I recently read an article about a Dog Day Care who had the unfortunate experience of a dog escaping the facility in the middle of the day and no one noticed. At the end of the day, the dog's owners (brand new to this daycare) returned to pick up their dog andno dog. The article did not provide any information if there was a happy ending to the story - so we don't know if Fido returned home. But what the article did share was that - after the fact - the owners told the day care that the dog was a fence climber. Everyone assumed the little guy (Beagle) climbed the six foot fence and was gone before anyone noticed the escape.
I used to own a boarding kennel. Over the Christmas holiday one year, a new customer brought me two Cocker Spaniels for boarding. The wife dropped off the dogs and gave me instructions to clean their ears daily. Since I was not familiar with these dogs and knowing that not every dog enjoys getting their ears cleaned, I questioned the owner how easily the dogs would accept this. She assured me they would be fine. On the first attempt I received the worst bite of my professional career. I thought the dog crushed my finger. It was one of those moments where the dog had my hand firmed locked between his jaws and I had to use my other hand to pry open his mouth! The dog made a strong point he didn't want his ears cleaned.
Fast forward two weeks to when the owners were to pick up the dogsthis time it was the husband who picked them up (wife dropped them off). As soon as he came in the door I informed him that the dogs never got their ears cleaned and that the male bit me badly on my first attempt. His reply"oh yeah, I'm sorry, they bite us all the time when we do that too!"
The point to my sharing these stories is this - when you take your pet to a Groomer or Vet or Kennel or where ever - PLEASE tell the pet care provider things that you know about your pet's behavior and/or personality. Had the dog Day Care known the Beagle was a fence climber - they could have (should have) taken precautions to make sure the little guy did not escape. Had the owners of the cockers shared with me that they bite when their ears are cleaned - a quick little muzzle put on them would have kept their ears in good health and my fingers in better health! I've got a million more stories just like the two above - and my only guess is that some pet owners are a little bit ashamed of their pet's behavior sometimes - so they don't want to tell a pet professional about it! My advice to you is to get over the embarrassment and tell the pet professionals that work with you and your pet anything and everything they might need to know. This information will keep your pet safer and healthier - and allows the pet professional the means to do their job to their best ability.
Sadly, there are some pet care providers that just don't care enough. I cringe when I think about the outcome of reckless pet professional behavior. I cannot tell you exactly how to avoid reckless pet care businesses, but I can give you some suggestions.
1. The pet business should be clean, clean, clean! To me, if a business owner doesn't care enough about the cleanliness of the facility, what else don't they care about? The kennel or grooming shop or daycare doesn't have to be 'state of the art' - but it does need to be clean.
2. Meet the staff. Try to meet and talk with as many employees as possible. That is difficult from the business owners perspective - they have work to do. However these are the people that will be caring for your baby - try to meet as many as you can.
3. Get references and call them. The most important information can be learned from other customers of the business.
4. Most states mandate that pet care businesses be licensed. Call the licensing agency and the Better Business Bureau and ask if there are any reports of abuse or misconduct with the business you are considering.
