[Yorkieforme]

Originally Posted by sammiz

I read this whole thread and I have given it considerable thought....what would I do if it was my Sassy that it happened to?

First of all, I do believe accidents happen. I have had a haidresser 'nick' my ear while cutting my hair before. No big deal. Small nick. I have had a barber clip my grandson and made it bleed a little. Sometimes these things happen. Scared him but he got over it. My ear did not have a 'chunk' cut out of it and my grandson suffered only a very minor injury.

Now....this groomer cut a chunk of the ear off of an animal they were grooming. STOP RIGHT THERE! This is beyond a 'little accident' as there has been major injury done, not just a 'little nick'......

If they had stopped the grooming session and called the owner right away to ask what she wanted done (it is, after all, her dog).....things wouldn't have gone off as haywire as they did. To not speak of it at all (and you know everyone there was aware of the incident) and knowing that it was far more than just a 'little nick' and let the owner just pick up the dog and leave with it....this is the very height of irresponsibility. This is not a seamstress that 'took off a little too much' from a dress. This is a living, breathing, feeling entity.

There should have been a policy/procedure in place already so that everyone there would know how to handle the situation in a responsible manner. It could have been far worse if the bleeding had not become apparent right away.

I would take my baby to the vet. I would have them pay for that visit and any subsequent visits required to handle the situation. Then, I would demand that an emergency procedure be outlined, printed up and posted in a visible place in the business with the signature of each and every employee required on the document. I would require a copy of it.

I would make a report (to whomever the local governing agency is of groomers) regarding the situation, including submitting photos and a report from the vet regarding the severity of the injury. I would also include a copy of the signed 'emergency procedures' that should have, by now, been implemented.

I would inform the shop owner/groomer that as long as the notice stays up, I would be satisfied. If it was ever not visible, I would write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper and let everyone know what happened.

Why all this?? you may ask.....

If it is just blown off and there are no consequences, then they are free to handle any future situation in the same stupid way they did this time. This would at least make an impression and help them to realize the error of their ways....and....perhaps you can save someone else the same grief that you went through with your own sweet baby....and the pain and misery that your baby endured.

Yes. Accidents happen. But there are always consequences for accidents and this was a pretty serious one in my opinion.

Very well said and I totally agree!