From Sally's Desk...

Spring is coming. Do you see signs of it? Tree buds are forming here in Pennsylvania and the air smells a little different. Soon the winter doldrums will be over and your phone will be ringing with the “once a year, whether they need it or not” grooms.

Use this quiet time wisely to spruce up the place. Get a jump on spring cleaning. Pull out cabinets. Paint a little. Check the lights and the fans. Are they dusty? Investigate new products.

Take this issue of Groomer to Groomer and sit down for a quiet moment and look at the ads. How long has it been since you considered something new to make your work day easier? That is what this magazine is all about. New ideas. Advanced products. Out with the old… bring in the new and make a difference in the lives of your clients, and your staff.

Look at your appointment book. Pencil in upcoming Grooming Shows that you have wanted to attend and make a plan to go. How many groomings will it take to attend? Plan this year, to make that happen. If we are to truly become professionalized, education is the absolute key. You owe it to yourself to do this. It is NEVER money spent… but money invested in your future.

I travel a lot in the grooming community. In the areas of the country that have the most apathy for education (I won’t name names)… there is the lowest quality of workmanship, the greatest burnout, and the least amount earned for grooming. The groomers just can’t get ahead. In areas where there is the a lot of interest in education, the groomers are happy, excited and moving ahead. They are aggressively learning new ways to boost income and keeping themselves fresh and on the cutting edge. Their incomes are good and getting better, they are not burning out and they are truly happy.

Would you want to have a Doctor who doesn’t attend seminars to learn about the newest techniques or medications for his clients? Most professions require continued education. So plan some for yourself.
Seminars are all over the country, probably one is near you, but in today’s world it is easy to get on a plane and fly to one for a few days. And by all means, if you are lucky enough to have one in your own back-yard, close down your salon and attend. You will never know the joy of being with those with a like mind and interest, if you don’t go.

I remember my first seminar. I think it was the forerunner of Intergroom (then called Groomerama), held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It wasn’t large, but it was wonderful. And it got me going to more. I have never been sorry, and I am still learning new things.
So do it this year. Visit Groom Expo, Intergroom, PetQuest, Atlanta Pet Fair, All American, Lone Star, Groom Classic, NDGAA and more. Even cruising education. Just look in the Groomer to Groomer calendar. It’s full of exciting programs and venues. You will be better for it. God bless you.

Barkleigh Tours

Barkleigh Tours are becoming so popular that we have decided to give you some options. We have teamed up with one of the best names in travel in the professional pet world… Fresh Pond Travel.

Fresh Pond has been moving dog fanciers (and their show dogs) all over the world to dog shows for many years. So why not link up with them for some of their events in the dog show world, such as Crufts Dog Show (request Reader Service Card #1418) in England? They know all the best places from their vast experience. And we are going to plan a few of our own adventures with them such as our own Scotland Tour in July which will include the Scotland Grooming Show (request Reader Service Card #1447) followed by a dream trip through Scotland.

We also have not one, but TWO cruises next year. The first is the Inspiration Pet Pro Cruise, Oct. 15-20, 2006, an inexpensive five day cruise to the western Caribbean leaving out of Tampa. It will be followed Jan. 15-22, 2006 by the Destiny Pet Pro seven-day Cruise and San Juan package, leaving out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and doing the exotic Southern Caribbean. This cruise will include a ProGroom Puerto Rico Seminar and Trade Show and then the trip to islands that we have never seen on a Barkleigh cruise including even more seminars on the ship.

We are planning a Mediterranean Cruise and Alaska Cruise, again, in the next two years.

If you would like more information about these cruises, request Reader Service Card #1499 or call Barkleigh at (717) 691-3388.

All About Blades
By Marea Tully

Let’s face it, without good clean sharp blades we’d all be up the creek. Well, actually we’d be angry, maybe swearing aloud or under our breath and blaming our problems on the blades, which may or may not be to blame.

Someone wrote in recently to the Question and Answer Column asking about what people think of the new ceramic blades. Well, first of all, one has to realize there are many different manufacturers of ceramic blades. Some are thick and some are thin. The thinner ones will tend to be more brittle and break more easily. The thicker ones will obviously tend to last longer and not be as easily broken. We must also remember that when we drop a metal blade, it will also break. Ceramic blades must still be cleaned and oiled on a regular basis.
The advantages of the ceramic blades is that they will hold their edge 3-4 times longer than a metal blade and they will stay up to 75% cooler. The downside is they are noisier than a metal blade for the first three to four hours of use. After that they quiet right down and will stay nice and cool for long periods. Other brands are quiet when first used because they are thinner and therefore don’t need the break-in time but may not hold up as well as a thicker one.

Ceramic blades must be sharpened with a diamond wheel and few of the sharpeners have them. Considering the ceramics will last you 3-4 times longer, and therefore save you 3-4 extra sharpenings, you’d still be ahead if you just bought a new cutter blade, which would cost you about the same as two sharpenings. This is the way to go if your sharpener doesn’t have a diamond wheel. You can also purchase just the cutter blade for your other metal blades as long as you have the bottom blade sharpened at the same time. The full ceramic blade sets only cost a couple dollars more than a metal blade, which may be worth it considering the coolness that will save time in changing blades or spraying them and the cost saved from less sharpening.

