A few weeks ago, a woman picked her dog up at a Petco where she was getting it groomed. The groomer was still working on the pup when she arrived. She couldn’t believe what she saw.
Creator @ventibrunetteroast whipped out her phone and started recording. In the video she subsequently posted to TikTok, she asks, “Can someone tell me if this is normal grooming behavior?”
Her video shows her small white maltipoo up on the groomer’s table. The dog, named Miss Billie, is gazing toward the camera.
To get her to face them, the groomer grabs Billie by the hair under her chin and pulls her head toward them.
The TikToker was appalled. In the caption on her TikTok, she writes, “I am so upset with how aggressive this groomer is being with Miss Billie. I usually have such a good experience here but I am DISTURBED.”
Her video went massively viral. It’s currently closing in on 6 million views and nearly 55,000 comments.
Comments are mixed. Many agree that the Petco groomer was in the wrong. Others think that pulling Billie by her chin hairs was in line with normal grooming behavior.
The costs of owning a dog
Owning a dog is a rewarding and fulfilling experience for most people.
Having a dog can even increase your lifespan. Studies have shown that dog owners tend to live longer, healthier lives, per the American Heart Association. People recovering from a major health event, like a heart attack or stroke, also tend to have better outcomes if they have a dog.
Most dog owners probably agree that their pup isn’t just a ticket to longevity: they’re a member of the family—albeit an expensive member of the family.
Between food, veterinarian bills, boarding, and grooming, the costs can skyrocket, even for a healthy dog. Per Rover.com, it costs between $1,390 to $5,295 annually to own a dog.
Grooming is one of the more expensive aspects of dog ownership. It costs between $30 to upwards of $150 or more per session, according to the Academy of Pet Careers.
Your relationship with a groomer isn’t just a financial transaction; it’s a trust-based relationship between (ideally) a caring professional and your beloved furry friend.
That’s part of the fuel behind the anger at the Petco groomer in the creator’s video.
‘I will never go back’
Many of the top comments on her video are by people who agree that the Petco groomer was in the wrong. Petco did not respond to an email sent Tuesday morning.
A woman named Barbara, who identifies herself as a retired groomer, agreed that the groomer’s behavior was unacceptable.
Barbara said, “I certainly wouldn’t pull them to me by their chin hairs, I would move myself around the table to be at a better angle.”
Other top comments include lines like, “I will never go back to Petco,” and “justice for Billie.”
Many urged @ventibrunetteroast to escalate the matter.
In an update, she says she did just that.
“I did say something to management,” she says in the update. “And unfortunately after you file a case like that legally like they can’t let you know what they actually do.”
While she’s clearly upset by what happened to her dog at Petco, @ventibrunetteroast is willing to give the groomer grace.
“To be honest I don’t want to be the reason someone loses their job,” she shares. “Maybe someone was just having a bad day.”
The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message for comment.
@ventibrunetteroast @Petco I am so upset with how aggressive this groomer is being with miss billie. I usually have such a good experience here but I am DISTURBED. Petco NYC Union square #grooming #dog ♬ original sound – Ventiiblonderoast
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