Man takes his Golden Retriever to PetSmart. The dog he got back looked like completely different: ‘Sue everybody’

A dog owner says he is done using PetSmart’s grooming service after his golden retriever came back looking nothing like she did before the visit. The man, who posts under the username @Lacythadawg on TikTok, said he brought his long-haired golden retriever in for what he expected to be a small trim.

Instead, he says the groomers shaved almost all of her fur off, leaving only the hair on her head and tail. He shared a video of the dog walking around his kitchen so viewers could see the result for themselves.

The caption on the post reads, “Never going to @PetSmart again 😭 😭 😭,” along with hashtags including #goldenretriever and #badhaircut.

Owner says he only asked for a slight trim

In the video, the man looks into the camera and says, “I took my long-haired golden retriever in for a slight trim.” He then says, “Okay, this is the dog they gave me back.” For pet owners, concerns about care can extend to extreme neglect, as when a woman returned from a Miami trip to find her dogsitter had left her dogs to die. 

The camera then shows the dog standing on the kitchen floor. Her body is covered in short, light-colored fur, while the hair on her head, ears, and tail was left long and fluffy. She wears a pink collar and is seen walking slowly around the kitchen, sniffing the floor as she moves past the cabinets.

The man’s voice is heard again as the video continues. “What the f–k? They messed it up,” he says. He then explains what he believes happened during the grooming appointment: “They left her tail and her head but just shaved everything else.”

Despite the dramatic change in her appearance, the dog appears calm throughout the video and does not seem distressed by the haircut. The video does not include any response from PetSmart, and it is not confirmed which store location the man visited or whether he has filed a complaint with the company.

Other pet owners have reported similar experiences. In a separate question submitted to North Shore Animal League America, one owner said their American Akita’s coat was shaved without explanation during a boarding and grooming visit, and that the dog’s hair “may never grow back.”

In response, North Shore Animal League America said people who believe a groomer caused harm to their animal can sue, but noted that “in order to be compensated it will be necessary to prove damages,” and that “a bad haircut may not be enough for a court to award monetary compensation.”

The organization also said groomers may argue that a dog’s coat was matted, and that pet owners can file complaints with local licensing agencies, where they exist, or with consumer protection organizations.

Viewers reacted to the video in the comments section, with many sharing their own opinions and similar experiences. A user wrote, “This happened to me at petsmart with my fluffy curly doodle mix. She came back with tail and mustache. Looking like a schnauzer.” Disputes over unsatisfactory services and refunds extend beyond pet grooming, as one New Jersey woman sought a refund after her haircut looked nothing like what was agreed upon. 

A commenter who identified themselves as a groomer wrote, “Groomer here! Complain immediately. Sue everybody. Omfg I explain the risks of shaving and literally make people sign a release if they want me to proceed. That’s wild to do that without clarifying.” Lacythadawg replied to that comment, writing, “Should’ve taken Lacy to you lol. That’s a real groomer 💯.”

Another commenter, who also described themselves as a dog groomer, wrote, “What kills me as a dog groomer is that they also did a bad job. It’s choppy and uneven and were clearly in a rush and honestly that’s probably how the mistake of not paying attention to what the request was or just straight up going ‘yeah he probably wanted her shaved’ was made in the first place which is.”