On the subject of sharpening, manufacturers have their own warrantee service stations whose people are trained to repair and sharpen their products exclusively. While there are many sharpeners out there who may be as good as the manufacturer’s people, there are also oodles of wanna-be sharpeners out there who come knocking on your door. Many of these people are untrained and set the tension improperly which can cause your blade to bog down in the coat and not cut properly. If the blades are not set perfectly one on top of the other with the correct spacing between the feeder blade and the cutting blade, you could nick the dog or the blade will cut a different length. The convenience of having someone come to your door may not always be worthwhile. If one sharpener can’t seem to sharpen your blades, try another before getting upset with the manufacturer of the blade.
Now you could really save yourself some money if you cleaned your own blades before sending them in to be done. I know you’re saying “I don’t have time to do that”. Well I didn’t either until my bills went through the ceiling and then I leaned how.

First you slide the top blade off to one side (don’t let it fall out completely) and with a stiff brush clean out the hair between the teeth, then slide it to the other side and repeat the procedure. If the blades won’t move, oil them on both rails from both sides, run them on the clipper for 10 seconds and then try again.

Then put the blade back on the clipper and run it in a nice smelling disinfecting blade wash for about 10 seconds and carefully hold the clipper in a downward position while wiping away excess blade wash. Only allow the wash as deep as to be high enough to get between the two blades, you don’t need it half an inch up your clipper. Keeping the clipper blade down while washing and oiling is important because if you don’t you may end up with it in your clipper and when you turn it on sometime it will go “POOF” or maybe “BANG”. Oil with a clipper oil (not something out of the garage) as described above but wiping excess oil off with a paper towel. Spray lubricants do not take the place of clipper oil. This will also keep your blades cooler longer. If after doing the above procedure your blade will still not cut then it’s off to the sharpener they go. I bet you’ll save a ton of money cleaning your own blades.

If you don’t have time, teach the brusher/bather or one of your kids how to do this. This cleaning procedure should be done at least once a week on all your blades and you should oil your blades every time before you use them if you want them to run at optimal performance. After all you wouldn’t run your car without oil, would you? And now you’re saying, “But I’m going to get oil all over my dog.” Well if you get the coat off before the bath, preferably with a skip tooth blade, the oil will come off in the bath. If you prefer to only clip clean dogs, then you can use the FC or F blades, but start the blade inside a thigh or someplace where a smidge of oil isn’t going to show.

If all of a sudden all your blades have gone dull all at once, try changing the drive assembly on your clipper. Do your blades clack and rattle? Are the hinge screws tight or have you stripped them? Use Lock Tight, or nail polish for a quick fix and then order or replace your housing. Always turn a screw backwards before going forward so it has a chance to seat properly and won’t scar up the plastic around it. Check the back of your blade where it attaches to the clipper ( the little square with two little ears). Are the ears standing straight up or is one of them leaning in to the tension bar? Take a pair of pliers and straighten it out by using one side of the pliers on the bent ear and the other side braced against the tension bar.

Do your blades fall off when using larger blades when they hit a little tangle? Check the hinge. Remove the blade, push the hinge down so it snaps shut, and then try to lift it with your fingernail. If it lifts more than a couple centimeters or if your blades are popping off, it’s time to replace your hinge.

To keep blades cool, keep them clean and well oiled. If you’re in a hurry (who isn’t), just run the blade in blade wash for a few seconds, wipe off and you’re good to go, or spray a coolant if you don’t mind breathing it, or better yet, change the blade.
To remove oxidation (rust) from blades, try using extra fine steel wool with clipper oil.

A video called Maintenance Tips and Techniques is available from your distributor for a cost of roughly $10 to $15. This was made by the Andis Company (request Reader Service # 1503) and me and has my face on the cover, but blade care is the same regardless of manufacturer. It shows you step by step about the blade cleaning and oiling process and believe me, it will save you a ton of money. It will also save you a lot of aggravation and stress in the grooming shop once you have blades that will clip the way they should.

See you on the road,

Marea

Request Reader Service Card #1503

7 Little known Marketing & Advertising Secrets for Professional Pet Groomers.
by Eric LeTendre

Whenever a pet groomer is at a party or a social event and the topic of work comes up, most of us hear, “Wow, that’s interesting. I would love to do something like that.” What these nice people don’t understand is that grooming dogs for a living isn’t a cakewalk. Dealing with aggressive dogs, unhappy customers, and making sure that you have enough business coming in to pay the bills is not exactly a walk in the park.

Now, more than ever, dog groomers need to know how to market their services if they want to be successful. For the past fourteen years I have made my living by working with dogs. Long ago, I learned that in order to stay in business, I had to let as many people as possible know about me. Listed below are seven very valuable marketing techniques. If you take some time and apply them, you will see dramatic growth in your business.

