Miniature Yorkshire Terrier

Ironic isn't it that Petsmart works so hard to keep animal activists off their back and yet they end up creating what they fear most...they spend a lot of money on grants to charities and give up store space for adoption and yet we consistently hear horror stories like Olivers'.Perhaps if they paid a decent wage and invested in proper training then such tragedies could be avoided,but then that is corporate America for you...their dog training is so incredibly bogus that I know of one owner who had her dog taken to the kill shelter after being frustrated with Petsmart trainers. I cried when I read Olivers' story, thank you so very much for sharing it.

OMG!!!! PLEASE PLEASE do NOT let this be a silent scream in the dark, like mine was 7 years ago!!! and i thought mine was just an ALONE incident....until they tried to buy me off and hush hush me!!! Like a dummy, and being a peacemaker , i let them.... I quietly kept my peace and wept in silence, but i still mourn my sweet little shih tzu to this very day!! He was the sweetest little companion who helped me thru my divorce and time away from my children with my worrisome ex.... OMG...please please dont let them get away with this yet again.

Dear Summer, I am sorry for your loss and I realize that at your age, you may not have had any choice in where you took your dog for grooming, but if you really want to look at Olivers death as meaningful, then learn that the sad, very real facts of life are 1. you get what you pay for. 2. If you really want something right you have to be willing to learn and do the work yourself. It is no surprise to me that one of the cheapest places to get your dog groomed has untrained, idiots doing a cruel job of grooming pets. As a general rule lots of dogs don't like baths. They struggle. I can imagine that people who over-worked, underpaid and not all the smart to begin with, take this out on the animals. Its not fair, its not right, but its what happens. Please don't just not support grooming at Pet Smart, boycott Pet Smart and all they sell. Visit your local shelter and ADOPT!

I have heard over the years of issues with Petsmart, but never really paid much attention to them. After reading of so many personal accounts of mistreatment and accidents, I am appalled and will definetly start paying closer to the stories that I hear. I am sorry for your loss and I applaud your actions as an animal activist. Be strong!

My clients had their Yorkie killed by a groomer's dog at the Petsmart in Castle Rock, Colorado in April. The mother's name is also Summer. I am very sorry for your loss.

This is Summer, and really wow! its good to see people that care so much. Im seeing my story everywhere on the internet and i really apprieciate how people care about him enough to post him several more times on the internet... thankyou (:

I have a Yorkie named Gracie Rayne Jones she is my baby, she acts like a human. She meets me at the door when I get home from work , Boy does she give me kisses, she's a wonderful companion, there's so much this little angle has done for my life. If anyone would hurt her in care of a place, that specializes in animal care. I would not let this place have a minute of peace. Summer I am sorry for your loss and I hope you and your parents don't give up. Animals and children need all, to understand if we don't speak for them on Abuse, laws want change to protect them from the idiots in this world. I know you can't replace "Oliver" but I do hope you have gotten another Angle to help you to move on. Margaret Jones, Tulsa,Ok.

My heart is aching for you, Summer, as well as for the others whose dogs have suffered or died. I trained many years ago at a reputable grooming school, and we were taught to handle dogs with care and attention to their mental and physical comfort at all times. To anyone thinking of taking their dog to a groomer, please be aware that there is NO regulation of groomers. You must check everything out yourself. Check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints about the groomer. Ask where the groomer studied, then check out the reputation of the school. Ask for clients' recommendations. Ask if you can watch her groom a dog or two. She might not want you to watch your own dog, because dogs do have a tendency to act up more if "mommy" is there to rescue them. Ask if she uses drying cages or high-speed dryers. The former can be a killer! The latter can panic some dogs, especially small ones. A good groomer combs out or at least supervises a dog WHILE it's drying in the same room. Ask if she uses tranquilizers (only vets should prescribe or use these), if she is used to handling young, small, frail, or elderly dogs, how she restrains a dog that is uncooperative, whether she applies flea/tick products and what they are, and whatever else you might think of that could affect your dog. When you get your pet back, it should be happy to see you, and probably relieved to be going home, but should not be panicky or dazed Check for cuts, burns, painful areas. Please, dog (and cat) owners, do your homework and be as careful about groomers as you would be if you were leaving your child in someone's care. There are many good, dedicated, groomers, but you must look for them. Be aware that they probably are booked weeks in advance. Be willing to spend more money for a good groomer. Don't risk your pet's wellbeing in order to save a few dollars.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss,Summer. I,too, had the horrible experience of my Collie being injured at our local PetSmart. I actually witnessed my beloved dog strike her chest+fall to the floor as a grooming "tech" wanted her to jump up on a table that was not lowered all the way to the floor! My girl did not act right after the incident+the next day + took her to the vet. After contacting Petsmart corp. via email, the grooming salon manager called me. By that time my girl was in ICU at a specialty hospital. I had to make the painful decision to have my beloved Collie euthanized a little more than a week later. The store manager was in touch with me+relayed medical forms her corporate office wanted. Never once did anyone from corporate ever call or write to me!!!!!! In all my grief, I wasn't thinking straight+settled for 1/2 the amount of the medical bills I incurred-what a dope on my part in hindsight! My regular groomer told me that the manager gets a kick back from corporate on any unclaimed settlement I do not get awarded. I would never advise any one else to use that particular salon. I had just stopped there on a whim to get her nails trimmed.....sigh. I do like the selection of products tho, as they have more to offer than Petco. As far as boycotting the place, I don't have any other options, really, other than buying on the net.