Tamara Margolis and Aimee Tully sued Nutritious Location on Monday, alleging the Culver Metropolis-dependent chain of pet suppliers was dependable for harming their beloved animals.
Charlie, Margolis’ 4-calendar year-aged Maltipoo, died following being strangled at the company’s West Los Angeles shop by a noose used to command animals during grooming. Noel, Tully’s 10-yr-aged rescue Pomeranian, experienced just about five inches of her tail amputated just after she was wounded though staying groomed at the company’s Costa Mesa keep.
Wholesome Location Chief Govt Andrew Kim apologized but defended his corporation and its groomers.
“Our No. 1 precedence is the safety of the thousands of animals below our treatment just about every yr,” he said. “This lawsuit totally misrepresents who we are and how we run — and we are self-assured it will be promptly dismissed.”
But the course motion lawsuit raises major questions about how people today can make sure their dogs are safely groomed as very well as about why animals must be groomed in the to start with location.
We tackle some of those people concerns here, with the aid of Daphna Nachminovitch, senior vice president of cruelty investigations for PETA, Teri DiMarino, president of California Professional Pet Groomers Inc., and their organizations’ internet websites.
Why do canine will need to be groomed, anyway?
Nachminovitch: “Grooming is far more than a beauty point. It is convenience. We see so lots of puppies who go devoid of required grooming for their well being and they get matted and which is very unsafe — and distressing as effectively.”
(The American Kennel Club lists poodles, Bichon Frise, Afghan hounds, Portuguese drinking water canine, puli and komondor as the breeds that require the most grooming. The organization’s web page devotes much room to answering many grooming inquiries, like the urgent “Why do wet canine smell so lousy?”)
How commonplace are injuries at grooming salons?
DiMarino: “Thousands and thousands of pets are groomed on a everyday basis in California — securely groomed — and accidents are number of and much between. … No person will get into this company to damage pet dogs.”
Nachminovitch: “There are not precise official figures. We do observe incidents, notably at large box retailers, due to the fact those are the types we get the most grievances about. … [Incidents] are so substantially additional widespread than you feel.”
Are there legal guidelines that govern how grooming salons are operate?
Nachminovitch: “Anybody can open a storefront and say they’re a groomer or a trainer. There are no necessities or certifications that they have to have. … We would strongly guidance laws to be handed to monitor these sites.”
DiMarino: “The state of California previously has at minimum 177 licensing boards. They’re not about to place in an additional. … To get a driver’s license you have to get a test and analyze. Does that make you a good driver?”
What is a dog owner to do?
Nachminovitch: “We did a full grooming video clip on how to do it on your own. It is surely worthy of discovering, and your dog is a lot additional comfortable with you. He could not glance like a superstar but he’ll be more relaxed. Which is more critical than a great haircut. The pet dog does not treatment.”
And if you never want to — or can’t — groom your pets on your own?
Nachminovitch: “I can convey to you that, realizing what I know, I would just not use a groomer who isn’t either with me or in my household or a cellular groomer or another person you know pretty personally. … There are cellular groomers who arrive to your dwelling. That is most certainly a excellent alternative, for the reason that you can be there.”
PETA.org: “Check to see whether the groomer you are taking into consideration is a graduate of a education application and a member of any trade corporations. … Obtain a groomer with experience. … Request references from other customers. … Talk to if any animals have been injured or died in the salon’s treatment. Also check out with the Superior Enterprise Bureau to see if any problems have been submitted in opposition to the facility. … Request that your pet dog be hand- or air-dried.”
