...and one who may just be well loved by the animals.

The sign about not being responsible for fleas after you leave the groomer sounds like it could be little more than a disclaimer that was put up after a past bad experiencei...even if no fault was ever established. A good groomer would be concerned about cross-infestation regardless of the source, and would treat the interior of the salon to prevent and/or eliminate fleas from setting up a permanent encampment. The sign may indicate nothing more than notice that she cannot accept responsibility for fleas discovered on a dog after a romp in the park after its grooming appointment...protection from capitalistic opportunists...while indicating that they are still retaining responsibility for dogs who get fleas while in their care...which the sign also seems to indicate.

All this may sound like I am defending the groomer. I am neither defending nor accusing...just rationalizing, and pointing out other explanations that may be possible reasons. Most things that have been around a while have been through several metamorphoses, evolving over time, and there may be perfectly logical reasons if only the history becomes known.

If you like the work and want to understand, maybe a return visit without the dog just to observe and ask questions. If they sell products, you have a perfect reason to return and chat while you shop...a little friendly 'getting to know you' session to help you decide.

My children's barber was a youngish lady herself when my grammar school age boys started getting their hair cut by her and the initial reason we stopped by her shop to begin with was because she was so close to us, so we gave her a try. We never looked back and never judged her performance by the shop she could afford when she was first starting out.

I tell you about her only because she had a sign that I swear was older than her by many years that read "Unattended children will be sold as slaves," and I never saw any unattended children nor did she appear to be hot on retail sales of humans. She was actually great with children, which was good 'cuz my youngest was a scruncher-downer-tickle-ish kiddo, and the two of them would get to laughing so hard when she was shaving his neck.

She was in a tiny hole-in-the-wall shop...my bedroom was bigger and it wasn't a big room, charged next to nothing...$5, I think, even working on Saturdays. But, it didn't take long before, if you weren't there by sun up, you might not get your hair cut that day. People would wait in their cars up to an a hour before she opened. People lined the walls, standing for several hours for Chris. She knew all her customers by name, and remembered what was going on in their lives every time they were in her shop, and she was so good, and such a good person my boys both invited her to their graduations!

Just saying...things are not always as they seem at first glance...

Oh, and my groomer works alone with her childen...she did 22 dogs just before Christmas in her small little shop! She is a great groomer!!!

Your assessment is, of course, the only one that truly matters. Reviews can certainly be manipulated in both directions and by people who have never even stepped foot in the shop at all.

In the end, you should only take your fur baby there if you and your baby are comfortable with it, but if you like the work, a fair assessment may be in order.

Take care!

[Ellie May]

I would not leave my dog in a case like that. If I had to have the groom, I'd stay with them.

[dawn27]

You gotta give the place a chance, scary part of town wouldn't fase me in the least, but that is just me. You should feel out the situation and observe the business and its employees until you do feel comfortable leaving your pup. The only thing that would worry me would be the flea situation.