Just wondering

[mustluvdogs1]

I know if a groomer injures a dog, it is customary to pay the vet bill. If groomer is bitten has anyone had a customer pay for doctors visit and antibiotics? I realize we are supposed to have insurance, but I don't. Also a serious bite can put a groomer out of business for a while. Is that the price we have to accept as part of our chosen profession?I knew a humane society vet who was severly bitten by a dog who was being put down,involuntary last minute reaction. Deep tendon wound in her hand. Put her out of painful commission for as long time. I do not know if she had a full recovery or not. I volunteered there for awhile.County job, she was covered. But we groomers could face such things too. Muzzles today. If bitten up near elbow, where blood is drawn, near the artery...you are in big trouble! Some have lost use of the arm forever. Don't mean to scare you, but I know it happened to someone..ay muzzles don't work that well. Paws can pull them off, or they don't fit every face. Owner lost use of arm, not a groomer. Insurance asks more questions than Uncle Sam and never pay on claims. big deductible. Could not find any groomer who was ever compensated for or gave sufficient answers and proof of .daily income to receive any pay after expenses figured for ea. day. So difficult and time consuming, they give up.I know a sponsor here, but this is what I have experienced. If I can't say it, delete it please.I'm being negative, guess you like me better when I"m funny.I do too.

[rapuzzled]

I know if a groomer injures a dog, it is customary to pay the vet bill. If groomer is bitten has anyone had a customer pay for doctors visit and antibiotics? I realize we are supposed to have insurance, but I don't. Also a serious bite can put a groomer out of business for a while. Is that the price we have to accept as part of our chosen profession?

Yup, if a groomer is bit the groomer has to pay (or insurance). You can't make the customer pay. I know someone else would explain it better, but it's an accepted risk on our part. We are in this career, and part of that is knowing that we can get bit. We can't hold the owner responsible.

Is there now way that you can get medical insurance? That's scary stuff! I had to go without it for about three months once, and I was so scared, lol.

[Raggs]

It's not the owner of the dogs responsibility to pay if their dog injures a groomer. We as groomers accept this when we start this career. We go in knowing the full risks of the job. That's why there are muzzles and other equipment and techniques to help us control unruly and vicious dogs.

My vet lost feeling in his from a dog bite. For a while the docs didn't think he'd have use of his hand. Which would have sucked for him because he specializes in orthopedic surgery. He gained use of his hand back, just can't feel anything. He accepts it has his fault because he read a dogs signals wrong.

All I can say to anyone who doesn't want to take that risk is to find a new line of work.

It sucks, but it's how things work. Now if the owner intentionally sicks their dog on you, then yeah, they'd be liable to pay. But groomers and vets are doing things to dogs that they don't like or want done. It's just a risk that we take every day.

[Helly]

I know laws vary by state, and this may not apply in all states, but an employee who is bitten should be covered by work comp. In some states I believe even when you are the owner and sole employee of your business you can be covered by work comp.

Small business owners usually have a work comp insurance company. Larger corporations (because they have more money to play with) are often self-funded. They deposit a specific amount of money with an insurance compay, who administers payments on claims. It remains the corportations money, not the insurance company's money.

Everyone, business owner or employee, needs to make themselves very familiar with the work comp laws in their state, because it IS a law, not an insurance policy. Just like private or group health insurance carriers, work comp carriers will sometimes fuss with you until you let them know that YOU know the laws just as well as they do.

[Raggs]

Helly is right. The shop that I worked for with the monkey, when the monkey bit the bather workmans comp paid out. The manager was so thrilled that after paying into workmans comp for over 20 years he finally got to use it.. LOL

[redbird]

I think...

I think it falls under an 'assumed risk.'

If I were a horse trainer, and took a colt to start, and he
bucked me off, and breaks my arm. To bad.
I am a horse trainer, and it comes with the territory.

Thats why I carry health insurance that covers my self employment.

If you groom dogs, your going to get bit sooner or later.
Its part of the pie.

[Chicken]

Laws do vary by state & certainly every instance is different when it comes to a serious dog bite. However, I know firsthand of at least 2 occurences in Illinois where a groomer was bitten & the owner was legally held responsible for the medical bills and punitive damages. However, these were serious attacks where lawyers & insurance companies were involved. It wasn't just that the groomer needed a bandaid and some antibiotics. (In my experience, those you just pay out of pocket if you're self employed, or workman's comp should pick up the tab.)

[mustluvdogs1]

Cal. Law.

I knew of a groomer in SF bay area who was mobie. The groomer went to groom an old dog with a very old (90) owner who insisted o n standing by to watch. The mobile had a hook and box on side of van to wash large dogs. The dog was hooked safely to van. The dog was wet and groomer went in van to get shampoo, when she came back, the dog got her in both arms. Bites were wrap arounds from mouth, as well as near inside of elbow where one has blood drawn. The old lady disappeared in the house and would not help wounded groomer.Dog and lady gone. The homeowners Insurance paid thousands for daily visits to Emergency...as the wounds needed care not to get infected.It was mid June, and I don't know if she was compensated for loss of income. The dog was in home QUARANTEEN for having bitten the Shefiff the day before when the old husband was rushed to hospital with a heart attack! Needless to say, the dog was not allowed to be in contact with anyone outside of family let alone a groomer! She used the awared money for a deposit on a new custom van, or it paid for the new one she just got...don't recall. She also had an excellent lawyer who had case on front page of SF Chronicle. he just won...not dog related.I was bitten in Az first mo I groomed mid Dec. busy time/xMas bonuses etc. a lawyer got homeowners to pay w/ 2 weeks loss of income because in a van the dog is an extension of the owner and responsible for bites. Not warned, or I would have used a muzzle. I would not want to go thru that legal stuff + pain of bites again.I guess it depends on ea. individual situation. The quaranteened dog is a no-brainer.

I am typing complete sentences; are my posts easier to read now? I am always so descriptive, I think a person can get lost in my details.I am like my mom that way, she would descibe the ladies dress, the color, her shoes etc. but I alwaysa enjoyed her descriptions, as tho' I was there, or didn't miss the tv show.

[rapuzzled]

I am typing complete sentences; are my posts easier to read now? I am always so descriptive, I think a person can get lost in my details.I am like my mom that way, she would descibe the ladies dress, the color, her shoes etc. but I alwaysa enjoyed her descriptions, as tho' I was there, or didn't miss the tv show.

Yes, much easier to read now, thank you!

I know what you mean about being caught up in the descriptions. If I am telling a story I get so caught up in the descriptions that I lose the main point of the story!

[carla]

When you accept the dog you accept the responsibilties, if that dog bites someone in your shop you would be responsibile. At least in Ohio you would.