Dawgs N Whiskers — Local services in Sandy

DO NOT GO HERE. THEY WILL NOT PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR DOG.

My dog has post-clipping alopecia, meaning her fur will not grow back if cut. In the two years I've been a regular for grooming, I have always added a note explaining this, and also verbally reminded staff to not cut ANYTHING during handoff. After previous groomers not listening and causing some bald spots for my dog, I was thrilled to find I could consistently trust Dawgs N Whiskers to listen to my needs.

Last month their groomer, Sami, ignored my note and instructions. Not only was she cut without my permission, but it was poorly done. Her paws have square tufts and her toes and claws are exposed. Her previously fluffy tail is thin, and the end was bluntly cut off, leaving a weird square for a tip. Her previously voluminous butt fluff was cut extremely short. I'VE groomed dogs better than this, despite having no training.

When I (calmly) asked Sami to explain what happened, she claimed there was no note and no one told her to not cut the fur. However, when I called the owner, Kellie, the next day to discuss the issue, Kellie confirmed I HAD left a note on her appointment.

Kellie refunded the cost of the groom, but did not include the tip, which I'd unfortunately paid before anyone brought my dog to me. It doesn't sit right with me that Sami should profit off of such a reckless oversight.

I understand that mistakes happen. But as someone who has also worked in the petcare industry, an error this egregious cannot be overlooked. Hair is just hair... until it can't grow back! Many breeds of dogs have post-clipping alopecia and other special coat needs. It's not all that uncommon. Knowing this, as any competent groomer should, how can they act so carelessly?

Normally I would let this go as to not disrupt a small business. However I cannot in good conscience not warn people against trusting their pets in the care of Dawgs N Whiskers.

UPDATE: Kellie refunded the tip, which I...

First let me say that I think Dawgs and Whiskers did a fantastic job of grooming both my Lhasa and mini poodle. They were super careful with my Lhasa's dewclaws too (not an easy task when their hair is long). The staff is warm and courteous and I like that the dogs weren't kenneled to dry off. I'm a typical over-protective dog mom and searched for months to find a good groomer for my dogs. We used to go to the Utah School of Pet Grooming but the last time they did such an awful job on my Lhasa's coat and only took them almost at closing time (even though I'd taken them as it opened for their appointments.) So I was looking for a new groomer and after calls to dozens of places I settled on Dawgs and Whiskers, both because of the great reviews and because of their decent pricing.

So why the 4 stars? Because they accidentally cut my dog's ear and couldn't stop the bleeding. They handled this entire fiasco SO well and the only thing I wish they'd done differently is to have called me as it happened. However, when I went to pick them up, the owner took full responsibility, apprised me of the situation and told me they would cover all vet bills. She also refunded me the Lhasa's haircut. I rushed him to the vet and as promised the owner covered the bill. The vet didn't have to stitch up the wound as a clot had finally formed but they warned me that if it broke I was to bring him in immediately for stitches. The owner of Dawgs and Whiskers was so kind and told me they'd cover any other vet bills pertaining to his ear. Thankfully, after 2 weeks of antibiotics and pain meds, he was fine. The owner even texted me a day or two later to check up on him!

In a day and age where people shirk responsibility and pass blame I am so impressed at how this was handled. I love supporting small businesses and we will definitely be returning to Dawgs and Whiskers for future grooming...

Had my boyfriend drop my Pomeranian off and specifically asked for them to leave his tail long and give the body a short teddy bear cut. They disregarded the instructions and cut the tail very short even for a teddy bear cut. When I called to address the issue the person who answered the phone immediately had an attitude with me despite me speaking to her calmly just trying to figure out what was going on. When I asked for a refund I got defensive sass back and was told groomer didn’t feel they had done the cut incorrectly and didn’t want to give a refund. Eventually they consulted the groomer again who finally agreed to a refund but I was told my dog would not be allowed back. 1) after this experience why would I want my dog to go back 2) it was the groomers mistake why is the positioning of this company’s customer service and internal management outlook to punish the customer for an employees mistake 3) everyone makes mistakes which is understandable what is not ok is the way this mistake was handled by the business. Once the hair is cut literally a $60 refund won’t make up for the 3 yrs it took me to grow out the tail. I was looking for a more professional, understanding and apologetic response than I got. 4) on top of this mistake they also messed up the booking by canceling my first apt only 30 mins before I was supposed to arrive. They charge a fee for short cancellations… what about respecting the customers time? This is a two way street… customers don’t get a discount on services for the groomer canceling on...