Kennel abused my dog.

Antman408

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Haven’t posted much as of late because I’ve been dealing with some issues with Rex.


May 31st I dropped Rex off at boarding facility. (New boarding facility. First stay).

I picked him up on June 3rd. When picking him up, I noticed something immediately wrong. He wasn’t acting like his normal self, wasn’t happy, excited. Just made a B line for the truck after I clipped on to his collar. The person who brought him out from the back had him in a prong, which I’m fine with. However this prong was loose and saggy and a petco grand prong. This was a red flag to me

I get him home, try to bring him inside for a bath, he cowers and acts like he’s going to be hit anytime I try to touch him. I finally got him in the bath, as I was bathing him I noticed lumps across his body like he had been hit. Along with the lumps, he had puncture marks around his neck that were scabbing. After bathing him, he got into bed and was very distance with me. Stayed at the edge and did not want to be touched. Later in the evening time I tried to feed him, he did not want to eat. I had to hand feed him to eat. After feeding he went back to sleep. Earlier in the day a family member came over whom he likes, however he would not allow him to pet him. He growled and hunched over to avoid contact.

Tuesday morning June 4th

Does not want to eat his breakfast. Looks at it and walks away back to his crate. In the evening time he did not want to be on the bed and went to his crate which isn’t normal for him. Anyways, he refused to eat and went back to sleep. During the day my fiancé said he was distance, did not want to play or interact. I get home and try to feed him. Same thing, does not want to eat. I hand feed and coax him into eating.

Wednesday: June 5
Does not eat breakfast. Still acting fearful and skittish. Will not allow anyone but myself and fiancé to touch him. Still cowers when being touched. Same thing as Tuesday does not want to play or interact. Dinner time refused to eat. Is hand fed and eats small portion. Had white and silver diarrhea (first poop since I got him back)

Thursday: June 6

Rex eats breakfast after being handfed. Has white and silver diarrhea again. I leave for work at 6am and my fiancé leaves at 9am. He was crated from 9am to noon when she returned for her lunch break. He vomited in his crate and is still acting skittish. I called the vet and they said if he gets worse bring him in. My fiancé gets home before me and makes an attempt to feed him. He refuses to eat and proceeds to have diarrhea all over the driveway, neighbors driveway and his potty area. She rushes him to our vet, I meet her there. He’s severely dehydrated and requires an overnight stay. Bloodwork and fecal samples are taken to figure out what’s goin on. X rays are done and show severe stomach upset, gas and diarrhea.

Friday: June 7th

Vet gives anti nausea injection and he eats breakfast. Does not poop. I pick him up in the evening and he eats when he gets home.

Saturday: June 8th

I bring him back to the vet because he refuses to eat. Is given another anti nausea shot and eats after. The remaining blood tests comeback negative and normal. Fecal sample is normal. He eats dinner.

Sunday: June 9th-June 17 (present)

Has a ct scan. Shows stomach upset. He slowly begins to eat again, however still acts skittish and scared when strangers try to pet him. Flinches easily and I had him evaluated by our trainer. I believe he was physically abused by the boarding facility.

He has been getting better each day and his confidence and personality have been returning to normal.

Today I called the facility and asked to speak to their President, I was told she would get back to me by tomorrow. I’m quite furious and have been avoiding going in and speaking because I’d lose my temper and do something that I’d regret. However, I’m not going to let this go. Someone on that staff hurt my dog, my best friend and cost me 8k in vet bills and did something beyond shitty.
 
Today I called the facility and asked to speak to their President, I was told she would get back to me by tomorrow. I’m quite furious and have been avoiding going in and speaking because I’d lose my temper and do something that I’d regret. However, I’m not going to let this go. Someone on that staff hurt my dog, my best friend and cost me 8k in vet bills and did something beyond shitty.
I'm so sorry this happened to Rex :( But I'm also relieved to hear that he is making a come back. I can only speculate as to the range of emotions you've experienced all this time, because just reading this account made my blood boil. I don't know if you already told them the issue, but if you have NOT, then DON'T answer if they call back. In fact, don't talk to them either way, you want to disarm them first - like a play bow that is followed by a bite - unexpected - as with humans.

