In the last five years, 47 dogs have died during or shortly after grooming at Petco, according to government records.
The death toll represents less than one-hundredth of 1% of the more than 20 million dogs that Petco has groomed during that time. But it is a statistic that animal welfare advocates say is unacceptable and evidence of wider problems with the way big retailers operate their grooming businesses.
“Forty-seven deaths is 47 too many,” said Lisa Wathne, a senior captive animal specialist with the Humane Society of the United States. “There are some serious systemic problems here.”
Petco denies that its grooming operations are unsafe. The company says it has “stringent protocols and procedures in place” to protect pets, and it points to its low mortality rate as evidence.
But interviews with more than two dozen current and former Petco employees, as well as an examination of government inspection reports and civil lawsuits, suggest that the company has struggled to ensure the safety of the animals in its care.
How many dogs have died at Petco Grooming?
In the last five years, 47 dogs have died during or shortly after grooming at Petco, according to government records.