Dog Boarding Gone Wrong--thoughts?

[AllSport]

I’m partially venting but also just wanting to see “what would you do”.

I boarded my dog this past week at a place my parents’ dog has gone to for years. All the dogs get to be together during the day, in kennels at night. We did a trial night a few months ago and it was fine.

I picked up my dog yesterday and they said it went fine…and then I saw my dog. She has a 4 inch gash on her neck and upwards of a hundred smaller wounds from punctures to scratches all over her face and neck. The gash had to have bled quite a bit so either a human or dog cleaned it up. The wounds were likely a couple days old but looks like she repeatedly got taken down. The receptionist asked around and everyone is acting clueless. Later I got a call and they think my dog has some scratches from “rough play” with a particular dog.

This is where I have a problem. My dog regularly goes to the dog park and does not get broken skin. She tolerates mouthy dogs for a bit but after a few welt inducing type bites she’ll put them in their place. These are not wounds from play, no way. The receptionist asked for the pictures I took and said she’d send them to the facility owner. I did and have yet to hear back but it is the weekend. Clearly the dogs were left unsupervised and for a long period of time. Fur covers a good deal of the scabs so it’s actually a lot worse than it looks. Though she is a shorthaired dog so I don’t get how they couldn’t have at least seen the biggest gash.

I’m still in a bit of shock about it so I want to know what you would do. Do you ask for your money back, or half? Do you let it go and just not send your dog back? Any other ideas? If she develops abcesses and has vet bills I’ll ask them to pay but hopefully she’ll heal well.

Additionally, I’m really worried she’ll be reactive with other dogs now. Anyone have this experience before and how was your dog after? I won’t take her to the park until the wounds are healed, and I’ll try to go during a down time and see how it goes with just a few dogs. Any tips on that?

And yes, I should have gone back in and asked for my money back then but I just needed to get my dog home and assess her wounds better. I wasn’t thinking about anything else.

[endlessclimb]

I’d leave bad reviews with photos all over tarnation. I’d expect them to pay any vet bills - check the release you signed, though. I would not ask for my money back, though I would take it if offered.

I’d take a deep breath and go back to your normal routine, dog park included. Your dog will be in tune with your anxiety, don’t feed that to her. Ice water in veins and go, just like you did before. React only to what’s happening, not what you think might happen.

[trubandloki]

@AllSport

I’m partially venting but also just wanting to see “what would you do”.

I boarded my dog this past week at a place my parents’ dog has gone to for years. All the dogs get to be together during the day, in kennels at night. We did a trial night a few months ago and it was fine.

I picked up my dog yesterday and they said it went fine…and then I saw my dog. She has a 4 inch gash on her neck and upwards of a hundred smaller wounds from punctures to scratches all over her face and neck. The gash had to have bled quite a bit so either a human or dog cleaned it up. The wounds were likely a couple days old but looks like she repeatedly got taken down. The receptionist asked around and everyone is acting clueless. Later I got a call and they think my dog has some scratches from “rough play” with a particular dog.

This is where I have a problem. My dog regularly goes to the dog park and does not get broken skin. She tolerates mouthy dogs for a bit but after a few welt inducing type bites she’ll put them in their place. These are not wounds from play, no way. The receptionist asked for the pictures I took and said she’d send them to the facility owner. I did and have yet to hear back but it is the weekend. Clearly the dogs were left unsupervised and for a long period of time. Fur covers a good deal of the scabs so it’s actually a lot worse than it looks. Though she is a shorthaired dog so I don’t get how they couldn’t have at least seen the biggest gash.

I’m still in a bit of shock about it so I want to know what you would do. Do you ask for your money back, or half? Do you let it go and just not send your dog back? Any other ideas? If she develops abcesses and has vet bills I’ll ask them to pay but hopefully she’ll heal well.

Additionally, I’m really worried she’ll be reactive with other dogs now. Anyone have this experience before and how was your dog after? I won’t take her to the park until the wounds are healed, and I’ll try to go during a down time and see how it goes with just a few dogs. Any tips on that?

And yes, I should have gone back in and asked for my money back then but I just needed to get my dog home and assess her wounds better. I wasn’t thinking about anything else.

