When most pet owners think of taking their furry friends to a professional groomer, they expect a calm, safe experience. Unfortunately, one New Mexico dog owner recently faced a horrifying reality at a PetSmart location, leaving her heartbroken and worried about the safety of other pets. She shared her story on Reddit.
This devoted dog mom has been bringing her corgi to PetSmart for years to get her nails trimmed because her pup’s nails are too thick for home clippers. She never anticipated trouble. But recently, things took a disturbing turn for the New Mexico animal owner.
About a month ago, the store staff mentioned that her dog “nipped” at them during grooming. The owner assumed maybe they had accidentally clipped too close to the nail quick, causing discomfort. Her dog has never shown aggression toward her, so she thought it was an isolated incident.
New Mexico Woman Hurls Dog Abuse Allegations At PetSmart Groomers
Then came the latest visit. This time, the grooming staff insisted she stay inside the store during the trim since it would only take five minutes. She agreed and wandered around the store, intending to check back in shortly. After about 8 to 10 minutes with no update, she went to see how her dog was doing.
What she saw through the groomer’s tinted glass window shook her to the core. Her small, 30-pound corgi was being restrained by three groomers. One was hitting her in the face while another gripped her head with alarming force. The dog looked terrified, struggling to escape the collar tether. When she tried to break free, the groomer grabbed her muzzle and hit her again.
This wasn’t rough handling, it was outright abuse. The owner notes that her dog is easily handled with gentle, skilled care, yet these groomers chose aggression and force instead.
When she made eye contact with the groomer who was hitting her dog, she started recording, but the tint made it hard to capture clear footage. The staff stopped their actions as soon as they noticed her. When she approached the front to retrieve her dog, the groomers acted as if nothing had happened and assured her that everything went fine.
She Called The Corporate Office
Feeling stunned and unsure of what to do, she paid and left. Later, she reached out to family for support and called the PetSmart corporate office to report the incident. They promised to escalate the complaint and call back by Tuesday.
The aftermath for her dog has been heartbreaking. Her once cooperative pet now refuses to let her near her paws. The owner tried applying butter to soothe her, but the dog nipped at her — a new and worrying behavior. The owner suspects the aggressive treatment at PetSmart caused her dog trauma and pain, pointing to one clipped nail that’s cracked and evidence that the nail quick was cut.
Most painful of all, the owner feels the abuse was not an isolated event but possibly routine behavior at that location. Three groomers were involved, and no one intervened to stop the mistreatment. To the staff, this was just a regular workday, but for her dog, it was a nightmare.
She asks the important question on every pet owner’s mind after hearing this story: “Do I have any legal recourse?” She’s furious and desperate to make sure no other dog goes through what hers endured.
She’s Ready For Revenge
Sadly, reports of pet grooming abuse are not unheard of, but this incident serves as a powerful reminder to all pet owners to stay vigilant, watch for signs of trauma, and demand accountability from pet care businesses. “I want their jobs,” she said in the post.
If you ever suspect your pet has been mistreated, document everything, report it to corporate, and consider contacting local animal welfare authorities. Your voice could save other pets from harm.
This New Mexico pet mom’s story is a sobering wake-up call behind the walls of convenience pet stores, abuse can happen when pets cannot speak for themselves. It’s up to us to protect them.
Casey James 
Sofia Bassett 
