I took my maltese to Fish Tales Pet Shop & Groom Room in the Marion mall today to be groomed. I should have known better. I took him there once when we first got him and was very disappointed. But he was matted when we got him and I didn't know enough to give good directions so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. They have convenient hours and he badly needed a grooming.
If anyone knows anything about the maltese breed, they mat VERY easily. It's summer time and he hadn't been groomed in a while so he was pretty bad. I accept full responsibility for that. He will hardly let me groom him, but I did attempt to cut out the mats the best I could with scissors before we went.
When I got there I gave the guy at the front counter very specific instructions. I said that he was matted so he would need to be cut very short. I did not want him to be shaved but said I would understand if they absolutely had to. I told him that I did not want his face left as long as it was the last time. I told him that I wanted the face and ears in a "puppy cut" style, but absolutely NOT shaved! I came back an hour and a half later to a completely shaved dog with a SHAVED FACE and ears as long as they were when we arrived.
I asked the girl who checked me out if his face was matted because this was not at all what I asked for. She said "Oh I really don't know" and dismissed me. I am 100% positive that his face was NOT matted.
I left and came back in with the dog a few minutes later and asked the same guy I first talked to if I could speak with a manager and he said she already left. Then some lady walked up (maybe the owner) and asked me what I had asked for. I told her and she looked at the guy and asked him if he had told the groomer what I said and he said yes.
Then she was like oh well that's what we do to the face for the puppy cut. I said excuse me but I have taken him to several other groomers and their puppy cuts are always the same and they never look like this. She said well every groomer has their own version. I have never seen a maltese with a shaved face, and I can't imagine "professional" groomers varying that much on the way they cut a dog!!! These groomers obviously aren't trained on breed specific cuts.
It's my opinion that the person who cut him didn't want to mess with him. I'm pretty sure we were the last appointment of the day. I said to the lady that I won't bring him back. She said well that's your perogative and watched me walk out.
I think I should have at least been offered a free groom the next time, done correct! Then when I got home I noticed he has bloody spots on his legs where they cut him with the clippers rather than taking the time to scissor the mats out (which I would have gladly paid extra for). And they shaved parts of his ears that were a little tangled but could have been brushed out. I just didn't have the time before I left.
A "professional" groomer would have called if they didn't understand my directions or if they cut my dog on accident. They should have called and said that the mats were so bad that they might cut him in the process.
Overall, I am extremely disappointed. I paid $25 for this!!! I will never go back here.
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