Bergen County State Assemblywoman Valarie Vainieri Huttle has revived a 2014 legislative bill that would require all New Jersey pet groomers to pass a licensing exam and be approved by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Huttle reintroduced the legislation after she learned that 50 dogs have died after being groomed at PetSmart stores across the country.
The proposed bill would require groomers with three or more complaints to register on a list available to consumers. It would also require establishing a safe grooming campaign.
Assemblyman Kevin Rooney said the passing of the bill would give New Jersey residents a sense of security when they drop their pet off to be groomed.
A spokesperson for PetSmart released a statement in the New York Post that said, "Any assertion that there is a systemic problem is false and fabricated. We extensively investigate any and every incident, no matter how minor. Our independent team of investigators, many of whom have law enforcement backgrounds, is committed to conducting these comprehensive investigations.
PetSmart has 1,600 stores in the United States Canada and Puerto Rico.
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