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Introduction
"Humane pet
care" is an interesting and appealing term, but perhaps a bit
vague. What pet groomer would not to be characterized as providing
humane pet care? However, in an industry without vocational
licensing based on adopted standards, the practice of pet care,
let alone "humane" pet care, is left to standards set by
the individual pet grooming business owner. No wonder that the
differences in pet care from one pet groomer to another, and not
in terms of "good or bad," are very marked. Here we are
attempting to find the common links in pet care that would support
humane pet care, and in such as way that they might be one day
adopted as the foundation of practices and procedures to support
vocational "professional" licensing of pet groomers.
The overall objective
for our industry should be to discover methods to ensure that its
members provide reasonable and customary pet care to recognized
standards, and that would likely satisfy our commitment to promote
humane pet care.
Aesthetic grooming is
important, but humane pet care stresses the methods and practices
in which pets are provided for, including adept pet handling,
accommodations, hygiene, safety, supervision, written observations
of each pet conditions for every service, thorough client contact
and emergency information records, special care needs, and pet
care products used in grooming the pet. Is it not possible that a
pet could be trimmed beautifully, but the process be less than
humane. It's possible. The reverse may be true also. A pet could
be trimmed very poorly due to the pet groomer's poor styling
performance, but other than that the pet was treated properly and
humanely. It's an interesting aspect of grooming that there is
then 1) styling standards and 2) pet care operations standards.
Relationship
to Certification
Within this site we
provide a Certification
and Licensing Main Menu with information about today's leading
associations certifying pet groomers. How does it relate to
"humane pet care?" We have reviewed study materials
provided by the four leading associations providing certification
and have found all of them to be excellent. Their humane concern
for the welfare for every groomed pet, and its owner, is evident.
Their methods are sound and well-practiced. Therefore, they
provide an excellent foundation for defining standards of humane
pet care.
If a pet groomer does
not undergo training at a school or institute supporting the
highest standards of pet care similar to the training provided by
the above reference associations offering certification, or an
apprenticeship in a similarly conscious environment for excellence
and pet care knowledge, the door is wide open for an opportunity
for less than adequately trained pet groomers to "set up
shop." Is it not then "caveat emptor" (let the
buyer beware) for today's pet owner seeking a qualified pet
groomer where there are no requirements? It is.
As an industry we should
never forget that pet owners require confidence in our individual
operations, and that it behooves all of us to unify the industry
with sound styling standards and humane pet grooming standards of
pet care. Pet owners shouldn't have to wonder if basic humane pet
care will be provided to their pet, it's perhaps as worrisome as
finding the competent day care provider. Certification does help
to provide the confidence pet owners need, and deserve. Again, if
members of the industry were formally licensed it would not be a
perfect world, but it would be an improvement over today's
existing pet grooming industry.
Based on an extensive
background, and perhaps training credentials, the non-certified
pet groomer is likely more aware of truly humane pet care
procedures, and has a respect for them. The pet groomer certified
by the associations mentioned on Certification
and Licensing Main Menu are certainly aware of humane pet care
procedures, and more experienced in them. In addition to what
these organizations teach and measure through certification
standards, there could still be further advances made ensuring
humane pet care, and that is the industry's adopting standards of
management for its business owners. In the next section, we will
take a look at a pioneer and leader in establishing a
"management system" that backs a commitment to humane
pet care with high standards of operations and clearly written
policies and procedures. Of course, having written policies and
procedures is important, but more important is that the owner and
management provide hands-on training in the correct application of
all policies and procedures.
Our look at humane pet
care continues on the next page.
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