Last week, Nicola Peltz Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham announced on Instagram that their Chihuahua Nala had sadly and unexpectedly passed away. The sudden tragedy followed a regular fix session, which called attention to some larger issues in the industry and its lack of regulation.
According to Nicola Peltz Beckham’s postopens in a new tab, Nala was in good health before the appointment. However, soon after, he began hyperventilating and having trouble breathing, leading the Beckhams to rush him to a veterinarian, where he passed. Although they chose not to name the specific establishment, the couple hopes that by sharing their story others will be more protective of who they allow to groom their animals.
“Dear Nala, we miss you so much. You didn’t expect to be taken from us so soon and hope others don’t experience loss after something as simple as a repair,” Brooklyn wrote on Instagramopens in a new tab. “I share this in the hope that it can prevent this from happening to other dogs. His life was taken in his way too soon,” added Nicola.
A history of heartbreak
Although there is still a lot of mystery surrounding the tragic event and what led to it, the Beckhams are far from the first pet parents to face such circumstances. There were nearly 50 other documented cases where families claimed their dog died immediately after a grooming session between 2008 and 2018.
In 2018, New Jersey attempted to become the first state to require licensing to practice pet grooming. It comes after three unrelated reports of dogs dying following visits to the pet salon over a five-month period. The law is called “ Bijou’s Lawopens in a new tab” after a Shih Tzu named Bijou who, according to Nala’s story, was reported to be in good health before unexpectedly dying after visiting a groomer in Paramus.
The law was introduced by Kip Bateman, a New Jersey state senator at the time, who believed that pet salons should be subject to the same professional oversight as people, by making the proper training necessary. . He also did not speak while proposing the law, declaring in a statementopens in a new tab: “People take their dogs to groomers with a reasonable expectation that their pets will be treated well and returned to them clean and healthy and not in a box.” In the end, Bijou’s Law was never voted on in the Senate and is currently pending after being reintroduced in 2021.
But it’s not just pet parents and government officials who want tighter restrictions and more accountability for those in the industry. Many groomers themselves welcome increased pet rules and protections. As our Expert Collective memberopens in a new tab Jess Rona of Jess Rona Groomingopens in a new tab in Los Angeles explains, “Most groomers want regulations because groomers like that give us all a bad name. Also, no one wants that to happen to a dog. Groomers love dogs.”
Tips to make sure your dog is safe at groomers
Fortunately, Rona confirms that these types of situations are rare and that pet parents should feel confident taking their pup to 99 percent of groomers. He explained that the people behind these tragedies probably had no bad intentions, but probably had little business in the industry with their current experience.
“It’s just people who aren’t trained, and that’s really the bottom line,” Rona said. “It does not mean that they are bad or that they are not dog lovers. It just means they don’t know what they’re doing.”
However, there are precautions pet parents can take and things to look for when evaluating a potential groomer to minimize any risk. First, Rona recommends avoiding any salon that dries their animals in a cage, which requires placing them in a cage or cage before a large blower blows hot air inside. Even dogs that may be more shy or less attractive to handle should still be dried off without confinement.
“You want to look for stores that do 100 percent hand drying,” he says. “A good groomer understands that there are techniques for doing this in a way that the dog can be OK with.”
Rona says that a quality groomer can read the signs of a distressed dog. Similarly, you should discuss any behavioral issues, anxiety, or specific needs with the groomer before dropping your dog off for the first time. If your groomer fills out an intake form for you – like Rona does with her company – that can make the necessary accommodations, take this as a good sign.
Finally, trust your gut. When evaluating a potential groomer for your dog, don’t be afraid to walk away if something feels off. “If the place is dirty, it seems yucky or strange, or if the people are rude. You just want to see what the vibe is,” said Rona. Beyond that, always check online reviews.
Obviously, Yelp is rarely the most positive corner of the Internet but if there are many warnings of mistreatment, neglect, or general incompetence, it’s best to keep looking. Not to mention, if the rates seem too good to be true, they probably are. As Rona says, “Good groomers charge well for their work because they know their worth.”
Breeds most at risk
One of the few through-lines in the often mysterious deaths after the settlement is the races. Dogs like French Bulldogs or English Bulldogs, which are known to face breathing difficultiesopens in a new tabespecially in hot or stressful environments, are often at risk.
Rona agrees that those with Frenchiesopens in a new tab should be extremely careful, pointing to their unfortunate genetic history. “Those dogs have trouble breathing just because of the way they’re raised and that’s a different situation,” he said. Rona adds that any puppy with a small crushed face or short nose is likely to be at higher risk. In addition to Frenchies, these include Chihuahuas, Pugs, Brussels Griffons, and Shih Tzus.
For any breed, however, Rona recommends finding a reliable groomer who will get you and your pup comfortable as quickly as possible. This will allow your pet to grow into them and associate less stress with their regular visits. Her advice is to try and drop in biweekly or even weekly for little things like bathing for the first few months so your dog is comfortable with the grooming experience. “Find someone you can develop a relationship with when the dog is very young so the dog can start getting used to the process and getting used to people,” she said.
Advice to keep in mind
Rona’s final advice? He encourages potential groomers to take courses to properly train and learn every important aspect of how to successfully care for their canine clients; he even offers such resourcesopens in a new tab. The American Kennel Club also offers safety grooming classesopens in a new tab.
For LA-based pet parents, Jess Rona Grooming is taking on new clients for the first time in nearly half a decade so it’s an ideal time to start building the perfect groomer-pet relationship.