I would not ask for my money back. Your dog got the care you paid for, group interaction all day, etc.
Sometimes things go sideways. The risk of group interaction.
Wounds can happen quickly. It does not mean the dogs were left unsupervised for a long period of time at all.

What does your contract say about vet bills from injuries?

I would not use this facility again and I see nothing wrong with a truthful bad review (facts, not theories no how long the dogs were unsupervised).

Jingles for your dog. I hope it heals quickly without any issues.

[endlessclimb]

I agree with everything here. I should clarify that their lack of noticing and lack of informing the owner is where I take issue.

[trubandloki]

@endlessclimb

I agree with everything here. I should clarify that their lack of noticing and lack of informing the owner is where I take issue.

Very valid point.

[QuestionMark]

I’m really sorry you came back to find your dog in that condition; I hope she heals quickly and well and has no issues with her regular routine.

I’d agree that injuries and incidents are a known risk of a bunch of dogs playing together. What I’d have a serious problem with is that nobody communicated what had happened to you. Whether they didn’t notice or were just hoping you somehow wouldn’t notice, that is not an appropriate, professional, or trustworthy reaction to whatever happened in their watch.

I’d obviously never go back there. Before writing a review, I’d probably send them a very calm letter or email with photos of the injuries, stating your concerns about how they handled things, and wait a short time to see how they respond.

[AllSport]

That’s what bothers me most, the fact that they either didn’t notice or hoped I wouldn’t. I 100% get that things happen, but tell me. I’m BIG on accountability. I’d prefer the scenario where they hope I wouldn’t notice. It’s worse if they didn’t notice in my opinion. Ugh, back to the drawing board on dog care. She’s too big and young for my neighbor who cared for my last pup.

[tabula_rashah]

I am in full agreement that they absolutely needed to have notified you.

I just can’t bring myself to board my dog. I know I am probably overly attached to him but there are so many boarding horror stories. Do you have a relative that would come stay or a friend’s house your dog could go to?

[clanter]

We would have not have such a problem as OP I would never ever take a dog of ours to such a place as where OP’s dog’s was taken.

Just dumping pooch out into a pack of unknown dogs is asking for trouble (that is unless pooch is a wolf who can and will devour all others)

For over five decades we have been involved with various dog boarding operations,
NONE ever allowed individual contact with any of the other boards unless they were house mates NONE

This current trend of free play with a group is a misguided thought of animal rights people who believe these things can just frolic in the yard without a care is harmful to the average domesticated household pet dog.

[Incantation]

There is a place near me that does the large group play thing. I think it is a bad idea. Small groups can be carefully introduced and managed. If a fight breaks out in a large group, it can escalate with many more dogs getting involved, and there is no safe way for people to intervene.
It reminds me of the sanctuary that has all free roaming dogs. I think it is in Costa Rica IIRC. When there is a fight, dogs die. There is not way for the humans to stop them.
I would definitely have an issue with them not telling you about the fight(s), and more upset that your dog was not separated from the offender for the rest of its stay, according to their own admission. I third posting on SM about it, and in the future, use a boarding place that doesn’t allow for an out of control free for all.

[MunchingonHay]

I would be LIVID!

I understand that dogs are dogs and things will happen but the lack of communication is horrible. Would I have wanted a call while I was on vaca that my dog got into a rumble, no but someone should have said something the moment I walked through the door.

[Jarpur]

They should pay vet bills – this is why a reputable place carries care, custody and control insurance. I also would never board some where with group “play,” nor use doggie day care.

Speaking as someone with a dog that ended up in the ER with a life-changing, life-threatening injury, while in the care of a professional whose services I’d used for a quarter century.

I was notified immediately, and went straight to the ER where my dog had been taken; arrangements to pay the bill (in the thousands) had already been made, without my having to ask.

Accidents happen, people make mistakes, but that’s how a responsible business handles such a situation.

[luvmyhackney]

I’d be livid they didn’t notice and reach out.

I won’t use places with group play for this reason, even if it means I take less trips. A pack of dogs gets rowdy quick and they usually don’t have enough staff to break up arguments, rough play.

