What to Do if Your Dog is Injured at the Groomers

As a pet owner, you put a lot of money into your pet and ensure they have the best experience when they are serviced, including being groomed. 70% of U.S. households, or about 90.5 million families, have a pet, according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Product Association (APPA). Dogs are usually left alone with the groomer for several hours and are expected to be safe and protected while in their care. If you think your dog was injured while it is at the groomer, there are a few things you need to do.

Check Your Dog For Injuries

If you notice that your dog is acting weird or experiencing unusual behavior, you need to check them for injuries. Any part of their body that they may be favoring could be hurt. These injuries could be anything from improper toenail trimming to bite marks and internal damages from an attack.

If you notice something wrong with your dog, take pictures of any wounds you find and record their behavior. You’ll want to take them to a vet’s office right away to have them checked out and ensure there isn’t anything more severe going on with them. When you get to the vet, show them the evidence you found and record their behavior patterns.

Check Reviews For Patterned Behavior

While waiting, it’s a good idea to research the groomer and dive deep into reviews for patterned behavior. While you likely checked reviews before taking them there, you may not have noticed anything new, which can slip by loyal customers. Review those who have come in the last few months, especially as abusive or negligent behavior usually has a pattern. Screenshot any reviews you find similar to what you experienced with your pet at the time.

Speak With A Lawyer About A Small-Claims Suit

After treating your dog, you will need to contact a lawyer about what happened with your pet. In addition to your evidence, if the doctor who treated your pet determined that there was some form of injury from grooming and being in that business, then you have grounds for small claims court to pursue a case for damages. You can try to speak to the business owner before going to a lawyer, but you may find that to be a heated situation that doesn’t solve anything.

Damages You’re Entitled To In This Case

If you take your pet groomer to court, then you’re entitled to a few different types of compensation. In general, when injured, they’re entitled to two categories of damages: economic and non-economic. This means that you can get back compensation for the service when the dog was injured, any vet expenses and medications that were required, and treatments that may have been necessary. The non-economic costs could be pain and suffering and any quality of life lost by the dog due to the injury.

Take It To Trial

Some small claims cases will make it to trial in cases without an agreement. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 90% to 95% of personal injury cases are settled before getting to that point. If your groomer refuses to pay and settle with you for the damages they caused, you will have grounds to move the case to court with a jury of your peers.

It is important to know that if your pet is injured, you can seek help for the expenses and the inconvenience that this causes. Your pet is a part of your family, and you should be able to defend them just as you would others who can’t defend themselves. You aren’t alone, and you have resources to reach out to if you find yourself in a situation where your pet has been injured during a service you paid for with your own money.