Groomers--Question for you

 In short, no.  I check rabies certificates on everybody that walks through the door. It's the law, here, and I can't get around it. Unfortunately, there aren't exemptions in Ga. If a dog who is not vaccinated bites someone, they're taken and quarantined, and vaccinated while they're in the bite ward at the shelter. It would be FAR worse if I groomed her, and something happened, than if she were not groomed at all.

Yeah, I kind of figured.  I just wondered.  I've thought about asking Willow's original groomer, Cindy, who is not afraid of her and has not issues with her to groom her really good for me.  I do her, Jennie, but she needs a pro.  But, I since she knows me I felt that if I asked her she would feel obligated to say yes even when she really didn't want too.  So, I just wanted to see if groomers cared or if that was just places like Petco. 

 Most do care. It's both good and bad. I ask, because the last thing I want is for someone's pet to be subjected to that. You might ask her vet if their groomer could do her. Somebody around *might* be willing to work something out, after hours, or something. I know that she's touchy, though. Is she comfortable in a basket muzzle? Do you want her just trimmed, or bathed, too?

If she's comfortable in a basket muzzle, and you just want her neatened up, I would probably tell you let's try it. 

She is fine in any type muzzle.  And, if that's what it took to get Cindy to take her again I'd be fine with it. And, at this point, I'll take whatever anyone felt they could do.  My only issue is how long grooming her takes.  I'm not sure how comfortable she'd be in a muzzle of any kind for that long. 

But, she's really good about getting groomed.  Before she got sick she was groomed several times per month and Cindy would trim and do the styling I guess you'd call it, but there were 2 or 3 other people depending on the day that did the bathing.  And, she was always fine.  I even took her to another groomer when we moved.  And, she was totally fine with her too.  But, then she got sick and that was it.  I've been doing her myself since.  It is backbreaking to do in the tub without the right set up here.  I've got the long hose attachments and stuff but just the kneeling by the tub alone.

That's a good idea about asking at the vets.  I'm not sure they have grooming services other than nails.  But, I will definately look into it. 

Cindy's work. . .can you blame me for wanting her back?  The other groomer didn't make her look nearly this good. 

 She looks great!   A lot of vets have a groomer in the back, and if they don't, they can recommend somebody. I wouldn't want her muzzled for a full groom, either. A toenail trim and foot trim, sure. Full groom? Not so much. Too stressful, for any dog.

You're going to have a hard time finding someone who will spend the time to work her coat, like that, and hand scissor it. Cindy did a fabulous job!

I know, she was great.  You cannot see it with her tail in the way but underneath she was trimmed all the way down so complete sanitary around the bum. But, it didn't go too far over, it was just in the middle. I loved the way she did it.  It was sooooo nice to have that. 

What if I offered her extra money?  Or would that just be wrong??

 It probably won't help your case any, LOL.

 I'm obviously out of the loop, why can't Willow be vaccinated for rabies?  It's state law here, too.

Lori,
If you have Willow titer results, the groomer may be able to accept that in RI in lieu of the vaccination since our laws finally allow that option for dogs who cannot be vaccinated. Perhaps Willow's vet could include a statement with the titer results?

I'm sure Lori won't mind if I go slightly off-topic - so, groomers, what about the bordatella vaccine? The place where I used to work has the only groomer that I trust with Tiki and Pirate, but it's a daycare with a groomer, so they insist on the bordatella vaccine. Tiki is still good but Pirate's been out-of-date since January, and after last time's fiasco with the months of seizures, I'm not going to try that one again. So he's a hairy mess. Is it the norm to require bordatella as well?? I'm tempted to just take a road trip to GA ;-) because I know someone really good there.

 A lot of places do require it, and some places are requiring the flu shot, too. Since I don't vaccinate my OWN dogs for that, I don't require it. Only rabies. I do warn people, though, the ONLY thing I require is rabies. If your dog is not vaccinated, that is a risk YOU have chosen  to take, and it is a risk. My personal dogs have never become ill with kennel cough or doggy flu, and Jewel is the only one vaccinated against either.

Honestly, I only require rabies because of the risk to the dog. I will be bitten, that is a part of it. I'm not terribly worried about it, but if an unvaccinated dog bites me, and I have to report it, the consequences to the dog and owner are not small.

Willow's groomer Cindy, the one that we used to go to and did the above work it wasn't her shop but they never required kennel cough or flu vaccines.  In all honestly, they never even asked about her rabies.  But, at that time, she was up to date so I never worried about it. 

Kate, I'm not sure though how it's going to play out.  I "think" that even though they will be "legal" as far as having the exemption if they bite or get bite they are still considered "unvaccinated". I'm especially worried about wildlife now, especially skunks with the summer coming.

So, I'm not sure that the titers will make a difference to them.  But, I'll have to see how this all plays out with paperwork once she goes for her yearly.  Then once I have what I'll have I can show Cindy and see how she feels about it. 

In fact, now that I'm thinking about this, I should try to get that waiver in hand ASAP.