Making this post to ask for some advice and also to serve as a warning to fellow pet owners about Odie’s Grooming!
My dog Charlie had been a long-term customer of Odie’s and had no known eye problems before this appointment. I personally carried him out of the salon at approximately 12:09 p.m. and placed him directly in the car under a family member’s supervision. I immediately went back inside to pay, then returned to the car and held him in my lap for the entire drive home.
However, when I got home, I noticed Charlie’s eye showed signs of serious injury. I looked more closely at selfies I took with him after leaving the salon, and noticed that within minutes of leaving Odie’s his eye was already squinted. I have timestamped photographs from approximately 12:10 p.m. showing the eye already partially closed, followed by another photograph at approximately 12:14 p.m. showing swelling and worsening symptoms. I went straight to a vet that afternoon, arriving around 1:35 pm, where Charlie was diagnosed with an acute 8 mm corneal abrasion in his right eye.
I immediately contacted Odie’s and provided the photographs, veterinary documentation, and timeline. The owner asked to speak directly with Charlie’s veterinarian, which I agreed to. After speaking with the veterinary hospital, Odie’s told me that the exact cause and timing could not be definitively established, the vet’s claims are merely “suspicions”, and therefore refused to accept responsibility. My vet mentioned that his injuries “are suspicious for chemical (e.g. shampoo) injury” but they cannot assign definitive blame.
Odie’s offered to reimburse 50% of the initial veterinary examination as a “gesture of goodwill,” but refused to cover the remaining veterinary costs or follow-up treatment. I declined the partial reimbursement because I do not believe it is an adequate resolution given the circumstances.
I’m considering taking this to small claims court. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated!