Hey, good on you for knowing you'd lose your cool and avoiding that scenario altogether - it wouldn't help Rex. You're not going to let this go, nor should you :thumbsup2:
 
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Haven’t posted much as of late because I’ve been dealing with some issues with Rex.


May 31st I dropped Rex off at boarding facility. (New boarding facility. First stay).

I picked him up on June 3rd. When picking him up, I noticed something immediately wrong. He wasn’t acting like his normal self, wasn’t happy, excited. Just made a B line for the truck after I clipped on to his collar. The person who brought him out from the back had him in a prong, which I’m fine with. However this prong was loose and saggy and a petco grand prong. This was a red flag to me

I get him home, try to bring him inside for a bath, he cowers and acts like he’s going to be hit anytime I try to touch him. I finally got him in the bath, as I was bathing him I noticed lumps across his body like he had been hit. Along with the lumps, he had puncture marks around his neck that were scabbing. After bathing him, he got into bed and was very distance with me. Stayed at the edge and did not want to be touched. Later in the evening time I tried to feed him, he did not want to eat. I had to hand feed him to eat. After feeding he went back to sleep. Earlier in the day a family member came over whom he likes, however he would not allow him to pet him. He growled and hunched over to avoid contact.

Tuesday morning June 4th

Does not want to eat his breakfast. Looks at it and walks away back to his crate. In the evening time he did not want to be on the bed and went to his crate which isn’t normal for him. Anyways, he refused to eat and went back to sleep. During the day my fiancé said he was distance, did not want to play or interact. I get home and try to feed him. Same thing, does not want to eat. I hand feed and coax him into eating.

Wednesday: June 5
Does not eat breakfast. Still acting fearful and skittish. Will not allow anyone but myself and fiancé to touch him. Still cowers when being touched. Same thing as Tuesday does not want to play or interact. Dinner time refused to eat. Is hand fed and eats small portion. Had white and silver diarrhea (first poop since I got him back)

Thursday: June 6

Rex eats breakfast after being handfed. Has white and silver diarrhea again. I leave for work at 6am and my fiancé leaves at 9am. He was crated from 9am to noon when she returned for her lunch break. He vomited in his crate and is still acting skittish. I called the vet and they said if he gets worse bring him in. My fiancé gets home before me and makes an attempt to feed him. He refuses to eat and proceeds to have diarrhea all over the driveway, neighbors driveway and his potty area. She rushes him to our vet, I meet her there. He’s severely dehydrated and requires an overnight stay. Bloodwork and fecal samples are taken to figure out what’s goin on. X rays are done and show severe stomach upset, gas and diarrhea.

Friday: June 7th

Vet gives anti nausea injection and he eats breakfast. Does not poop. I pick him up in the evening and he eats when he gets home.

Saturday: June 8th

I bring him back to the vet because he refuses to eat. Is given another anti nausea shot and eats after. The remaining blood tests comeback negative and normal. Fecal sample is normal. He eats dinner.

Sunday: June 9th-June 17 (present)

Has a ct scan. Shows stomach upset. He slowly begins to eat again, however still acts skittish and scared when strangers try to pet him. Flinches easily and I had him evaluated by our trainer. I believe he was physically abused by the boarding facility.

He has been getting better each day and his confidence and personality have been returning to normal.

Today I called the facility and asked to speak to their President, I was told she would get back to me by tomorrow. I’m quite furious and have been avoiding going in and speaking because I’d lose my temper and do something that I’d regret. However, I’m not going to let this go. Someone on that staff hurt my dog, my best friend and cost me 8k in vet bills and did something beyond shitty.
I am so sorry you guys, especially Rex, are going through this. These dogs are our children and it's devastating when they are sick or hurting. I don't know if I could have waited so long to say something. In may we took our 10 day honeymoon and were so lucky our guy could split his time between my mother's house and my brother being at our house with him. Even then he didn't eat the first day and a half when we got back and seemed depressed when we were heading off to work just the day after. Thankfully he bounced right back but they can be very sensitive dogs.

