How can we prevent pet abuse in "professional" hands?
Before we entrust our beloved dog to a walker or a pet sitter or a trainer or a daycare operator, we want to be sure they are in good hands. But is that truly possible? Is there any meaningful way to guarantee that individuals who handle our dogs are kind and capable?
No regulation or guarantees
Unfortunately, the short answer is "not really." Dog walkers, pet sitters, groomers, and dog daycare employees are not legally required to have completed any kind of education or received any certification. The pet care industry is entirely unregulated, and there is no requirement for providers to be knowledgeable about dog well-being or behavior.
Sometimes this works out. The individuals are conscientious, compassionate, and responsible, and they have sought out the proper education to be able to effectively and safely communicate with another species and know how to interact without doing harm. These gifted people learn more every day, and they manage to create a quality business that provides quality service. They then join trade organizations and get business insurance and they become models of the field that others aspire to.
Others, however, muddle along well enough in most circumstances without causing too many problems for the dogs in their care. But one day, unpleasant secrets may come to light: perhaps groomers kept dogs in a brain-damaging choke-hold or trainers used harsh methods that caused the death of dogs in their care. Until someone speaks up, be it an employee or a client whose dog was harmed, and files a complaint or a lawsuit, the public remains unaware of criminally careless and incompetent handling.
Even when there is clear incompetence on the part of the provider, there is often very little recourse or legal punishment. A court might administer a small fine, which is hardly compensation for the loss of a cherished companion. It does not prevent the provider from continuing in the business and potentially harming more animals.
Abuse on camera
Sometimes the provider's abuse is especially shocking when caught on video camera. Consider the case of a dog daycare employee who completely misunderstood the body language of a large dog. He mistook a playful leap for an attack and responded by assaulting the animal with fists. See the story and video here.
Anyone who has worked with dog aggression in depth knows that if this dog had the intention to harm, the man would not be on top of the giant dog. This dog was shut down and not even defending himself. The man was the clear aggressor here, despite what the facility's public statement says. The humane officer and the judge in the case agreed.
No amount of judgment against the perpetrator can bring the dog back. This employee faced only a small fine and got to continue in this job because he is the son of the owner.
Consumer protection requires regulation
There are many ways heartbreaking cases can be prevented, and education requirements and regulation in this industry are high on that list.
But without official regulations, meaningful professional oversight, and requirements for science-based dog behavior knowledge, the possibility always exists for something shocking to happen. Unfortunately, we can only guess what lies inside someone’s brain, and sometimes, the consequences can be tragic.
Protect your dog: hire qualified professionals
Anyone who cherishes their dog would never knowingly hand off a pet to dangerous care providers. But currently, all burden is on the pet owner. The best we can do is thoroughly and deeply research providers before entrusting them with our dog’s care.
We can also encourage all dog lovers and dog professionals, including providers in the veterinary field and members of progressive behavior organizations, to urge public officials and legislators to pursue oversight.
The goal is for all dog care professionals to be properly educated about canine body language and behavior, including a solid plan for emergencies and quality control checks. Our dogs' lives may depend on it.
Looking for a qualified positive dog trainer who can assist you? Visit Positively's Find a Trainer page.
And here are some links on what happens without regulations in this field:
Dogs injured or killed by pet professionals:
- http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/10/princeton_dog_trainer_sentenced_to_five_years_for_role_in_dogs_death.html
- http://www.westword.com/news/ryan-matthews-dog-trainer-gets-jail-time-after-allegedly-slamming-own-dogs-head-through-wall-5878937 http://abc7chicago.com/pets/owner-alleges-animal-abuse-by-local-dog-training-facility/959829/ http://www.clickorlando.com/news/investigators/families-dog-trainer-abused-my-dogDog that died with groomers:
- http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Dogs-Regular-Groomer-Speaks-Out-on-PetSmart-Death--379879561.html
- http://whdh.com/news/local/holbrook-familys-dog-dies-after-trip-to-groomers/
- http://abcnews.go.com/US/dog-dies-left-petco-dryer-owner/story?id=31448304