1. Develop a strong USP: No matter what business you’re in, whether it is dog grooming or carpet cleaning, the most important question a business owner can ask is: “What makes me different from my competition?” If you are the same as everyone else, you become just another dog groomer. If you can come up with what is called a Unique Selling Proposition, you can strongly differentiate your business from all the others. Dominos Pizza is a great example. There are thousands and thousands of pizza restaurants in the United States. Dominos is the biggest and most well known. Do you know why? They have a powerful Unique Selling Proposition. In fact, you probably know it by heart. “Fresh hot pizza delivered to your house in thirty minutes or less… guaranteed!” That USP catapulted Dominos into one of the most well known restaurants in the world. You may not like Dominos Pizza, but there is no arguing that they are famous because of their USP. Develop a USP that will separate you from your competitors, both big and small.

2. Write press releases: One of the best, virtually no-cost ways to get your name out there is to write press releases. A press release is more powerful than an ad, because it is an endorsement from the newspaper that it is published in. A sure-fire way to get published in a newspaper is to offer benefits for the reader. Don’t write about you and your business. Instead, write information that is valuable to the readers of the newspaper. The last press release I wrote was “How to Reduce Shedding In 3 To 5 Days”. I sent this article to the local papers right around the same time I began hearing about shedding complaints. I included some very useful information for the editor to pass along to his readers. That, by the way, is the secret of getting your press releases printed. When your press release hits the desk of the editor, they want to know if there is something of interest for their readers. Most newspapers will also put your contact information at the end of the article.

3. Learn how to write a strong headline: When I am teaching new dog owners how to train their dogs, the very first lesson involves attention. I tell the students in my class that without attention, learning does not happen. It is a good lesson to remember when writing an ad. The single most important part of an ad is the headline. If the headline fails to grab the reader’s attention, your ad won’t even be read. When you write your next ad, don’t use the name of your business as the headline. Remember, the purpose of the headline is to get attention, and the best way to do that is by stating a strong benefit for the reader of the ad.

Most yellow pages ads look the same: Fluffy’s Pet Grooming, Pup In A Tub, or Puffy Pooch Parlor, etc. Those ads give very little information for the reader to go on. An ad with the name of the business will do little to generate attention. The name of the business as the headline does not offer me or anyone else reading it a benefit. In my ads, I always use headlines that will attract the reader to my ad and I do everything I can to get them to call me. I use headlines. I use headlines like “How to Reduce Shedding In 3 to 5 Days”, “Dog Groomer Swears Under Oath That His New Reduced Shedding Program Does Not Contain Any Illegal Or Harmful Substances” or “Amazing New Bathing System Guaranteed To Clean Your Dog Better Than A Scrub Brush”. These headlines get attention. Anyone with a shedding problem will stop and read the ad and more importantly, they will take action and call me.

4. Sponsor charity events: Sponsoring a charity event is a win/win situation. It is good for the charity, and it is good for your business. Twice a year, I sponsor two events to help raise money for animal shelters. At the last event, over $2,000 was raised for a local shelter. This can also be tied into press coverage. One event that we do is free pet photos with Santa. With each photo we take, we ask for a small donation for a local shelter. Four weeks before the event, we send in a press release for the free pet photos. After the pet photos are done, and we have a total for the amount of donations we take in, we send in another press release with pictures. We give 100% of the money raised to the shelters. Last year we took about 300 photos, and it only cost us about $90 to have them developed. Total costs for the day come to about $150.00. To me, $150.00 is well worth the cost of two press releases that get printed every year. 5. Use technology: I avoided computers and the Internet like the plague. I didn’t like them. I didn’t want a web site, and I didn’t want to learn about it. Thankfully, I changed my mind. Unfortunately, 99 out of 100 web sites are not very good. The most important function of your web site should be to capture a person’s E-mail address. On my web site, I offer a mini on-line dog training course that gives out some very useful dog training information. To get the course, a person must type in his E-mail address. That is how the course is delivered. Once I have their E-mail address, I can now keep in contact with that person for FREE. I never use spam, and strongly advise against it, and my list can be un-subscribed from at any time. The last E-mail message took about ten minutes. In less than 24 hours, the class was filled. Don’t underestimate the power of e-mail. When used properly, it allows you to stay in contact with your customers and generate great profits.

6. Let them say it for you: Always gather testimonials from your customers. Whenever someone has their dog groomed, I ask for a testimonial. It also allows me to keep track of how my customers feel about the job we’re doing. If there was something they do not like, I can then take steps to change it. If they were happy with the grooming, I want to keep doing it. I let them say it for me on all of my ads, my web site, on signs in the office, and on my cards and brochures. What your customers say about you is always better than what you say about yourself.

7. Referrals: The best way to get referrals is by impressing your
customers. Be honest. Don’t make false claims.
The best way to build your business is to give the customers more than they expect. If you make outrageous and false statements, it will catch up with you. Disney World and Disney Land get
a lot of business because everyone that goes there are so impressed with the place. If you think of ways to over deliver every time you do business, people will start to talk about you and your pet grooming business.

