I have been taking Miki to the same groomer for about a yr. now after my first groomer (a friend) let me down after the 3rd visit. I have really come to like and trust this new groomer. She was always the only groomer in her shop except for an occassional helper to answer the phones. When I took Miki in the other day, there were 2 new women there, one greeted me as soon as we came in, the other was working on grooming a dog along with the owner. The one at the door immediately took Miki from my arms and walked behind the counter and as I watched in horror, she dropped Miki on the counter!!!!
I don't know if Miki wiggled out of her arms or what, but it made me very uncomfortable right away! She asked me when was the last time Miki peed??????
I said, I don't know, she was at work with me and she has pee pads there, I know she pee'd, but I don't know how long ago. She said, "well, I'll take her outside to see if she has to go." I said "
I" will take her out if you have a leash to use." The owner, who always groomed Miki, had never asked me this question before. Luckily, Miki happened to have an outfit on that had a D-ring. Her shop is on the main Street of town.... if she had not had a D-ring on her dress, I would have told her, it's not happening! So, I took her outside on the borrowed leash and of course she wouldn't go potty, but this woman follows me outside, all the while talking and asking questions. She asked if I used a crate with Miki or if she had the run of the house, so to speak. I said she is allowed to run around the house uncrated. So, she starts to tell me how she crates her dog and why, like I should be doing this also, which really sent me over the edge! I said, "She is doing just fine the way she is!"
I know my tone was heard, because right away she said, Oh, I'm not trying to tell you how to do things..... well, that's how it sounded to me! When we walked back inside, the owner walked over near me and I grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear, "Please promise me that you will be the one to groom Miki!" She assured me she would and made the announcement to the other two women that she would be grooming Miki.
I can't stay while Miki is being groomed because she acts up all the more when I'm there, so I very hesitently left, but with a very sick feeling in my stomach! I went back to work, with a sense of dread hanging over me. I recently read on YT about the poor baby that was dropped at the groomers and died from a broken back. I did a lot of praying at that moment & continued to do so until I had my baby back in my arms.
I am now very leary about taking Miki back to this groomer, or how I should handle the whole situation. I realize that the owner is very busy and that's why she hired the help, but I am just not comfortable with these strangers, especially after the way things transpired when we came in.
I'd like to know what you would do in my situation. Please advise!
I think I know what I need to do, but I'd like to hear from all of you, am I just being an overprotective Mom, or should I start seeking a new groomer? Miki is like a human child to me and you all know how "Mama bear" will defend her young when it comes to protecting them.
I would appreciate your feedback. Thank You