Most People Don't Know Groomers Are Not Regulated

<p> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawprintsgroomingcenter.com%2F&ei=nfuaVfuEHsu1-QGlhYGwAg&bvm=bv.96952980,d.cWw&psig=AFQjCNHx93ggviqSue5y-t7TaAsAyrU8kw&ust=1436306706414748">https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawprintsgroomingcenter.com%2F&ei=nfuaVfuEHsu1-QGlhYGwAg&bvm=bv.96952980,d.cWw&psig=AFQjCNHx93ggviqSue5y-t7TaAsAyrU8kw&ust=1436306706414748</a> </p>
<p> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawprintsgroomingcenter.com%2F&ei=nfuaVfuEHsu1-QGlhYGwAg&bvm=bv.96952980,d.cWw&psig=AFQjCNHx93ggviqSue5y-t7TaAsAyrU8kw&ust=1436306706414748">https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawprintsgroomingcenter.com%2F&ei=nfuaVfuEHsu1-QGlhYGwAg&bvm=bv.96952980,d.cWw&psig=AFQjCNHx93ggviqSue5y-t7TaAsAyrU8kw&ust=1436306706414748</a> </p>

Did you know that your pet groomer is not licensed? We are not talking about a business license, we mean a vocational license. No state mandates any formal training or education in order to become a groomer. There is only voluntary certification, and voluntary personal insurance. No testing for skills and no regulatory inspections. Does this matter to you as a pet owner or as a consumer? Things happening in this industry should be a cause for concern! Some pet groomers are using superglue because they accidentally cut dogs, smacking dogs as a form of discipline when they are grooming them, overheating dogs to death, choking dogs to death, paralyzing dogs, having dogs fall off the grooming tables, throwing dogs at the wall, slapping dogs so hard that dogs sustain injuries then lying about how injury occurred, using cheap and toxic shampoo products, getting arrested for animal abuse, not carrying any liability insurance and these are just a few things worth mentioning. http://www.groomingsafety.com/dog-grooming-news Today the pet grooming business is a fast growing industry and people are choosing to operate out of their homes, open a facility or a mobile grooming shop. A parent taking their child to a salon for a haircut should feel safe doing so just as the pet parent taking their dog to be groomed should be able to feel safe as well. The right kind of regulation and oversight may prevent such negative incidents from occurring and the groomers who posses the passion and dedication of being a reputable groomer definitely agree.

Since there is little or no oversight in the pet grooming industry then it ALL falls on the pet parent to make sure they ask many questions before hiring a groomer. Questions like: "Are you certified, what level of certification do you have, did you go to a reputable grooming school, how many years of hands-on training have you had, do you have liability insurance? Some groomers have gone above and beyond to train and educate themselves and yet others have not. Pet owners may not understand all the certification levels and what the differences are from one groomer's stats to the next and it is only when something goes wrong that the public is made aware that there are no licensing or schooling requirements or oversight. This lack of regulation and mandated education could very well be the reason for their pet becoming injured or dying.

I hope pet parents and groomers will become active advocates and help support new sound legislation that will provide more safety and protection for the animals, "We are their guardians, we are their voice, speak up and be heard"!