Eric Letendre is the owner of American Canine in Westport, MA. He has just finished writing How to Make Maximum Money In Your Pet Grooming Business. The book is available on www.groomingprofits.com or you can get more information by calling
Mr. Letendre's office at (506) 636-5566
Request Reader Service Card # 1496

Once upon a time there was a groomer who didn't know when to say "No." She took on all the dogs that were fierce, those that no other groomer in town would touch. She put up with irrational pet owners who wanted that winning Westminster look on their eighteen year old Poodle/Lhasa/Schnauzer/ Pug mixes. She waited patiently while Snookie's owner tried to get him to show off Snookie's ability to bark on command. (Little did the owner know that Snookie barks his head off without any encouragement whatsoever when he is put into a cage to await his owner's return.) And lastly, there was the groomer that didn't know how to say "No," when approached by one of her clients to purchase a Pomeranian puppy. And so the story goes.

Said groomer shall be nameless; suffice it to say that I know her well. So, the groomer was working one day at her establishment and in walks one of her regulars with a ten week Pom puppy. The little guy whom we shall call "Rocky" didn't weigh a full pound. Those adorable beady little eyes got her right away. "Do you know anybody who would give this little guy a good home?" the lady asked. "We got him as a buddy for our female and she absolutely hates him," she was saying. "Trixie tries to kill him as soon as she lays eyes on him. We have been trying to keep them apart, but it is utter chaos in our house with her going after him," the lady was saying. "I hate to do it... he's so cute, but we did have Trixie first, so we have to let Rocky go," she said.

Ohhhh," the groomer crooned. "He is gorgeous! But I can't have a dog where I live," she informed the lady. "I live in an apartment and there are no pets allowed," the groomer explained. "How can you be a groomer and not own your own dog?" the lady asked. A fair question, but circumstances prevented it at the time. "It's just beyond my control right now," the groomer told the lady. The lady handed the puppy over to the groomer, who proceeded to drop the dog into the pocket of her grooming smock. "Oh, leave him here for a couple hours and I'll see if I can't find him a home," she said.

With each customer that came in, she tried to talk them into acquiring a new friend. Meanwhile, she herself was becoming attached to this dog. It fell asleep in her pocket and after the fifth or sixth customer, she quit asking people if they would like the dog.

After several hours had passed, the lady returned to see if the groomer had made any progress on the dog's adoption. "Well, yes I found him a home," she said. The lady raised her eyebrows. "YOU'RE going to take him, aren't you?" she asked, already knowing full well the answer. "Yes," was the only reply from the groomer.

Going over the plan in her head, the groomer reasoned that the dog was so tiny, that you'd never hear him bark. How much noise could a 10 oz. dog make? It was so itty-bitty that she could sneak him in and out of the apartment in her purse or pocket with no trouble at all. This could work beautifully. She could take the dog with her to work each day and since she worked long days her neighbors wouldn't be any the wiser. This would be a piece of cake.

The first night was a breeze. The pup never uttered a word when he was taken home with her that evening. The only problem was the stray cat that tried to attack him when the groomer took him out to do his business in the back yard in the dark. She would have to be more careful...she realized as she reeled the pup in on the flexi. He looked like a bat as he sailed through the air on the end of that line.
The next day the pup played hard
in the grooming shop and learned how
to play with toys.
Oh, what fun he was having with all his new treasures. He also learned he had a voice. Surprisingly, it was much bigger that the groomer expected. Oh well, he wouldn't do that at home, just at work and that was fine.

That night the housebreaking process went well. That is, until the groomer overslept and it was daylight when she awoke to a crying puppy. Realizing that it was WAY too daylight to take the pup outside and risk getting spotted by one of her neighbors, she danced around to and fro with said puppy in hand trying to figure out what to do with him. She knew he had to go NOW. As she stood looking frantically for a solution, she realized she was nearest to the bathroom. Instinct taking over, she placed the puppy into the bathtub and none too soon. He piddled and puddled right there and she instantly thought, (as any good dog person would) "What an ingenious idea!" This could be sold on the Internet for $9.95. The easy way to housebreak your puppy with no fuss. In the case of No. 1, Just rinse the tub and the mess is gone. No smell, no scrubbing. No. 2 is a quick pick up with a tissue and toss into the toilet. (No matter that when your friends find out they'll NEVER ask to use YOUR bathroom again.) It keeps unwanted company from visiting too.

The next day at the shop the pup learned to voice his protests to things that he felt were unjust. Leashes were suddenly to be outlawed. Naptime breaks in a cage were utterly preposterous. As soon as the playing with humans stopped the barking began. Still not a problem though as he would be tired out from his full day of being fussed over, hence he would sleep well at night.

