SO ticked off! The groomer BUTCHERED Amelia!

[AmeliaBadelia]

I've spent the past 6 months growing out Amelia's hair. She doesn't have the right coat for growing out, so it has been a HUGE effort, to say the least. I finally gave in & decided to take her in to get the body (and body only!) trimmed down for the warmer weather, as no matter what I do, or how many times a day I brush her, she tangles up in a heartbeat.

I took her to Petco, where she, as well as my Persian cat, have gone in the past for grooming. I should clarify that Amelia hasn't been to the groomer since last October, b/c as I said - we've been growing her hair out. I guess business has picked up, b/c they were packed (normally, here, it's dead) & I couldn't get in with the groomer we've seen in the past. Instead, I got a new lady I'd never seen before. I told her atleast THREE times -- NONE of the top or off of her head. ONLY the body. ONLY THE BODY. Don't touch the head! Simple enough, right?

Wouldn't you know, when I picked her up later that night, the woman had taken the shortest clippers she could find & shaved her down. So close, that some spots you could actually see SKIN! I don't even know WHAT she did to her head, except take scissors & cut it down as short as she possibly could. Yep -- she shaved down the top (no more bows!!!) & trimmed the jawline as short as she could. I don't know what she was thinking. It's not even. It's not even a haircut. She just looks butchered. She even whacked off her whiskers!

I was so mad, that I couldn't even speak. I just walked out, my face red & tears streaming down my face. I don't understand WHAT in the world this woman could have been thinking! And now, it's going to take me 6 more months to grow it back out again. I'm so upset, I don't think I'll ever go to a groomer again for Amelia. It's too much work to just throw caution to the wind. Even if I butcher her myself, atleast she won't look like the mangy chihuahua as she does now!

[Morkie4]

If you have some before pictures of her, I would march right back to that store and ask to speak to the manager..............he needs to know that he has a loco groomer on his hands!!! And I'd let him know exactly what the conversation was between you and the groomer!!! I NEVER take mine to the groomer.........yep it is a LOT of extra work but it is soooooooo worth it!

Sorry about your sweet baby.........hair grows back but it is still now right what that groomer did...........don't just talk about it, do something about it!!!!! You might just save someone else's baby from that groomer's hands.

[AmeliaBadelia]

Hi, Thanks for your response.

I did complain & was offered a free groom & 10% off my next purchase. To be fair, they did try to make it right. Still...a free groom is only worth so much when there's no hair to groom. It won't regrow back the hair that lady whacked off.

[Bizzymammabee]

Oh man that sucks. I am telling you that is why lot of folks groom themselves myself included. I wouldn't have paid for their services.

[linz06]

I'm so sorry that happened to you! I had a similar experience last year at Petsmart. I told them to trim her body down to a few inches long and it was super choppy and some spots were shaved right down. Her legs were shaved completely and looked like little chicken legs. On her muzzle just ONE side was cut really short and her whiskers were cut off and the other side was normal.
I hate when they only give you a discount or a free groom the next time... because who wants a next time after an experience like that?

[Patti]

That stinks. Why can't they understand and follow directions.

[jfor]

I am thankful that my mom knows a lady that has Yorkies and mom asked her she has her Yorkies groomed at. The lady that does Jake is absolutely wonderful and she doesn't charge anywhere near what Petco charged when they cut Jake. I too was VERY upset with them. I am just thankful I found somebody who does a good job and does what I ask!

[Reese1]

I'm so sorry that happened to you!
We had a mobile groomer whack off Crosley & Wrigley's whiskers, I was shocked they would do such a thing!
We are just now going to start grooming our two at home and it's stories like this that make us want to do that!

[AJohnson]

I feel your pain! I took Toby to PetCo for his first groom, and she completely shaved him! He looked like a schnauzer. He was shaking when I picked him up and when I got home, I noticed a couple places where she knicked him and didn't even tell me! I will never go back there.

[ARCHIE]

I am sorry this happed to Amelia and you.
You read that all the time here. I have no idea why some groomer's
don't listen to what the owner want's.
I have learned to groom Buddy myself. It's really not that hard.
You should look into it and you can have any look you want.
I am sure you can't do any worse than that groomer.
Where are you located in Jersey?
I am from the Jersey shore, origanilly.
My home state.

[Potter]

I am so sorry it happened. That is why I do my own grooming now and I am getting better and better at it that he looks like we have been to the groomers minus the bandanas that the groomer force him to wear that he absolutely hates. I only go to the one groomer whom I trust dearly to cut his nails. I might let her groom him if she was the only one grooming but she had other assistants in there as well and I really do not want them to touch my little guy because I am very unlucky when it comes to groomers. One time he came home with a cut paw and no one told me anything until I checked. Another time he had bleeding nails while I was there and he bled on me! So I gave up and I will do it myself. Half an hour every 3 weeks and its all good.

[YorkieChick1]

[quote=AmeliaBadelia;194148

It's too much work to just throw caution to the wind. Even if I butcher her myself, atleast she won't look like the mangy chihuahua as she does now! [/QUOTE]

Hey, whatya' mean "Mangy Chihuahua"!!! Chihuahuas are cute!!
I know how ya' feel though, my yorkie came out looking exactly like a schnauzer one time when he was supposed to just have a trim! I started grooming my own, just this week. It's not that hard, you should give it a try!!

[Maxi]

I am so sorry it happened to you. I completely understand you! I also grow Maxi's hair and it just takes a while so I think I would be very pissed too! I keep on seeing that a lot of people say that Petsmart and all those commercial places are filled with bad groomers. I never used them but heard a lot. It is hard to find a very good groomer who understands how you want your baby's haircut. I was lucky enough to find one who takes only one dog at the time by appointment. My baby is always done in 1 1/2 hours which is awsome. Other times I just trim him myself.

[silyjillie]

Oh wow thats horrible! I'm so sorry she did this to you, I feel like there's been so many posts like this since I joined in February! I'm so nervous about taking her to a groomer. I'm going to buy a clipper and try it myself. I can't believe you can see her skin. Poor girl!

[Erin]

That's horrible!! I had a groomer I would ask not to shave Loki's nose and she would every time, so we switched. I found a wonderful groomer who not only follows directions but asks multiple times AND lets me stay and help or watch if I want to! Sam's hair is long on her head and her body is very short, so yes it is possible to follow directions! She was hard to find and one of a kind, but I promise if you keep looking you will find a good groomer. I have all of the supplies and I do in-between grooms myself, but I don't have the skill to do it like she does (esp. in an hour!) and it's nice to not have to clean up all that hair. Please keep looking and find a private groomer. Good luck!!!