Former employee (one of at least 30 ""ex"") speaks the truth. I'm a former client w/friends who USED to attend b4 other options.
Several pets got injured in fights w/resident dogs, Airedales & Giant Schnauzer.
Mary or her employees (except for employee w/tatoos who IS competent) NEVER take responsibility. Other ex-employees will repeat what was said One former employee is a heroin addict who handled YOUR dogs and was arrested for dealing.
Mary will never take ownership for incidents, fights, bad grooming (LOTS of that), cuts on dogs after grooming, dogs sent home wet, lack of sanitation, skin problems after groom. Some customers have gone for years. Like her employees, most come and go. Make appt. for a specific groomer and they use another without telling you until you arrive to find your dog looking like crap.
Do drop in unannounced: smell the dirty air, see the dirt. look for rat droppings. Go upstairs - dogs kept in a small area that in states governing daycare would shut her down or limit to 8-10 dogs includes employee dogs. Small area outside where there is no room to do anything BUT fight or poop and step in it. Drive by and see how often they are NOT out and no one is with them to manage them. No shade.
No known vet refers to her and I dare Mary to publish who does. Stand behind what you represent - just because info is IN an office does not mean they refer.
Gentle handling... mine and friend's dogs started shaking and refused to enter. I too have seen them yell, jerk on the dog, spray with water. One friend left her Yorkie (groom). They forget the dog was there, locked up, left early. She had to call fire depart to get the no to contact the owner (not on door). Friend arrived 20 minutes before close. No apology - claimed she was late. Fire dept records show she called before closing. EVEN IF SHE HAD BEEN, they had legal obligation to call - not lock up the dog unattended. They simply forgot dog in their possession and left.
One employee used to walk the dogs along Rt. 20. If your dog jumps, they will knee it in the chest. No one is out with them in a space that does not meet nationally recommended standards.
Nails will be clipped too short. Appointments will be screwed up, blame you or lack of communication. Dogs will be damp, have cuts on their skin, be compromised in the end result unless you are a personal friend of Mary with a show dog.
As far as mean-spirited - It is Mary who pretends to be nice and doesn't own any fights that happen, aggressive employee dogs, lack of sanitation and proper cleaning of grooming tools, any mistakes they made. One friend had her dog get a skin infection w/i 24 hours of groom. LOCAL vet said it was from Puppy Love's lack of sanitation & this was the ""third dog"" she had from them with skin problems after grooming.
Mary should not be proud but reevaluate the worst employee turn-over in the biz. Reassess the fights nos., own it and pay the injuries. Limit dogs she takes in to avoid overcrowding, spread of disease and more. Require the same vaccines for grooming as for daycare because they are all contagious.
I watched her stuff two Great Dane in Golden Retriever size crates for grooming to be stuck in there all day. She does not give the dogs water all day (grooming) so no worry about pee. It is hot & stressful during groom, the dogs are right next to each other in the front shop which is stressful due to proximity and front office noise. They use ONE loop on a table for the dogs - industry SAFETY standard recommends two to avoid dogs jumping off and breaking necks. That would require Mary maintaining a standard of care.
Run, not walk, from here. Watch for Mary to post her and claim none of this happens. Watch post for not giving vet names of alleged referrals.
I watched her stuff two Great Danes in Golden Retriever size crates (groom) to be stuck in all day.
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