As expected, he did sleep very well that night. UNTIL, he found an escape from his carrier at 2:35 in the morning. The groomer awoke to a screaming akin to Carrie in the Exorcist. At past two in the morning, it is rather hard to see in the dark. Turning on lights doesn't do much good for several moments as the eyeballs aren't accustomed to being forced open under a spotlight. Add to this that you can't really tell where the screaming is coming from as the pup is no longer in his bed. The groomer frantically searches around the room only to find that the dog is somewhere under the bed. Her husband is sitting bolt upright in bed repeatedly saying "WHAT'S WRONG????" The groomer keeps saying, "I don't know...I can't find the dog!" Suddenly, deciding the blood curling screams are coming from under the top of the bed, the groomer reaches underneath to find that the pup has its head caught under the baseboard heater. Of course, his location is out of the groomer's reach and the bed must first be moved. As they pull the bed from the wall, she scurries to extricate the head of the animal from under the heater. Meanwhile, the dog is still screaming. She holds the pup tightly to her and asks her hubby... "Do you think the old man next door heard him?" as the pet finally stops yelling. "Well....YEAH," hubby says. "It's okay though. I'll just tell him that you made me mad and I was just choking you," he says settling back into bed.

The groomer puts the pooch in the bed beside her and NOW the dog wants to play. Growling and yipping the tired woman realizes that this arrangement may not work so well after all. The dog's fate is sealed the next morning when on her way to her car her neighbor comes out of his apartment to ask if she has a dog in the house. She explains that it was just an overnight guest.One of her friend’s dogs that she had to sit with while they had an emergency.

So luckily puppy was passed on to a home where it has a golden retriever with a very bushy tail to chew on, and a little boy who adores him. As it turns out though, the groomer received a call from the people who bought it from her the other week. "We just LOVE Rocky," the lady was saying. "You won't believe what he did last night though. It was about 2 a.m. and he started this awful screaming. I ran over to my son's room and there was Rocky with his head stuck in one of Jason's Tonka Trucks. There he was running backwards with this big truck stuck on top of his head," she said laughing. "Can you IMAGINE?" she said. Well....yes the groomer could.

The Groomers Roundtable

Yes, I have experienced a “drop” years ago when I worked for a prominent New York kennel. A lady brought in a mini Poodle to board with us. She gave a false address and phone (probably her name was false, also) and told us she would return in ten days to pick up Monique. Something was strange about the way she kept looking at the dog as she reluctantly handed her over to the kennel girl. I thought it was odd that she kept saying, “I hope you like it here,” once too many times. We even joked about it later, since we never had any idea she wanted the dog to “like it here” for good! Ten days came and went, and low and behold, not only did she not return, but Monique blessed us with three puppies besides! We had all fallen in love with Monique, so my boss decided to adopt her. We found homes for the puppies and Monique became the receptionist along with my boss’ wife! She lived to the ripe old age of fifteen and had a very good life. This is a “drop” story with a happy ending. It doesn’t always turn out that way.

We are an established Pet Hotel and Grooming Salon for over thirty-five years at the same location, and we have had some problems in the past with “clients” abandoning their pets. We had instituted a policy of capturing client driver’s license information and a valid credit card. We use KennelSoft (Reader Service Card #57) as our computer program for all of our clients, I know KennelSoft has a Groomer’s program as well which has similar features. There is a “blank page” if you will, in this program on each client’s file. This computer generated file we utilize for our record keeping, such as grooming history, personal client data and other miscellaneous information for each individual pet. The only people who have access to this information are the reception staff, as it is their job to secure all client files in the first place. This also helps in other ways, like when a client may not have any cash on him or he left his wallet at home and needs to pay the bill before you release the pet. You can pull up the credit card on file and ask him to authorize it.

As for the abandoned animals, we have, on occasion, still gotten “stiffed,” even with the credit card and license information, but you can still go to small claims court and place a lien on any assets they own for not paying the bill. Plus, it gives you a starting point for tracking them down to file abandonment charges against them, as you will initially need to file a police report. We take the name of the client as it appears on the license, the I.D. number and the date of birth, as well as the expiration date. If the address on the license is different from the one given to us for the client’s file, we write that down in this “notes page” as well. This has cleared up the majority of abandoned animals, but every now and then we still get one “tied” to the front door. Ignorant people will do anything. Marc Rosenzweig, Executive Director/Owner, Willow Pet Hotel, Deer Park NY

I have had several animals abandoned in the last twenty years. I have found that if the car looked like they got it from the junkyard, and/or if the interior of the car looks like the inside of your basement storage cabinet, they may be planning to abandon their animal. If they are not certain when they plan to pick up the pet (open-ended board), take a payment for the first two weeks in advance, and let them know that they must make payment every two weeks.

For new customers, ALWAYS write down their license plate number as they leave. Since I always consider the animal’s quality of life, too, it helps to get to know the local humane society, and (if they will allow it) have a release form handy. I have had several people that, when given the option, sign away right to their pet and pay the balance due, once they realize you will prosecute them. Have a good boarding contract, and always have the owner sign it. Sue Bartelt-Drennan, Country Pet Retreat, Warrenville, Illinois (For a sample Barkleigh Boarding Run Card with a boarding contract on the back, request Reader Service Card #1494.)

I had that problem once. I called the local SPCA and they informed me that I should get as much information as possible. Now I ask people to show identification (driver’s license). I write down their address off the ID and the Driver ID#. Never had a problem since. I was told that if someone does leave a pet after giving the correct info, charges can be brought up and that person’s driver’s license will be suspended. Helen Grossman, Hazlet NJ.

