accessible grooming typography
dog standing on grooming table while being washed
An Important Part of
animal neglect prevention typography
by Riley Riley
Photos provided by ASPCA
Groomers are invaluable to animal advocacy, care and education, as grooming neglect can have serious consequences, such as strangulating mats that can lead to amputation or even death. Prevention, at the earliest stage possible, greatly helps animals and people alike.

Each of us is familiar with seeing a dog come into our care who is experiencing discomfort, or even pain, from the condition of their coat. We may be tempted to suggest that the owner shouldn’t have a dog, or judge them for letting their doodle get so matted or for complaining about how much their double-coated dog sheds. However, it’s not that simple, as there are barriers in place preventing many people from providing their pets with proper care. Whether it’s lack of education, resources or finances, these barriers do not negate the love they have for their companion.

But what happens when an owner is not able to meet the needs of their animal and must surrender them? The pet ends up at an animal shelter, where they are still faced with the issue of access to grooming. In a 2022 ASPCA survey, 92% of animal shelter professionals reported a need for low-cost grooming in their community, and 62% of shelters reported this is not available.

As groomers, we recognize we do not have the bandwidth to help every animal, though we may want to. Accessible grooming practices help prevent animal neglect but must match community needs and groomer availability to avoid contributing to stress or burnout that comes with working beyond capacity. This means recognizing that community needs often greatly exceed the availability of grooming resources.

small white dog before grooming session
small white dog after grooming session
To further your reach and continue preventing cruelty in your community, consider some of these ideas:
1
Volunteer at your local animal shelter once a month and offer haircuts to animals in need. For salon owners, consider closing up the shop for a team-building volunteer day at a shelter. Shelters report valuable assistance from groomers, including those they employ directly and those who charge lower fees or offer discounted or no-cost services.
2
Reach out to people in your community who could benefit from free one-time assistance with grooming needs. For example, people struggling with transitions in their life such as poor health, unemployment or learning the needs of a newly acquired pet.
3
Ask your local community center if you can host a class to educate pet owners on maintaining their pet’s coat and nails between grooms, or even offer to do a tutorial on how to give their pet a haircut. Instruction on simpler grooming practices, such as nail trimming, can increase pet guardians’ confidence and willingness to carry out these aspects of grooming themselves.
4
If you are a salon owner, research what a sliding-scale pricelist would look like for a client in need and implement this in your salon. You can also offer literature educating pet parents on grooming supplies and techniques, and sell brushes and combs in your salon.
groomer smiling while holding small white dog

As hard as it is sometimes, we must strive to believe people are trying their best—and we must try our best in return.

Lack of accessibility should not be the reason people are not able to keep their beloved pets in their home. As hard as it is sometimes, we must strive to believe people are trying their best—and we must try our best in return. This means we should consider barriers and accessibility in our communities to recognize and explore ways to make our services more accessible. We aren’t just playing with puppies all day—our work is valuable to the animals and people in our community.
Resources:
  • McDonald SE, Sweeney J, Niestat L and Doherty C (2022) Grooming-Related Concerns Among Companion Animals: Preliminary Data on an Overlooked Topic and Considerations for Animals’ Access to Health-Related Services. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:827348. Doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.827348
  • McDonald SE, Doherty C, Sweeney J, et al. (2022) Barriers to and facilitators of pet grooming among clients served by a subsidized grooming service program. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:1021707. Doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1021707
  • Watson E, Niestat L. (2020) Osseous lesions in the distal extremities of dogs with strangulating hair mats. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2021; 62: 37–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12924

Riley Riley is a graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University and a current MFA candidate at The New School. Their best friend is their rescue bully named Chef Good Boyardee. Riley has been grooming for over a decade. They are the Grooming Specialist for the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a member of the Community Engagement team. This team focuses on community outreach, animal welfare, and cruelty prevention. Riley grooms animals in the shelter, at ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinics, and in client homes across New York City.

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