What would you do? (Dog care)

[Fendereedo]

Four words;
Your,
Dog,
Deserves,
Better.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

Your 'friend' got into a business they are not equipped to handle. It will only get worse. Never take your dog there again.

 

[Knows3Chords]

I would make an appointment with the vet to give your dog a good check up. Maybe even express your concerns to the vet so they can check out everything.

 

[stxrus]

I would make an appointment with the vet to give your dog a good check up. Maybe even express your concerns to the vet so they can check out everything.

This, for sure

 

[Monoprice99]

Unfortunately, the friend's business may have grown to a point where it's too much for the QC of doggy day care to still be what it was. And with any groomer, you're going to find that your pet will be exposed to other animals that might be spreading something around. Finding another might be just a futile. Sometimes they are like doctor's practices, they may just be booked solid for labor & space, and not accepting new patients ?

 

[haggardfan1]

That's pretty much the opposite of day "care" for your dog.

If I found out my boarder was giving human food of any potentially harmful kind to my dogs, that would be their last visit. The facility even prefers that I furnish their dog food, which I'm happy to do--reduces the risk of stomach upset. Ava sometimes is off a day or so in her bowel habits anyway, after being away from home.

Last spring over a long weekend stay, my Lab cut his right front footpad pretty badly through no real fault of the boarding facility. They have French drains along one side of the exercise yard, covered in that decorative white rock, and the big ox managed to lacerate his foot on one retrieving a ball from there. No one thought there was anything remotely sharp around the yard.

They transported him immediately to my vet, paid 100% for his care without hesitation, and offered to give me those boarding days free.

Your so-called friend and his partner are being anything but professional; I'd keep my dog well clear and find a reputable kennel.

 

[Toto'sDad]

Take care of your dog first. You've already done all the talking to your friend you need to. He's not listening and has proven himself untrustworthy. Just don't go back, and you don't owe him any kind of explanation.

 

[kuch]

I wouldn't walk away.... RUN
you don't owe this person any explanation for not using their services

but, it's your family member and I hope you make the right decision for her welfare.

 

[MAS Tequila]

If someone mistreats me, ok I'll be ok.

If someone mistreats one of my pups, well they're getting all of the pent-up frustrations and crap I've held in.

It WILL be messy.

 

[eddiewagner]

Leave that scene without a word. Action speaks for itself.

 

[Wrighty]

I've had a friend for a few years who has looked after my dog when I'm at work. We used to be neighbours and he's been saving up money towards opening a dog day care for years. He has three dogs of his own so I figured it would be good familiar company for my dog when I'm at work, especially when I have to work late hours or night shifts. I financially compensate him for looking after my dog at a rate similar to "professional" day cares, since fair is fair, he's trying to build a career in this, and especially since he lost his job during the pandemic (whereas I luckily and thankfully did not).

I've since moved to another neighbourhood but have continued to have this friend look after my dog. However, in the past year, his behaviours seem to have changed and my dog is being negatively impacted. She has regularly come home with upset stomachs (often waking me in the night to go outside to use the "washroom"), which is primarily due to his new common-law partner feeding the dogs human food/treats. I brought this up with them and they initially insisted I was feeding my dog inappropriate treats (which I pointed out was not possible, since I was giving my dog the same food and treats as before the stomach issues started and she does not have these issues on the days I'm home from work) before my friend's partner finally admitted to giving them human sweets (which he seemed rather forgiving and almost defensive of). This treat-giving has continued despite my repeated flagging of it. Again, they do not apologize or change their behaviour.

This morning, I got back from a 3-week overseas vacation during which my friend and his partner looked after my pup (again, fully compensated financially). When I picked her up, I saw that she was missing a ton of fur and looks like she had a grooming job done by someone on their first day of grooming school with two broken arms. I pointed out that she looks completely raggedy and the only answer I got was a rather defensive, "Yeah, well, we groomed and cut her hair." No prior mention/notice (even a text message) saying that they had to groom her and asking for permission or even giving a rationale. No apology. My dog also seems oddly low-key behaviourally since I brought her home, which I'm not sure is due to not having seen me for three weeks or because something else happened in my absence that I'm not being told. I smell a rat, to be honest.

Since the whole upset-stomach-inappropriate-treat things continued in spite of my concerns, I've been looking into an alternate day care service for my dog for at least half of my work week, both to see if there is a difference in my dog and to alleviate my stress that my dog is being inappropriately treated. However, since this morning, I'm seriously contemplating terminating my services with this friend (who I am now starting to doubt is just that) and finding another full-time day care for her.

