My dog needs to be groomed, but I’ve heard horror stories about grooming. What do you recommend?

—Animal Guardian Angel

You’re right to be concerned about grooming salons. Animals have incurred deep wounds, been asphyxiated or strangled on the table loop cord, or died of heat exhaustion after being left unattended in cage dryers. One woman recently used her cell phone to record a Petco employee who violently yanked on a dog’s paw and shoved the terrified animal around on a grooming table while trying to cut the animal’s nails. The best way to protect our animal companions from enduring a similar fate is to learn how to groom them ourselves. It’s easy. See PETA.org/Grooming for tips.

If this isn’t possible, hire a groomer who makes house calls so that you can be there to keep your dog safe and comfortable. If you must take your dog to a grooming salon, first check with the Better Business Bureau and do a Google search to see if there are any complaints from past customers. No matter what, insist on staying with or watching your dog through glass the whole time.