Norfolk woman's campaign to regulate UK dog groomers

But for Maria Stableford, from Cromer, it was the last thing she expected to happen when her dog, Tim, came home from the groomers with a deep gash across his body.

She had taken him to a different groomer in Norfolk as her usual one was unavailable, where he sustained several nasty lacerations on his small body which required veterinary care. 

“Tim is a little 1.8kg Pomeranian but he had a three-inch gash across his body because the groomer used a piece of equipment which was a metal rake normally used on dogs the size of a German Shepherd”, Mrs Stableford said.

Mrs Stableford's Pomeranian, Tim, came home from the groomers with a three-inch gash which required veterinary care (Image: Supplied)

Now, Mrs Stableford is campaigning to regulate dog groomers in the UK, launching a parliamentary petition to help protect dogs and their owners.

“If tomorrow I set up a Facebook page from a shed in my back garden, I could be a dog groomer without any repercussions,” she said.

“I find that really concerning. There is currently no way of checking whether anybody has any recognised qualifications.”

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Maria Stableford, from Cromer, with her dog, Tim (Image: Supplied)

The dog grooming industry is currently unregulated, and dogs have suffered severe injuries and even died at groomers due to faulty equipment and being left unsupervised, according to the RSPCA.

"I have suggested a charter mark so qualified groomers can show that they have groomed a variety of dogs over a period of time, then the regulatory body could award a charter mark," Mrs Stableford said. 

"That would weed out the bad groomers, who could be dealt with if they set up when they are unqualified."

The three-inch gash Tim sustained at the groomers (Image: Supplied)

Duncan Baker, MP for North Norfolk, has backed the campaign, raising it in parliament on Thursday.

He said Mrs Stableford's horror story is "not an isolated case", and that he is "amazed at the lack of regulation in the industry". 

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However, the government says "under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 groomers must protect dogs under their control from harm and provide for their welfare needs.

"Where the act is breached, defenders face imprisonment or an unlimited fine, and as the legislation is already clear we don’t have any plans at this moment to implement a charter."