Bonnie's Dog & Cat Grooming - Washington, District of Columbia

Ms. S. Robinson, CMP, DES, CTA

After having both of my small yorkies go to this neighborhood groomers (off and on) for more than a decade, groomed by the fabulous Angelo, today was the final straw as to why I will never support this groomer again.

While I am always a fan of supporting local small business, let's be honest - the prices are severely overpriced, the hours are inconvenient and the staff is well...eh....queue "Bring Back Angelo" theme song.

My youngest has never liked his feet nor his mouth touched, comments that have been stored in his and my eldest's file since the beginning. However strangely, one day last year when I took the youngest in for grooming, they had zero record of him having been there for the last 10 years and had to start a new file...okay weird, but I didn't question it. Sadly this was also the day I learned Angelo was no longer employed there, and my gut told me not to go through with the appointment but I did anyway.

When I picked up my then 13 year old after the appointment he was SO ready to go home...not totally unlike him, because again grooming sessions are not his favorite, but this time he was READY TO GO! So listening to my gut, I only continue using the Banfield Groomers out in Arlington for the next year, because that's his "home vet", they know him there, never any issues, always leaves fine, not anxious like when he leaves Bonnies.

Fast forward to 2024...This month, because I have a trip out of town and life is crazy, I decide to try the local groomers once more because it is convenient location-wise, although I always pay twice the price at Bonnies than anywhere else I have ever taken them. There goes that gut again...something told me to cancel the appointment because my Mom, being the super hero she is, took him to get groomed about 2 weeks ago while he was staying with her for a different work trip. But he needed a bath badly....he's now 14 and doesn't hold his bladder so well and had an accident and smelled...so I kept the appointment, ignoring my gut to just bathe him and home and wait for his standing appointment with Banfield/PetSmart.

I picked him up today, the gentleman at the desk didn't even know which was my dog and had to go search for him, but he was in the front crate staring at me and screaming for dear life. Then another employee comes up to me after I paid and left quite a generous tip, might I add, and tells me they can't see him anymore because he nips and bites when they try to touch his mouth. Uhm, isn't that why groomers keep breathable muzzles? (Maybe yall should keep better records and you would know that from the last 10 years)

I get him home and notice he is DRIPPING blood from his mouth!!! So ya'll weren't going to tell me you nicked him? Did anyone apply any ointment? What the entire F....consider this a cancelled client for life.

Buyer be warned, you can get much better service, attention to detail and kindness elsewhere. Until Angelo comes back and shows these groomers a thing or two about customer service...don't do it.

Nathan Miller

We asked for a trim, "a healthy trim". They asked how long in inches, and we said "an inch". We also asked to have the base of her tail cut a little shorter so that she doesn't get any poop on it, but otherwise leave her tail long.

Well I'm guessing they wrote down to, "cut everything except an inch. Leave her tail long." Attached are pictures of her the day before her haircut as well as right after she was picked up. They cut her hair incredibly short, left her tail long (except the base of it), and charged us $150. You might be thinking, "maybe she had knots in her fur?" this little lady gets her hair brushed once a week at a minimum. So no, they just butchered her.

Giving 2 stars because the whole blame can't be put on them, I'm assuming there was some miscommunication. If there wasn't a miscommunication and that's what they think is "an inch", then they are lucking out with an additional star.

If they offer a second haircut for free to give them a second chance, I'll update this in 2-5 years when her hair is long enough to be cut again to say how they did on the second go-around.

Allie

Worth the price! They’re great and consistent. They take care of my little ball of energy each time. He always looks great and they deliver exactly what I asked for.

Anita Arrington-Williams

I just love Bonnie’s very very friendly people!!! I carried my Yorkie Taco for his first cut there, and I was impressed. I love the way Bonnie and her team took care of my dog. He liked everybody there. The new owners, I was really really were impressed with them too. When Ms. Bonnie does retire her place will be in really good hands and I will continue to get my dog groomed there. If I could give 10 stars they would get it!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mari Knox

I don’t even know where to start. What a horrific, unprofessional, unnecessary experience. I came in to simply ask questions, since we have never used a groomer before. From the very beginning I was clear about my dog being nervous and snippy if you try to touch her nails. I asked if calming medication would make the process easier, and they assured me several times that wouldn’t be necessary. Next thing I know, someone is trying to place a harness on my dog without saying a single thing to me. Keep in mind: I haven’t agreed to receiving any service yet as I was still asking my questions, they just let me know there was an opening and invited me in. I offered to help put the harness on her, but it was like talking to a wall. A minute later a man is trying to forcefully put a muzzle on her and shoving treats on her face. My poor baby was extremely distraught, and honestly so was I. It got to a point where they were attempting to grab her from my arms, not listening to a SINGLE thing I was trying to say. Not asking a single questions. Nothing. They never asked me if any of this was ok.

I left feeling more confused than anything. I was clearly misled by the previous reviews, because these people didn’t seem to have a single clue about how to handle a dog. It was infuriating, not one person in the whole place had the decency to even ask my name or my dog’s name before this whole thing happened.

We don’t ever want to even come near this groomer again. What a disaster that was.

Ann Marie Guzzi

Great experience for our dog’s 2nd ever grooming. He was a happy pup walking out. We appreciated the option for priority drop off/pick up.

We’d gone a few weeks earlier for a nail trim and that was also great, they were patient with him & his drama around nails.

Matthew Gordon

They dropped my dog, we’re quite obviously annoyed about the walk-in option we were taking advantage of that they advertise, and the receptionist had a horrible attitude. We also were told it would be $30 for nails and ears, but they tried to charge me $40.

Jay Sarkar

Avoid for cats for sure . This was my second time there. First time was a charm. The woman held the cat kindly and the man clipped the nails. I was going to write a glowing review, but wanted to visit a few more times. This second time, the same man scruffed my cat totally unnecessarily while making a young lad clip the nails. The two even joked about the over-scruffing and paused when they saw me staring at them do it. Scruffing is not always needed and this time they were doing it just because they thought they could get away with stressing a small animal. Wonder they would do if owner is not present. Staff outside is almost always smoking pot. Do your cats a favor. Go elsewhere.