I work at an Animal Hospital. I see things come in every day that I never thought I would see in my life time. Incidents ranging from a burst tumor, kennel cough, an eyeball ripped out of a dogs socket, to broken limbs, parvo-virus, stomach fluids, still births, and both dead and healthy animals. I cannot count the number of times I’ve seen owners cry over their pets, it’s probably close to the amount of times I have to hold back my own tears.
One client we unfortunately get a lot of business from is the nationwide pet store, Petsmart. I started working at the hospital almost a year ago and I’ve seen the workers from petsmarts grooming more than I ever want too.
- A german shephard who “rubbed his nose on a cage too hard” had to get staples in his snout.
- A dog who had the blower on him too long got a skin tag BLOWN off his body and they didn’t notice the blood until he was dry.
- A dog who got brushed too hard and the skin/hair got ripped off the tail.
- A dog who “had a cut on him when he came in for the grooming” was bleeding profusely from his wound.
- Dogs who have nails ripped out.
- Dogs who have lacerations.
Oh and how could I forget the worst one?
- An older Shetland sheepdog who came in which had pure white gums, he was seizing, and his eyes were bulging (from suspected choking caused by a tightened leash/collar.)
While the dog was being driven to our hospital, Petsmart’s manager called the owner and told him to meet up at our hospital. BUT GAVE HIM THE WRONG HOSPITAL TO DRIVE TO. So while our doctors were trying to revive him, the poor owner was at another animal hospital up the street that was closed for the night. When he finally got to our clinic, the dog had passed. And the whole time the doctor was in the room with him, the two women from petsmart grooming were cracking jokes and talking shit. “PSH it’s not like it’s my fault your old ass dog died.“… “The guy is mad at us for no reason.” …”I don’t know, he’s just sitting in there crying. Why doesn’t he just make a decision already? I get off soon.”
This was the worst situation with the most careless people I’ve ever met. I cannot stand petsmart grooming, and if I have learned anything while working at this clinic, it’s that I would never take any of my animals to get groomed at petsmart, or advise anyone to take their animals there for even a bath.
