PetSmart reviews

-I never got proper training offered to me apart from watching some videos all employees had to watch and taking a test on the videos. While I have experience as a groomer, other groomers started off with zero experience and received no hands on training. The consequences of this showed in low quality work. -Employees in all departments could only work as part time (except managers and contracted groomers who had to go to their petsmart grooming school & accept a two year contract, or be stuck paying several thousand dollars). It wasn’t typical part time hours, though- they’d put us for 28.5 hours per week so they wouldn’t be required to get us benefits. -I was lied to during my interview, saying I can start off as a groomer and then move to the floor sales very soon. Upon being hired I found out this was not true. In fact, my interview was with intention to be hired as management- the interviewer knew this. My double-major bachelors in business degree did not matter either way. -Groomers were forced by the manager to get booked got far more dogs they can handle. Ten dogs in an eight hour shift meant was the norm- I could never do a thorough job on any dog. Additionally, because I had to rush, it leaves more room for accidents. I witnessed accidents almost daily and the owners weren’t ever notified. All because they did not want to turn down walk ins and were money hungry. -They would allow certain dogs with a bite/aggression history if the client brought the dog in regularly, as they didn’t want to lose a regular. Again, putting the safety of groomers at risk because of greed. I am very proficient yet I still managed to get bit by a dog with a bite history. -You feel pressured by coworkers to work even through your lunch break because of the big load of dogs. This Petsmart was in Miami, FL and was always incredibly busy. -If a client purchased a more expensive grooming package (ie deshedding/furminator), and we were out of the shampoo used for that, we were told to not tell the client and just use another shampoo. Shampoos that weren’t in line with the grooming package purchased was a common practice. I even witnessed a dog come in for a sensitive skin problem, requiring hypoallergenic shampoo, and was still given standard product. -Sick, injured dogs were allowed in. In one particular instance, I was told to ignore the mildew in the dog’s ears. He was also riddled with fleas. He had a serious painful ear infection and should’ve gone straight to the vet, but I was made to do the dog anyway. This was not a rescue case- he had been brought in before just like this. Petsmart policy normally wouldn’t allow a dog like that into the salon but management was more concerned about the money.

Toxic culture, aggressive customers, terrible pay, dangerous animals, and apathetic management are just the tip of the iceberg. They work you just shy of full time, so you are working quite hard, but are not given benefits of any kind. If I were to fully explain the negativity of Petsmart's culture, you'd be reading this all day. I'll try my best to be brief and highlight the serious red flags. Most of the salon workers have a terrible attitude, constantly leave early, and there is a ton of inappropriate gossip that goes on. Co-workers routinely speak negatively about each other behind each others backs, across all departments. Even managers engage in this behavior regularly. It's extremely dramatic and unprofessional. General management could barely care less about your problems, I've seen them allow flagrant sexual harassment and unprofessional behavior fly on the regular. Retaliation from management was common; meaning that they may use their authority to get revenge on workers that they displease them. The training they give you is poor at best. They give you a week or two to learn, and then they expect you to do everything perfectly. I found this to be quite unfair, as dog bathing is actually a fairly complicated job role. The people who have worked there for years look down on you over minute mistakes, and do little to use their experience to help/advise you. They routinely make fun of new hires behind their backs, instead of discussing ways to help them grow. I once witnessed a full-grown man walk off the job day 1. His primary reason for quitting was the unfriendly and toxic culture in the salon.