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PET
DISH: Make sure groomer isn't a dirty-dog fly-by-night
Did you know anyone can call themselves a pet groomer?
That's because there's no state licensing
required. So it takes a little diligence on an owner's part to be
sure their pet is in responsible hands.
"We do a lot more than just wash and cut
hair," said Dawn Omboy, a champion dog stylist from Columbus. "We ask about
everything from a pet's health to nutrition to personality."
Today, there are three main national
organizations that pet groomers can belong to. The groups certify
the groomers and offer continuing education classes. There also are
schools where people learn grooming techniques. Melissa Sirianni, a
representative of the International Society of Canine
Cosmetologists, said some schools are as short as four to six weeks.
They recommend 16 weeks to six months.
"Some people come out of a four-week school
and open a shop," Sirianni said. "You can't even learn how to bathe
a dog properly in four weeks."
Grace Woodford, who owns Graywood
Academy of
Petcare & Design, a school for pet groomers in Newnan, said
her course is 640 hours.
"We cover everything from bathing techniques
and the art of pet styling to anatomy and health and salon
management," said Woodford, who also runs the Dog House kennel and
grooming shop.
To help people make an educated choice of
groomers, we asked several groomers, as well as officials at three
grooming associations, for their tips. Here are the questions they
say you should ask before settling on a groomer:
• Ask if they belong to an industry
association, like the International Society of Canine
Cosmetologists, International Professional Groomers Inc. or the
National Dog Groomers Association of America.
• Ask where they learned grooming, how long
they studied and if the groomers take continuing education classes.
• Does the groomer look professional?
• Is the facility clean and does it smell
fresh?
• Can you check out all areas of the shop?
Be wary if an owner won't let you see where pets are shampooed,
dried or clipped.
• Will they let you watch? Most groomers say
pets are harder to handle if an owner is there, but many have
two-way mirrors or other ways owners can observe their pet while it
is being groomed.
• Do they require that pets being dropped
off be up to date on their shots or show papers proving they won't
transmit or catch a common illness?
• Do they have liability insurance?
• Ask for references.
• Do they ask about any medical problems
your pet might have? Many groomers will also ask about diet,
environment and even who your dogs play with.
• Ask if they hand-dry a dog or put them in
a cage with a hot dryer on them to dry. Dogs have died when left
unattended under a hot dryer, and it's especially dangerous to pets
with flat faces or that have difficulty breathing.
• Do they sterilize their tools and work
space between each client? Ask to see how they disinfect tools.
• How do they handle problem dogs? Always be
truthful if your dog is a biter, has been abused or is shy. It's
safer for the groomer and your pet.
• Will they work with your vet to help
alleviate a pet's problems?
• When you pick up your pet, do they make
suggestions on maintaining your pet?
• Does your pet appear happy when going
back? Some pets are just naturally afraid of bathing or grooming,
but if a normally outgoing dog is terrified, ask questions or stay
to observe on the next visit.
For more information on the grooming
associations, go to www.petstylist.com, www.nationaldoggroomers.com
or www.ipgcmg.org.
QUICK TIP
Choke collars should never be left on an
unattended animal. Take them off as soon as you're finished using
them, and never, ever, tie up an animal on a choke chain. They can
easily become tangled and die.
BYLINE: SANDRA ECKSTEIN
DATE: April 8, 2007
PUBLICATION: Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
Local Kennel
Achieves National Recognition
Grace A. Woodford,
owner of The Dog House Kennel and Grooming, Inc., was notified June
19 that her boarding kennel has been awarded the status of
“Accredited” by the American Boarding Kennels Association (ABKA),
the International trade association for boarding kennels.
Accredited status is
conferred on those facilities which successfully complete the
Facilities Accreditation Program, which is administered by the
Colorado Springs-based association and which requires that
participating kennels pass detailed inspections in 16 different
areas of animal care and management.
The program was
developed by a panel of pet owners, veterinarians, humane
organizations and kennel operators over a five-year period.
It is designed to
provide boarding kennel operators with standards of excellence in
all areas of pet care, and to provide pet owners with a method of
identifying those kennels which meet the standards.
In announcing the
accreditation, Mrs. Woodford said, “We are proud that our kennel had
achieved accreditation, and are happy to join the ranks of the other
fine kennels nationwide who have been so recognized. It is a tough
program, but we feel that our customers’ pets are worth it.”
The Dog House Kennel
had been in operation in Coweta County since July 1990 and offers
boarding, grooming and training. It is located at 22 Jefferson
Place off Jefferson Street behind Pizza Hut in Newnan.
1991 - Re-printed with permission
from The Times-Herald, Newnan, GA
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