Dog dies at groomers

[Island dog]

I have no idea how these dryers work. Heard on the radio yesterday a dog died from being put in a dryer at the groomers too long in Campbell River here on the Island. SPCA stated it was like leaving a dog in a vehicle on a hot day. They suggested owners make sure grooming facilities have timers on the dryers. Can't imagine how heartbreaking it must have been for the owner.

 

[Sweet72947]

I would ream the groomer up and down the place if that happened to my dog. I've worked in a grooming facility before, and there is NO EXCUSE for letting a dog die like that! Our cage dryers had timers, and even with ones without timers, if you PAY ATTENTION there shouldn't be a problem. We never had any dogs get hurt by the cage dryers.

The boss there used to get this grooming magazine, and I read an article in it once about this place where a cage dryer malfunctioned and caught a dog on fire! The dog of course died a painful death, and the owners, hurt and outraged, stood outside the business telling everyone how they killed their dog. The business was of course, ruined. The owner blamed the incident on faulty equipment, and the cage dryer manufacturer blamed it on the business owner, stating that the dryer wasn't cleaned out properly. I don't think anything was ever proven either way.

 

[sprintime]

omg....I would be in there tearing the place apart. What a horrible way for a helpless dog to die, what was the groomer doing that he didn't realize something was amiss. The cruelty of it all stumps me. I think I'll make sure to mention this to my groomer although I've never had to worry with her. Can't be too careful these days.

 

[babymomma]

This is why, my dog will NEVER set foot inside another grooming facility.. And that is why, I groom her now

 

[Nbc0]

Wow that is just awful. I currently work at a grooming place and have for a few years now. We have a cage dryer like that which does have a timer. ALSO it has a temperature gage so it's never too hot. For that person to forget about a dog or even leave it that long in the dryer to actually DIE, you have to be a moron and should not have a grooming salon!

 

[Labyrinth]

It's sad that this isn't the first time I've heard of this happening. Why would they leave the dogs unattended in these dryers anyways? Shouldn't someone be there watching to make sure they don't malfunction and hurt the animal?

 

[bubbatd]

I've heard of this happening ,,,,,,,senseless !

 

[Giny]

I will never own cage dryers, ever!

Poor dog!

 

[Xandra]

I'm completely ignorant of groomers, never been in one... they put your dog in some sort of heated box to dry it? I'd have thought would have put some sort of safety temperature limit on it, or a buzzer or something?

Either way, poor dog and poor owner.

 

[Fran101]

I'm completely ignorant of groomers, never been in one... they put your dog in some sort of heated box to dry it? I'd have thought would have put some sort of safety temperature limit on it, or a buzzer or something?

Either way, poor dog and poor owner.

its a giant fan that mounts onto the cage itself at the front.

The first thing I check when im picking a groomer is that they DO NOT own those things. im paying you to groom my dog, get out a dryer and GROOM him, not stick him in a cage with that thing. im picky. I like groomers to work on MY dog, wash him, bathe him, then blowdry him themselves. no automatic stuff.. like cage dryers and such

 

[Zoom]

The place I used to work at just used forced air and the space was small enough that the combination of body heat and heat from the engines kept it warm enough so that no one ever caught cold and since they weren't heated dryers, no one ever died from overheating either. It's not that hard.

 

[Tankstar]

How irresponsible.

I work ina groomers, And I work in the drying room majority of the day (as hat is also where the tub is) so Im in there all the time, if it gets to hot for me in there, then its to hot for dogs. So I open doors, turn them off, and let the A/C work its magic for a while. We normally have atleast 6-8 dryers going at all times so it does get hot. But like I said Im in there 95% of the day. If Im not in there, Im only out for 10mins, and if any longer I check on the dogs.

its a giant fan that mounts onto the cage itself at the front.

The first thing I check when im picking a groomer is that they DO NOT own those things. im paying you to groom my dog, get out a dryer and GROOM him, not stick him in a cage with that thing. im picky. I like groomers to work on MY dog, wash him, bathe him, then blowdry him themselves. no automatic stuff.. like cage dryers and such

Great in theroy. but if you have a whole bunch of double coated large dogs to dry, it would be near impossible to get all dry in a good time. I blow dry a double coated dog until its 50% dry or so, then cage them. I do it mostly to get all dead hair out. Once I see hair basiclly stop blowing out I stop hand drying, as it takes forever. I pop them in a cage for a while, do other work that needs to be done, then pull them back out after a hour or so, and continue to dry them

 

[tessa_s212]

Sad.

I take pride in that I groom my dogs myself. If they were to ever to go to a groomer(such as if I couldn't afford my own grooming equipment), I would ONLY go to a groomer that would allow me back with my dog. I understand some dogs behave better without owners there, but my dog isn't one of those nasty, snippy little dogs... I am a dog trainer, she is very well trained and behaved, and she will listen to me better than anyone else. And any time a groomer REFUSES to allow people back, I always wonder what they are hiding.

ETA: I don't think the dog died in result to a FAN that is mounted on an open, well ventilated crate/kennel. I have NO problem with something like this being used to dry a dog. It is less stressful on them, and it is just plain more realistic for groomers.

 

[Saintgirl]

I am a groomer and this would never happen to me because I will NEVER have a cage dryer. I get payed to give a good groom, treat the dogs with the best care, and always and I mean 100% of the time give the dog I am grooming 100% of my attention. Sure, some groomers plug through 12 dogs a day. I can groom 6 dogs a day max, and this is because I take the extra time to ensure the saftey and well being of the dogs. Cage dryers are becoming a thing of the past here. Most owners are aware of the problems that can be caused by them and do not want them. I only know of one grooming shop in my area that uses cage dryers. This is an unfortunate event that did not have to happen.

 

[sillysally]

It's sad that this isn't the first time I've heard of this happening.

I heard of a lab dying this way last year. When I go to the groomers I make it very, very clear that Jack is NOT to be put in a cage dryer for any reason.

 

[Doberluv]

That is just sickening! How very, very tragic. I'd own that place if that ever happened to my dog. I don't understand how anyone can trust a life to something that is on a timer. Things like that fail. Lack of supervision and negligence is what it amounts to and there is no excuse. What a horrible suffering that dog went through and then for the owners to come to pick up their dog and find that out. OMG. Just sickening.

If I had a dog that needed grooming, I'd learn how to do it myself and use a hand held dryer where you have to pay attention. Or if I went to a groomer, insist on supervising the whole thing myself. Who knows what some people will do to your dog? How they're treated etc, etc. There is something simple about smooth coated dogs, that's for sure.

 

[JudithMary]

How sad. I have never heard of a cage dryer but then I have never worked at a groomer or a vets. I groom my animals myself or I used to get my friend to groom. She used a blow dryer.

 

[chanda]

what happened to the owner of the groomer? dId the dog owner sued the shop owner?

 

[Island dog]

The news clip on the radio stated what had taken place and there was a sound bite from an SPCA rep stating owners should be aware taking dogs to a groomer. Haven't heard anything since.

 

[Tazwell]

I think most of the cage dryers are not heated. They simply blow room-temperature air on the dogs.

On the other hand, you have to remember that many dogs simply cannot safely tolerate the velocity or handheld dryers, they're too scary.

Certain breeds shouldn't be put in the cage dryers at all, like pugs, chis, toy poodles... dogs with breathing problems.