Doggy Dooings - Janet Spires No insurance for the dogs and unsafe conditions and environment for dogs Niagara Falls Ontario Canada

"I was not going to bring my dog to an unlicensed dog groomer that works from a home and has no ethics when comes to fixing the issue."

BUT YOU DID. WANTING TO SAVE A BUCK?

"Oh yes, by the way her (my puppies) nail got infected and cost me over $400.00 to get to the Vet and get fixed up or suffer losing the foot, said the Vet."

THAT CHEAP NAIL CLIPPING WASN'T SO CHEAP AFTER ALL.

GET IT DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!

How long were your puppies nails before they were cut? Were they cut to the quick, or just near, so that when the dog began walking they started to bleed (this is actually what the description sounds like)? It is far healthier for your dog to have shorter nails near the quick (when it is moved back), than longer nails which can cause several health issues, therefore, it is not unusual to accidentally get the quick when trying to clip the nails to a proper length. Irregular nail clippings can cause the quicks to grow out farther (not to mention the nails can grow INTO the dog). Dogs with less body weight have a harder time naturally wearing down their nails, and need them clipped more often. Also, you can not see the quick very well in colored nails, so it is more common to quick the nail in that situation. Let us also not forget that they are not stuffed animals, and do not always cooperate. Did you go back when you saw your puppy was bleeding and ask them to apply styptic powder? We should all also keep this product at home (along with a pair of nail clippers) if we have pets in case of accident. Some hydrogen peroxide should get the blood out of your car if that is an issue, it'll work the best if a cleaning agent hasn't already been used. Infection from this is NOT common. Did you attempt to stop the bleeding with anything besides styptic powder or gel yourself when you got home? A great deal of 'employees' in small owner run shops are independant, and not technically employees, so that's a possible explanation for that. Yes, going to an actual business is usually better, or at least using someone with a business license. However, insurance would probably not cover this sort of thing, as quicking the nails is not uncommon, not considered negligence or improper (unless they attempted to declaw the animal or something) and an infection would usually be caused due to aftercare, or some other issue which occured after the nail clipping, not the nail clipping itself. When did you call and ask about the insurance? Was it right when you got home? This would make most places which clip nails not want to do business with you. In fact,complaining about how someone made your dogs nails bleed, tends to put a new place on notice that you may possibly be VERY difficult to deal with, and not particularly reasonable when it comes to your pet, depending on the circumstances. It's not a cause for celebration, but not considered a major issue generally, it happens. Also wondering what day the puppy saw the groomer, and when she first saw a vet. *just my opinions*

Dear Anonymous,

I have read your claims against me, and would like to clarify some things. First of all, and most importantly, I would urge you to please contact me by phone so that we might discuss this matter properly. I can assure you that your allegations against me are not of a true nature, as there is a specific protocol to which I ascribe in any situation like this one, which I will outline in further detail in a moment.

On my behalf: I have been registered and licensed as a dog groomer with the Government since December 7th, 1996, when I first opened my business, Doggy Dooings. I went through my official training in 1996, even though I had been grooming my own dogs for years. I wanted to be sure to do everything legally, and gain all of the lessons and information I would need to be a successful and knowledgeable groomer. I passed all my courses and graduated from my grooming school. It was then that I opened my business. I also became an active member of the Ontario Dog Groomer's Association, although they have since closed.

The protocol that I follow in cases that I cut a quick is as follows:

1) Apply a product which suppresses the bleeding, and continue to attend to the cut until the bleeding has ceased. It usually does not last long.

2) When my customers arrive to pick up their dogs, I tell each and every one of them if their dog has suffered a cut quick. By this time, it has usually been roughly an hour from the time the quick was cut, and it is no longer bleeding.

3) Even if the bleeding has ceased, I instruct my customer to use cornstarch at home to continue to suppress the bleeding, or they are to bring the dog back to me. I keep in contact with my customers even after the work day's end to ensure the situation has been resolved.

Certainly I am in between shops at present, and operating as efficiently as possible. I can assure you that the comfort of my dogs has not been affected. If you are less than happy with my temporary location, I apologize.

Your claims against me do not represent the type of business I run, not the type of person that I am, and not the type of reputation I have, nor am I interested in having. In my 13 years of business in Niagara, I have had more elated customers than not, and I pride myself on this. I have never neglected an animal in my shop, and have never addressed a customer so disrespectfully. I would like very much to resolve this situation with you.

Furthermore, to anyone who is reading this: please know that I truly love the dogs that I groom, and believe myself to be so blessed to have a job that I love and customers that I adore. I urge you not to take the above allegations against me as fact, but to recollect your own experiences with me, and know that they represent the nature of who I am and the goals that I am trying to achieve.

Sincerely,
Janet Spires
Doggy Dooings' Owner/Operator