Question
If a groomer gets angry with you and purposely cuts your dog’s hair differently than instructed, and also shaves parts of the dog’s neck down to the pink skin, can I sue? If so, how much could I sue for? Since the grooming incident, my dog has been staying close to me all day, every day.
Answer
Most importantly, I suggest you take your dog to a veterinarian to make sure there is no infection or injury that needs treatment. When a groomer injures an animal, a civil lawsuit can be commenced to try to get compensated for such things as veterinary expenses incurred due to the groomer’s negligence. Groomers should have insurance and sometimes these matters are settled out of court. If there is evidence that the groomer intentionally harmed an animal, punitive damages can be sought too. Punitive damages are occasionally awarded when a defendant’s actions were egregious. It is highly unlikely, however, that a court would award damages for a very bad haircut that did not cause any injury.
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Originally published by North Shore Animal League.