[sheltona01]

I used to board my dog at a place that was quite similar. It was more like a doggy daycare that offered boarding services. They had several fields and divided the dogs based on size and play style. My little dog even got to play with the big dogs! I think one of the reasons it worked so well was because the area was large—about an acre—so dogs could find their own space if they needed a break from others they weren’t quite fond of.

The facility was located in a military town, so there were many dogs staying there while their owners were deployed for eight months or more. I never had any issues during our time there, though. They did have a very thorough temperament test that all dogs had to pass, and there was a testing day. If your dog showed any signs of issues, they wouldn’t accept you as a client, which I appreciated. It was a pretty stable group of dogs, so they all mostly knew each other.

I did understand the risk, but my issue would be were they didn’t inform you and pretended that they didn’t know. I would be catching my contract and seeing if I could have them pay my vet bill.

[Casey09]

Honestly, I think that can be so much more dangerous. I see so many lost and escaped dogs that got away from a friend or relative.
I don’t use kennels that have group play though. Honestly, I don’t even have the right breed for it. My goal is for my dogs to be in a secure kennel and checked for health issues.

[Annie10]

Group play at kennels is not good. Dogs should be separated and maybe 2-4 dogs together at once, and then only if closely matched in size, age etc.
you should have been immediately notified of your dogs injuries and they should cover any vet bills for stitches, antibiotics etc.
not acceptable at all and I would never go back

[S1969]

@Annie10

Group play at kennels is not good. Dogs should be separated and maybe 2-4 dogs together at once, and then only if closely matched in size, age etc.

To be honest, I can’t think of any reason any standard boarding facility would allow group play for any reason, regardless of size of dogs or total numbers, etc.

A dog daycare - sure. These are regulars - they get to know the dogs over time and introduce them to each other like barn owners manage turnout groups.

But weekend or vacation boarding? No way. While it would be great if it always worked, no dog will die from lack of exercise or socializing in a week. The risk is just too great.

While we have no idea what really happened, it’s possible that it was, or appeared to be mutual play. In a short coated dog that might result in nicks even when just play - I actually worked with someone who showed her Dobermans and they were never allowed to be outside together because they might nick each other’s coats. (Not until they were retired - how sad! and so much more work!!)

Obviously the larger gash might not have been play, or intentionally aggressive, but two dogs wrestling might do that by accident.

[tabula_rashah]

I would say that depends on your friends and family lol. I wouldn’t leave them with cousin Bob who is drunk all the time and lives in an apartment. But my friend who’s a vet tech with a Fort Knox fenced yard and way more dog experience than me- yep, absolutely

[ClearDonkey]

I would expect the dog boarding business to pay for any and all related vet bills. Why on earth were these two dogs not separated, if the results were wounds on either dog? I understand rough playing dogs, but I don’t understand rough playing dogs that are wounding each other (especially while someone should have been supervising them!).

I would take this very seriously and escalate to the manager or owner of the business. Someone dropped the ball. This is a big deal in my eyes, as a friend of my coworker’s had their dog seriously mauled while “under supervision” while boarding, and the dog was euthanized after a few days in ICU… Things can escalate quickly, especially with a group of dogs.

[MunchingonHay]

@Casey09

My goal is for my dogs to be in a secure kennel and checked for health issues.

And even then the boarding stay can go sideways.

This too is my experience of not observing the dogs and not being told what is going on with their clients when I boarded two dogs at a vet operated boarding kennel:

I had my old man dog, Riley and my female dog, Buma staying at a vet owned and operated boarding kennel. Riley did not eat for 4 days while he was there. He came home (DH picked him up) with a temp of 107, uncontrollable shaking, panting and drooling. Buma was fine.

When I got home (DH and I were on seperate trips) I rushed Riley to the ER vet and we waited for 9 hours to be seen. Only to be given Sub-Q fluids (which I asked for the second I walked in but did not get). And some antibodics to fit an infection he may of had and an $800.00 bill

I went back to the vet where I boarded him and they said, “he wouldn’t eat so they tossed his food”. The never laid a hand on him to feel him burning up. What is the point of having your dog stay at a vet operated kennel, if they aren’t observing the dogs. The office manager refunded Riley’s share of the two dog boarding fee (I had two dogs boarded).

Its almost not worth boarding and finding an AirBNB to go on holiday with your dogs.