Powerful and influential groups are lobbying in many state capitals for licensing of dog groomers. If they are successful, it will no longer be possible for individuals to learn grooming from a book and then open up a business. They would first be required to pass a written test administered by the state.
There has been considerable dissatisfaction and uneasiness within the ranks of professional dog groomers for the past few years. This is due in part to the growing number of self-styled groomers – those who read a few books and declare themselves qualified.
There also appears to be a growing number of “grooming schools”. Established professional groomers are unanimous in their assertion that many grooming schools are not adequately staffed, nor do they provide adequate curriculum to turn out fully qualified, competent, dog groomers.
In too many cases, it is alleged that these schools are not state-approved and in business solely to make money from unsuspecting students.
Representatives of grooming schools counter with the claim of “professional jealousy”, and add that established groomers are finally feeling the pinch of competition, and that eventually such competition will force grooming prices down.
This is due to the cut-rate fees charged for grooming at schools. The work is done by students, and the prices are not in competition with the professional. In any case, where factions square off at each other, someone need only to shake a few trees and all sorts of interesting things begin to fall out for public scrutiny.
Garage Groomers
Another faction infiltrating the industry are the “garage groomers”. These are people who cannot afford to pay rent on a grooming parlor. They set up business in their home as a hobby, charging but a fraction of what their professional counterparts would charge, and are not trained in the proper handling of an animal with emphasis on the welfare of the pet.
Without the need to pay employees, rent utilities – and in many cases, the Internal Revenue Service – the garage groomer can cut his prices considerably.
Regardless of what motivates the various factions to make the accusations they do, one fact has surfaced which warrants the attention of the public: There are many unscrupulous, unqualified; inept and incompetent dog groomers in this country. The real issue, it seems, is dog abuse through ignorance and lack of proper training.
According to legal resources, there is no recourse for the dog owner – or law enforcement agencies – in cases of animal abuse or injury caused by drunkenness or ignorance of a self-appointed groomer. If licensing procedures were enacted, there would be.
Nightmare Grooming Services – How Safe Is Your Pet?
Have you considered having your dog groomed by an unlicensed groomer, perhaps one that is considerably cheaper than a professional? If so, there are some important things you should be aware of.
For starters, at present, any animal left with a groomer is unprotected by law, and no requirement exists that the particular groomer has to be qualified and proficient in the art of dog grooming. Laws requiring dog groomers to pass state board tests, or to otherwise prove their capabilities, simply do not exist.
Grooming schools that allow students (whom are not yet licensed) to perform on your pets are not required to give the student a sufficient number of hours to assure the graduate will be capable of safely handling an animal. A novice simply should not be permitted to groom animals for money without sufficient training to avoid the many accidents reported daily.
Grooming Horror Stories
In doing some serious behind-the-scenes research, we have learned of the many horror stories which otherwise would not have surfaced. It has been reported throughout many cities that teats have been cut off accidentally, and dogs are suffocated daily in unsafe homemade dryers – as examples of the injuries occurring at the hands of untrained persons dealing in grooming services.
A woman from California who experienced a terrible accident when she brought her Poodle to a backyard groomer stated “It’s getting to the point now where licensing is a must, as protection for the legitimate groomer, the animal, and the owner.”
Reports of dog groomers who are sadistic, as well as dishonest, have been reported to the authorities in many areas across the nation. One report alleges cruelties such as smashing dogs’ heads to the floor from the grooming table. These types of reports, although hard to believe actually happen, were investigated and found to be true.
The animal cannot fend for itself and there must be guidelines set up to protect everyone dealing in and needing grooming services. The public is under the impression that “professional dog groomers” are already licensed.
There are no health standards governing backyard grooming shops, and many with public locations are not legally licensed or respecting any particular health codes.
In many of these places you will find everything from cockroaches to mange. Proper methods of disinfecting the premises, general rules of safety in handling animals, and proper crating procedures, are totally ignored – or are foreign – to many so-called groomers who have simply purchased a business license and became self-styled dog groomers.
The garage groomers have no problems of proper hygiene, because, due to the lack of licensing procedures, they have no license to be revoked. All the garage groomer has to do is close up and move to another location when he becomes unpopular in one neighborhood.
