Investigate Pet Grooming Schools & Associations

The Southern Institute of Pet Grooming is under investigation by the State. Some people do not agree with Beckwith and some former students have complained ...

http://www2.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/c...

My opinion: Not only should this Pet Grooming School be investigated but all pet grooming schools. Pet Grooming Associations that Certify pet groomers as Certified Master Groomers also should be investigated. Owners/Presidents of some of these pet grooming associations often certify themselves as "Certified Master Groomers". Schools are held accountable by a state license, but who holds these pet grooming groomers and associations accountable? Why are groomers not required to be State Licensed before these associations certify them?

I plan and you should too, ask these and other such questions @ Groom Expo 2009 http://www.groomexpo.com/ge09/

News stories indicate more and more pets are being injured and killed by pet groomers!
Something needs to be done!!!

Just reading some of the pet groomer social blogs like,
http://www.groomertogroomer.com/GTG_MessageBo...
and
http://www.groomers.net/cgi-bin/discus/discus...

its not hard to understand why groomers are not licensed.

License or no license - Rules and Regulations are clearly needed!!

looks to me like some of these discussion boards and members should be investigated too. So many laws broken!

Anyone can be a dog groomer even former "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss'. Her Las Vegas dog grooming business has been shut down by a judge as part of a civil lawsuit, two days after ...

http://news.google.com/news/story...

She would not be the only groomer with such professional experience. Grooming tradeshows are useful and provide professionals with travel and education deductions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/19/heid...

Maybe Heidi is behind the Tax advice similar to ACORN being suggested in the Groom Team USA Newsletter by Pat Finn. Unbelievable!! Is nothing safe from greed and corruption?

http://www.groomteamusa.com/pdf/Spring09 .

http://www.groomteamusa.com/pdf/Spring09.pdf

http://www.prodoggroomingsupplies.com/dog-for...

http://www.bing.com/search...

http://kdka.com/pets/pet.grooming.dangers.2.3...

When will pet owners demand that States require pet groomers and the pet grooming industry to establish minimum standards for the training and education of pet groomers ?
Only when state licensing is required of pet groomers will such voluntary association certifications really mean something.
Untill them certified or not pet owners need to beware of any groomer even association certified groomers. Pet groomers that spend a lot of money for these association's certifications also need to be cautious and investigate these association.
Many of these association presidents start their organization to certify them self and a handful of friends. Others often with years more experience grooming than these association presidents get sucked into certification just so they can add some meaningless letters after their name. It should be noted that the oldest association - NDGAA - is the only association with a registered certication trademark. These new associations, infringe, dilute and show no respect for NDGAA's "National Certified Master Groomer" registered trademark when certifing their new associations members with similar "Certified Master Groomer" titles; titles that cannot be trademark registered.
Only when groomers are required a State License will pet owners be assured groomers have the training and education they need. Because no training and education is required, some pet groomers, some with years of experience even some with certifcation from other associations clearly lack self respect. Untill State licensing is required some groomers will seek respect through another and another associations certication. Pretending it means something but knowing it means nothing to pet owners and other pet groomers. The costly rip off potential for groomers and pet owners assumptions that certication with out State licensing means anything grows with each new association certifing pet groomers.
Question ? do these certifing associations have any liability or responsiblity for those they train and certify. If not, why not?
Who is responsible if my beloved pet is hurt or killed when I choose a pet groomer because he/she were certified by a certifing association?

LMD wrote:

Just reading some of the pet groomer social blogs like,
http://www.groomertogroomer.com/GTG_MessageBo...
and
http://www.groomers.net/cgi-bin/discus/discus...

its not hard to understand why groomers are not licensed.
License or no license - Rules and Regulations are clearly needed!!

Please!, don't judge all pet groomers/stylist by the "blooters" (moderators and members)runing those boards. They DO NOT represent educated caring pet grooming professionals!