ABCs, 123s: evaluating Your Pet safety Program

By Khris Berry
January 31, 2019
Pet grooming safety has become a much discussed topic in the past year. As I speak with groomers around the globe, one common style resonates—groomers care about the safety and welfare of the animals we service. Public awareness about our industry has brought a lack of oversight and organization into the spotlight.

However, there is a common misconception, that because we are an industry which has been lacking in legislative oversight, we need to be unsafe. and that is the great divide which triggers lots of pet groomers distress; just because we have not been organized as an industry, does not indicate that we are operating with hazardous practices. I meet lots of groomers who are shining examples of pet safety fundamentals and put the health and welfare of their clients’ animals at the top of their extremely long list of concerns.

Since there is an boosted awareness of groomers and specialists in our industry, each groomer must regularly review their safety basics, policies and methods relating to Groomer Safety. believe of providing yourself a regular checkup—more enjoyable than a go to to the dentist, but just as needed for the ongoing health and safety of your clients.

Social climates are changing, and the social value put on animals is climbing. This may have produced a need to update your safety guidelines and your clients will recognize your constant attention to this aspect of your business.
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Below are general safety concerns to ask yourself which will help you develop or review your safety Plan:

General facility Safety:

Are your animal holding areas, cages, dryers and all equipment in good working purchase and developed for the animals you utilize them on?

Are you able to conveniently supply services for the animals you take in daily without crowding, rushing or improvising?

Do you have cleaning/sanitizing protocol in place to decrease the risk of contagious or contagious illness from passing between dogs and humans?

Do you have plans in place for emergency events (fire, escape, medical emergency, etc.) and is your personnel trained to follow them?

General safe Handling:

Do you have animal Advocacy or animal welfare plans in place for the animals in your care?

Do you have safe animal dealing with guidelines and do you require your personnel to practice them?

Do you dialog with your clients freely about any issues with their pets’ health, temperament or condition?

Do you practice safe and humane restraints, and exercise calm self–control when dealing with all animals for grooming services?

Pets:

Do you have release develops available in addition to client education in place for circumstances which increase the risk to either groomer or pet (senior, medical issues, behavioral, severe matting, etc.)?

Are you and your personnel able to identify common health, skin, medical and behavioral issues, and do you regularly refer those to the proper pet professional?

Do you have plans in place to secure animals on tables, in tubs and cages, and during your care, and do you require your personnel to practice them?

Do you regularly record service notes including issues which would affect the safety of the pet during the groom?

Safety Training:

Have you or a member of your personnel went to Pet safety classes (CPR, safety Certification, disease Awareness, safe Handling, etc.)? how often do you update your training?

Are your clients aware that you have safety training, procedures and/or policies to secure their pet while in your care?

Do you have written safe dealing with guidelines to show clients and employees?

Do you regularly review your safety procedures and risk–assess your facility, workers and dealing with of pets? (Congrats! You can inspect this box by reading this post and applying it to your own safety Guidelines.)

Attention and Awareness

There is no substitute for attention and awareness when working with pets. In a service which needs a broad scope of skill such as pet grooming, we often become oblivious to the small details. An old saying, “The devil is in the details”, is never a lot more true than when working with pets. Paying close attention to even the smallest details and applying your full attention to every pet in your care is the very best practice to make sure that every pet is safe for each groom.

I find that lots of discussions with pet groomers about pet safety are short and sweet. Groomers are pleased of the services we offer and really care for the animals we manage every day. considering that pet grooming is a mainly hands–on, discovered apprenticeship–style career, lots of pet groomers have simply “learned by doing”. having completed a practice a certain method for a number of years does not negate the fact that it may not be safe, smart or accepted by today’s pet having public. careful examination of your own safety methods will make sure that you and younull