In a situation like this, would you bring up these concerns with the "friend" before terminating services? Would you give another chance? I'm always leery of burning bridges but in this case, I'm feeling a little violated (for lack of a better word) by the unsolicited/unapproved hack grooming job (not to mention the other concerns from the past year or so).

Your dog's well being and health are at stake. You really know what needs to be done! Broach the subject quietly but directly. Base your future actions on his answers and your belief in them. No compromise, your pet comes first.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

With apologies to OP, I'm going to go on a related tangent, based on the crux of your post, as a general comment;

These seat-of-your-pants on-the-fly business upstarts with friends are usually a train-wreck over time. Not always. But usually.

It may not even be with friends, but the best of intentions with an informally organized and managed group will always be anchored to the weakest link in the group. And that weakest link will usually be an addiction; whether alcohol, drugs or gambling. Money gets pilfered. Stuff disappears. Fewer productive hours. Money gets tight and someone finally looks at the books.

 

[Powdog]

There are some boundaries you just never cross. Family pets are family.

 

[String Tree]

I've had a friend for a few years who has looked after my dog when I'm at work. We used to be neighbours and he's been saving up money towards opening a dog day care for years. He has three dogs of his own so I figured it would be good familiar company for my dog when I'm at work, especially when I have to work late hours or night shifts. I financially compensate him for looking after my dog at a rate similar to "professional" day cares, since fair is fair, he's trying to build a career in this, and especially since he lost his job during the pandemic (whereas I luckily and thankfully did not).

I've since moved to another neighbourhood but have continued to have this friend look after my dog. However, in the past year, his behaviours seem to have changed and my dog is being negatively impacted. She has regularly come home with upset stomachs (often waking me in the night to go outside to use the "washroom"), which is primarily due to his new common-law partner feeding the dogs human food/treats. I brought this up with them and they initially insisted I was feeding my dog inappropriate treats (which I pointed out was not possible, since I was giving my dog the same food and treats as before the stomach issues started and she does not have these issues on the days I'm home from work) before my friend's partner finally admitted to giving them human sweets (which he seemed rather forgiving and almost defensive of). This treat-giving has continued despite my repeated flagging of it. Again, they do not apologize or change their behaviour.

This morning, I got back from a 3-week overseas vacation during which my friend and his partner looked after my pup (again, fully compensated financially). When I picked her up, I saw that she was missing a ton of fur and looks like she had a grooming job done by someone on their first day of grooming school with two broken arms. I pointed out that she looks completely raggedy and the only answer I got was a rather defensive, "Yeah, well, we groomed and cut her hair." No prior mention/notice (even a text message) saying that they had to groom her and asking for permission or even giving a rationale. No apology. My dog also seems oddly low-key behaviourally since I brought her home, which I'm not sure is due to not having seen me for three weeks or because something else happened in my absence that I'm not being told. I smell a rat, to be honest.

Since the whole upset-stomach-inappropriate-treat things continued in spite of my concerns, I've been looking into an alternate day care service for my dog for at least half of my work week, both to see if there is a difference in my dog and to alleviate my stress that my dog is being inappropriately treated. However, since this morning, I'm seriously contemplating terminating my services with this friend (who I am now starting to doubt is just that) and finding another full-time day care for her.

In a situation like this, would you bring up these concerns with the "friend" before terminating services? Would you give another chance? I'm always leery of burning bridges but in this case, I'm feeling a little violated (for lack of a better word) by the unsolicited/unapproved hack grooming job (not to mention the other concerns from the past year or so).

Take your Dog elsewhere.
She deserves better than that.

 

[Muthatelle]

They would never see/hear from the dog or I again.

 

[teletail]

This person IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. They are abusing your dog. You’ve given them instructions repeatedly that they don’t follow and you can’t figure out if you should give them more chances to abuse your dog? Really????

 

[JPKmusicman]

My pets are family so I would have been out of there long ago. Don't hesitate. Just go somewhere else. Cezar Chavez had it right long ago. People are the problem more often than the dogs. They don't deserve their dogs.

 

[hopdybob]

Your dog can't protect itself in the situation you place here when it is at your former friend.
These people don't understand the important things like food restrictions for dog, and if you pup gets sick, you have to pay big time.
(but you don't want to see your pup in that terrible situation)
you have made your point to them and they don't care.
So find someone who does a better job, your pup deserves it

 

[chezdeluxe]

Ever notice how the OP starts threads and seldom returns to them or reacts to responses.

 

[srblue5]

Ever notice how the OP starts threads and seldom returns to them or reacts to responses.

Been considering my options in this scenario and plan to respond when I can and am not distracted. Nothing personal.