We had a client who abandoned her dog many years ago when we owned a salon. We ended up keeping this lovely animal for thirteen years until she passed away. This lady used to be a customer who seemed to always forget to bring her money when picking up her dog. On two occasions she was left with us overnight. The lady would arrive first thing in the morning and apologize and say she forgot or she was held up at work. She was unreliable and a dreadful paying client. I feel the best way to avoid this situation is to always make certain your client’s details are up to date. Have mobile numbers, home numbers, address, vet, etc. I also ask for a family member’s number or neighbor’s number, in case. Vanessa Parsons, Gold Coast, Australia

I have had one person abandon her dog in my facility. This was a grooming client who never came to pick up the dog. I ended up getting my local Animal Control Officer involved, and after about three weeks of boarding this pet, I released her to Animal Control. I must say in this time I did speak to the owner who promised to pick her up. Finally, I realized she was not coming, and I would not be compensated. I later found out that this was her way of getting rid of her pet. I did have the opportunity to have Animal Control take the dog after about a week. I guess I just did not want to believe someone could do this to a fifteen-year-old dog. I did try to take this woman to court for what she owed me, without any luck. Shannon Rodbell, Prince Frederick Kennels

I run a pet sitting business and animal rescue. Back when I started out in the business, I had someone contact me about watching his or her dog. The husband was extremely ill and was going in for surgery (out of state). At least that’s the story I got. The dog was supposed to be with me for two weeks, but they never showed up or called to extend the time. I tried calling them on numerous occasions. “When I finally reached them, I reminded them that in the contract they signed it stated that they would be responsible for all fees incurred, as well as court costs to collect the fees. I got lucky. Even though they didn’t want the dog, I was able to persuade them to sign papers to give me ownership (so I could place him in a new home), as well as give me half of the money they owe me. After that, I started collecting fees up front with all the basics of home, cell, work and an emergency contact number, and addresses for all new customers. I keep records of all vet info with current vaccination info (always verify this before the dog is left in your care). If someone is willing to furnish all that information, it seems that they are not going to abandon the pet. If they do, you have some money collected to help care for the animal until it can be placed. I have a clause in my contract that states if the dog is left in my care for five days beyond the scheduled pick-up date, the animal is considered abandoned, unless the owner makes extended arrangements, and I have the right to dispose of the animal as I see fit. Granted, everyone I work with knows I do rescue work, so they know I am not going to just drop the animals in a shelter or possibly something worse. These things seem to have worked for me. Terri C., The Buddy System, Spring Hill, FL

We have never had a pet abandoned in our boarding facility. We require a lot of up front information, including an emergency contact number and name, and also a credit card number to hold the reservation. If customers are unwilling to leave the info requested, we do not accept the reservation. We have learned that caring customers gladly leave this and all information requested. Reservations that were lost due to “lack of compliance” would likely have resulted in “problems.” Monique Frechette, The Snazzy Pet Bed and Biscuit, Arundel, Maine

Yes, we have had two dogs left for abandonment in the thirty plus years of grooming. Once in St. Louis when we were there, an elderly client dropped off the dog. Then we found out much later that she was in the early stages of Alzheimers. She knew who we were but forgot where she was. After a brief discussion with her, we figured out where she was and sent a cab to have her followed back to the shop and then to her home. After calling on her family members to no avail, we called her pastor for help. And, no, you can’t tell if a person has this health condition very easily.


The second case was a VERY matted Bouvier, about two and one half years of age, very sweet, trained with hand commands. A man who had just gotten the dog from a dear friend dropped her off. The new owner gave ALL information required for the dog, i.e. name, address, phone numbers and cell numbers, shot records, etc. A female groomer wearing a small size 5 could pick him up with great ease. You could put your hands together around the tuck up on this dog, not to mention seeing the ribs and hip plates, as well. After calling ALL the numbers given, no one knew where or who the owner was. We kept the dog overnight and fed him. Due to the neglect, we surrendered him
to our Humane Society only for the new owner to return two days later when told that the dog needed vet care due to malnutrition. The humane authorities then took over with fines and a mandatory
surrender.

We require current health records with proof of address, etc. Yes, some people take offense to this; however, your client is the pet. The owner is only the messenger. Veterinarians appreciate your help from the standpoint of health, safety and welfare of all involved. If the new owner refuses to offer this information, you might tactfully suggest these are the company policies with a gracious smile and suggest returning another day. Most states require, after three weeks in the state, all shot records be current and the pet licensed. Pets that are left after hours or overnight are charged an overnight fee. We always keep some feed for dogs and cats handy. Emergencies can occur. Carolyn Bullock, CMG, Academy of Animal Arts, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

I worked in a boarding kennel in New Hampshire seven years ago. There were a few dogs abandoned, unfortunately. Usually, it was someone who had to move out of their apartment, stating that they only need to board their dog for a few weeks until they found an apartment that allowed pets. More than a few times, these same dogs were never picked up or even visited at the kennel.

