Bellevue Pampered Pet Spa

On Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, I scheduled an appointment with the owner of Bellevue Pampered Pet Spa for my German Shepherd, Duke. Duke, a 130-pound long-haired German Shepherd, is most comfortable staying with the same groomers, as he has been coming to this facility before. His coat grows exceptionally long, reaching approximately 6–7 inches, and requires routine trimming to maintain both his comfort and appearance. While I fully understand that shaving a double-coated breed is not advisable, I have never requested that—only a slight trim of the scraggly ends to keep him looking well-groomed.

Despite Duke’s history with numerous other groomers over his nine years without issue, I have encountered repeated resistance from this particular establishment regarding basic grooming requests. On a previous occasion, when I requested a minor trim along with the standard grooming and de-shedding, the owner expressed that it was "too time-consuming" and resisted completing the service. After much back and forth, she did a minimal trim, but the results were unsatisfactory, making it feel like I had paid for nothing.

This time, I arrived around 10 a.m.—slightly later than planned due to inclement weather and school closures. Upon arrival, the owner immediately appeared displeased. When we discussed the grooming services, I again inquired about the trim. She abruptly stated that it was "not safe" to trim this type of dog, claiming they could not remove more than half an inch—an amount so minimal that it would make no meaningful difference. I respectfully asked for clarification, as Duke has always received a light trim without issue elsewhere. I even suggested that if I had been misinformed or incorrect in my approach, I was open to learning why a two-inch trim might not be advisable. Instead of providing a professional explanation, she simply stated that she "did not want to do it" and suggested I find another groomer.

Given her previous complaint about the time commitment, I suspected that was once again the real issue. However, I attempted to be accommodating and offered to forgo the trim entirely, requesting only the standard grooming package. At this point, she flat-out refused service, instructing me to leave and "find a new groomer." I expressed my confusion, reminding her that I had driven 30 minutes in poor weather, and she was aware of both my appointment and my grooming requests beforehand. She then turned to one of her employees and, in a clear attempt to influence their response, asked, "You don’t want to do this groom, right? You don’t want the dog, right?" Naturally, the employee agreed, reinforcing the owner's decision to refuse service.

Throughout the exchange, the owner’s demeanor was highly unprofessional—her voice quivering as if she was on the verge of a breakdown. Rather than having a constructive discussion, she escalated the situation, ultimately forcing me to leave under the threat of calling the police.

Her unwillingness to provide service, communicate professionally, or simply uphold a reasonable standard of customer care demonstrates a severe lack of business integrity. A quick glance at her portfolio reveals that she primarily services small to medium-sized dogs, making it apparent that she simply does not want to accommodate larger breeds like Duke. While she has every right to set her business preferences, her complete lack of professionalism, emotional instability, and inability to handle a routine customer request suggest she is ill-equipped to run a service-based business. Unsurprisingly, she is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau—something that now makes perfect sense.

It is disappointing to be treated in such a manner, particularly as a military veteran who simply wanted a professional grooming experience for my dog.