Dog grooming accidents in non-regulated business.

Dog's neck slashed in grooming accident - British Columbia - CBC New

Grooming can be hazardous to your dog's health, an Ontario dog owner says, after her pet's neck was slashed during a session at a salon.

 
However, the owner of the dog grooming shop initially refused to pay the $1,400 bill from the veterinarian.

Rushed jobs risky

Unless owners explicitly say otherwise, groomers at her shop always shave the hair as opposed to cutting it, because shaving takes less time.

Dog groomers in Ontario and British Columbia told CBC News that rapid expansion in the industry has led some shops to cut corners.

A certified groomer in B.C., said some save time and money by giving dogs quick shaves instead of cutting the hair, which takes much longer.

There have been several recent cases in the U.S. and Canada where dogs were apparently shaved too closely by groomers. In one American case, a dog was badly burned after being left alone under a hot dryer.
In two other cases – one in Seattle, the other in Hawaii – dogs' ears were allegedly cut off and then glued back on by the groomer, presumably in an attempt to cover up what happened.

Caution advised

In the trendy dog services industry anyone can open a grooming salon. The job can be difficult for inexperienced staff especially if the animal is hard to handle or hasn't been groomed for a while.

Some people have never gone to a school, have never been taught how to properly use equipment like shavers.


In Ontario, the National Agency of Pet Grooming Schools is lobbying for provincial legislation to require all dog groomers to be fully trained and licensed.
 

“There is no control over safety or hygiene; bacteria count can be huge; no fire safety requirements, no insurance requirements, no equipment checks, no health checks – this all spells possible trouble for the animal and the worker,” Weeks wrote 

Victoria Shroff, a Vancouver lawyer who focuses on animal law, said that since there are no regulations, owners should be much more aware of the hazards.

 
“A dog could be very seriously injured and could actually lose his life, which is not something most people would associate with dog grooming,” Shroff said.

She suggests dog owners ask their veterinarian to recommend a groomer, then ask a lot of questions at the shop and stick around to observe how the dogs are handled.

She also suggest pet owners think twice before signing a waiver at the salon. Many of them say the groomer is not responsible for any injuries, which could make it difficult for an owner to pursue legal remedies.

“There are so many animals now; we are going to have that many more shops cropping up with little or no training and people with little or no experience out there taking sharp instruments to your dog,” Shroff said.