We had a young girl come in with a mix breed, stating the above story. She did not return. After five months of failed attempts to contact her, we finally decided to put the dog up for adoption. She’s been my dog for seven years now! She’s the best. She’s now fourteen years old. We also had a Rottweiller abandoned. Fortunately a friend of the owner came to us with all the dog’s paperwork. I was able to contact the breeder and they picked him up to foster and hopefully place him in a new home. It happens. It’s very sad, but I imagine that people think their pet will be well cared for if left with a kennel operator or groomer. I think there are stories that are similar to watch for. Looking for a pet friendly apartment is the most common I’ve heard. As far as preventing it, all I can recommend is getting as much info… name, address, phone, emergency contact, vet, etc… as you can in hopes you can locate someone if the owner doesn’t return. Jennifer, Pet Styles by Jennifer

Yes, it has been a few years ago, but I did have a small dog left permanently at my shop. The phone number and address were fake, so there was no trail to follow. I kept the dog for two weeks, leaving my number with all local lost and found facilities, and then placed him in a home with one of my customers. There is no profile of anyone being capable of doing anything like this. In this business we have no reason not to trust the person leaving their pet with us for a few hours. Perhaps this was an easy out for the person to not have to take their own dog to the pound. Melanie Huling, Joy’s Doggery, So. Pasadena, FL

Yes, I have had a person abandon their animal at my salon. My abandonment took place with the person making a scheduled grooming appointment and never coming back to pick up the dog. For me, I find there is no real way to spot the ones who are going to leave the pet, until it is pick-up time. When you find the phone numbers, they gave don’t exist. I posted a sign in my salon to prevent it from happening again. It hasn’t happened since, thank God! Lana Flores, Whiskers & Paws Grooming Salon, Lynbrook, NY

Yes… a client just a few months ago left her Lab mixed puppy at my shop. Sad, but true. No current phone number, and just a PO box for an address. I called Animal Control when she was five hours late, as I suspected she would do this. She had just brought her Sheltie in a week earlier, matted to the skin, and complaining about what a pain this Lab mix puppy was. Animal Control had a file on her a mile long. The pup went to a rescue that I work closely with and is now in a loving home. The lady had the nerve to come in a week ago and ask if I could find homes for her two other dogs. I said, “NO!” Melissa Casey, Dog In Suds, Marcellus, MI

We have had an animal abandoned at our facility. I work at Bradfordville Animal Hospital in Tallahassee, Florida, and a man brought in a silver-shaded Persian for grooming and vaccination. She had never been to the clinic before, but that was fine, since she was getting her vaccines that day, anyway. The man filled out the new client form and dropped off the cat for the full “tune up.” When he didn’t pick up the cat by the end of the day, we figured he just forgot, but the next morning when we tried to call him, we found the number was disconnected! The address he gave us didn’t exist! This guy went to some trouble to be sure he didn’t give us someone else’s phone number or address! When you think about it, he did the best thing he could do for the animal he wanted to get rid of. He made sure that she was fully vaccinated and beautiful for her future home! That was fine with me, because that was eight years ago, and I still have a wonderful, beautiful cat! Mary Ellen Zydell, Tallahassee

Know your clientele. New clients are required to bring their pet to meet me, provide proof of current vaccinations and give me an opportunity to evaluate the pet for grooming in my shop. Only after being a grooming client for six months will my boarding services be made available to the new client. This can project one of two different images for your business: You think more of yourself and the services you offer, or you value each individual client and wish to ensure the safety of their pet, as well as others, while in your care.

I have been pretty lucky with the dogs that have been left with me. Some people were quite up front and just wanted me to have their dog, even though I have several dogs of my own. People just come in and say they no longer want their dog for whatever reason, and I will try to find a home for them, unless I feel they will fit into my family or my wife overrules me. I welcomed two beautiful Poodles (a mini and a standard), and a Keeshond with a championship, that was a therapy dog. I have found homes for an Old English, Beagle, Lab, Dobe, and a Boston Terrier that was left by a family on the run from the FBI. The only thing the people had in common was that they wanted me to take care of their dog. In some cases, I had groomed and trained their dogs for several years and had no idea the owners would skip out on them. John Yawney, The Doghouse, Allentown PA

Although I have not had a dog abandoned with me, two of my groomer friends have had dogs abandoned. Both had young, purebred dogs dropped off for grooming. Both were given false names, addresses and phone numbers. One of the dogs still had sutures from being neutered. An extremely pregnant woman dropped the other off.
Whenever I schedule a first time appointment (I don’t take walk-ins), I always get their phone number. This not only gives me a contact number if they do not show up, but I can confirm the number with my caller I.D., in most cases. If I am getting an out of area or blocked display on my phone, I try to speak to the person when they come in and ask if an existing client, etc. referred them. If I am suspicious, I copy their driver’s license number, as well as their license plate number. So far, it has never proved necessary. I took in and placed both of the dogs from my fellow groomer, so even though I did not experience the abandonment personally, I still dealt with the results. All clients also must sign a release for care and must acknowledge that if the dog is left for ten days, it will be considered abandoned.

Our shop received its first abandoned dog. A lady made an appointment for her little Maltese. She rescheduled two times before she finally made it. As one of the groomers met her at the desk, she basically threw the dog over the counter to the groomer (who was about to take information about the pet’s first visit). Before the groomer could get a word out, she turned and ran back out the door to a waiting cab. The groomer, with dog in arms, ran around the counter, to wave the woman back to fill out information. She just waved goodbye as she rode off in the cab. We attempted to contact her by the number she gave us (when she initially made the appointment).
Happy ending! We proceeded to do the only thing possible to the pet, which was severely matted and needed attention. We continually called the woman and only got an answering machine. At this point we knew she was not returning. We tried to adopt this little guy out to a good home, but one of the other groomers fell in love with him. When she took him to the vet for shots and checkup, the results came out that the little guy had heartworms. We took up a fund at the shop to help the groomer defer costs, and he was treated and is the happiest little guy going. We also had another little Poodle tied to the back door of our shop. He went to the Tidelands Poodle Rescue, and got a great home.

Get as much information as possible when the appointment is made. This is where the computer comes in handy. Key the information in right away. Now, even if the pet is not returned to the owner, you have the means of prosecution. That’s the deterrent. Prosecute, and they will go through the proper means of finding a good home for their pet if it is no longer wanted. There are plenty of breed rescue clubs who take pets and find homes without the owner having to worry about euthanasia.

Educate the clients who come in with a new puppy. Start when they get the pet, and let them know that you are a friend who can help. Help them with problem solving, training, etc. Don’t belittle them. Point them in the right direction for problems they are having. Encourage them to find help, or have information ready for them. If people were more educated about choosing a pet, and the care involved in owning one, it might help to prevent a lot of unwanted and abandoned pets. Dawn Loberg, Blue Ribbon Pet Grooming, Virginia Beach VA

Yes, on several occasions a pet was left at my shop in Fountain Valley, California. Unfortunately, the law here is that the pet must be kept for twenty-one days before it can be turned in to the animal shelter. The law also does not allow an animal to be left in the grooming shop overnight. Generally, the owner wanted to pay for the grooming services in advance. It was a Saturday. They said they were moving and wanted the pet clean for the new house, but when I called, the telephone was not in service. We followed the law, to our inconvenience, and finally placed the pet in a new home and continued grooming it for years. Marcia Hill, CMB, A Mobile Pet Groomer / Classy Canine Dog Grooming, Moreno Valley CA / Fountain Valley CA

I had a dog left. The only clue I had was that this nutty woman would bring in about six dogs at a time in the worst condition I ever saw. I told her to leave one and I would see if I could find it a home. She never came back. My hint is that if they are hillbilly home breeders, keep your eye on them. Julie Hall, Garden of Eden, Birmingham, Michigan

In fifteen years, only once has a client left a pet. It was supposedly an accident, where one spouse assumed the other was getting the dog. No one noticed he wasn’t at home and repeated phone calls went unanswered. Needless to say, there was a hefty charge, and they were not welcomed back! Sometimes you have to feel sorry for these pets whose unlucky fate is to be in such a “home”! Judy Caruso, Caruso’s Central Bark, Medford NJ

My #1 tip off as to when a client is likely to abandon their pet is when they are defensive or evasive about their personal information, such as address or phone. They will need time to think of an address or zip code number. Or they claim it is their son’s dog and they don’t know his information. It has never happened through my grooming service, but at least once a year in the boarding side of my business.

I have had this occur at all three of my shops, although it seems to happen more often at the shop that has a “lower income” area. I don’t feel there is any way to tell in advance. We checked with our animal control and they told us we need to keep the animal forty-eight hours before we can have them pick it up. During that time we make every effort (calling to driving to the address on the card) to find the owner. On occasion, we have been able to place the dog ourselves instead of calling animal control (preferred method). We have added a disclaimer to our client card regarding the placement of the animal after forty-eight hours of abandonment. The bad element is that the groomer does his/her work on the dog and does not get paid. Possibly charging in advance for the groom to new clients could benefit the groomer. Sharon Voelpel, Desert Breeze Pet Grooming, Las Vegas, Nevada.

It has happened at my kennel more than once. It stopped completely when I changed my payment policy. I require all first time customers to prepay for their visit. All of a sudden they don’t really need that “vacation” trip they were planning, or they simply don’t show up. Also, if their shot records are not up to date, that’s a good sign. When you tell the potential customer the dog needs ALL their shots updated, that is usually the end of the appointment process. As for the grooming scenario, it has never happened. Customers have been too late to pick up and asked us to board them until the next morning, but never abandoned. Hope this helps someone. Lynn Adams, Krisdan Kennel, Orlando FL

We use Barkleigh Giant Kennel Cards (Reader Service Card #1494) and we require home, cell, and work phone numbers, along with the name of the vet and number, also the signature of the client. By doing this, we have never had a pet abandoned in ten years! I have found that some shops that just ask for a phone number do get animals left there. Terri Curry, Certified ISCC Derma Tech Specialist and owner of Classic Clips, Florence AL

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