I hope Rex continues to get better and can emotionally fully recover.
 
Sounds like he may have gotten into a dog fight if he had scabbing puncture wounds on his neck. I would definitely ask if there was an incident that may have happened while he was there and see what they say.
 
In my thoughts Ant, messing with Ragnar is like messing with my daughters. Try to keep it cool as of to not belittle or destroy any upper hand you have now. Going in guns blazing will only give them something against you.

Keep us updated.
Hope Rex continues to rebound.
 
Ohhhhh . .....Sooooo hard to keep my cool! Just reading that has my anxiety level to the top! I would be so upset! As I'm sure you are! You've been doing all the right things. Taking care of Rex first and planning your next move. I don't know what I would do but oh my God, how upsetting! And the thought that they didn't even mention anything really blows my mind because you know something happened. Whether it was a dogfight or somebody hitting your dog. Ugh. They think dogs don't talk and you won't find out. NO! You know your dog. You know when something's wrong. Shame on them! I hope Rex turns completely around and is back to being his happy-go-lucky self very soon! I'm so sorry this happened. It's stressful, costly, and undoes everything that you've trained! I would be very unhappy.:tap: Hugs to all of you!
 
Sounds like he may have gotten into a dog fight if he had scabbing puncture wounds on his neck. I would definitely ask if there was an incident that may have happened while he was there and see what they say.

The consistency with the punctures was that of a prong. Circular holes, in unison with each other. Too clean to be from a dog fight.

I called them a few days after picking him up, they told me nothing happened since nothing was documented on his file. Then they were quick to get off the phone with me.
 
o good lord. i have no self control and would be in there guns a blazing..all the hard work and dedication to be shot down in a moment by the hands of another. i cant even read this without a tear im so heart broken for you and rex.
 
Well it doesn't mean if something was not put in his file it did not happen!

I would request an in person meeting with the president or owner. Also bring the vet bill with you.
Don't loose your cool! Yes this will be hard to do.

Depending on your state law I would record this conversation on your cell phone. States have different laws on recording conversations. Like in Ohio as long as one person is aware a conversation is being recorded its all legal. Some states you have to tell the other party the conversation is being recorded.

If the meeting does not happen. Then I would be out front of this place with protest signs. Even if I could not be there everyday I would hire some homeless person to be there!
Make a complaint to the local ASPCA or the City. Maybe this has happened to other owners pets?
Will cost some money but.
Confer with an attorney? Maybe have the attorney write them a letter?
 
So sorry you are going through this.

So when you say new - new to you or new as they just opened their doors? Social media might be your friend in this situation- post if anybody boarded during the same time and you’d like to talk/pm. See if anyone else had a similar experience.

My god he was only there for 3 nights WTF??
 
This saddens and angers me for you and Rex. I will pray for Rex's healing and recovery and also for strength for you and your family while dealing with this. Every other word I want to write is not positive so I will end it it there.
 
Well it doesn't mean if something was not put in his file it did not happen!

I would request an in person meeting with the president or owner. Also bring the vet bill with you.
Don't loose your cool! Yes this will be hard to do.

Depending on your state law I would record this conversation on your cell phone. States have different laws on recording conversations. Like in Ohio as long as one person is aware a conversation is being recorded its all legal. Some states you have to tell the other party the conversation is being recorded.

If the meeting does not happen. Then I would be out front of this place with protest signs. Even if I could not be there everyday I would hire some homeless person to be there!
Make a complaint to the local ASPCA or the City. Maybe this has happened to other owners pets?
Will cost some money but.
Confer with an attorney? Maybe have the attorney write them a letter?

I requested to speak with the president of the kennel. I was told she’d get back to me shortly. That was yesterday, I’m going to give her a chance to make this right. However, based off the employees attitude I don’t think it will. But based off our conversation I will decide my next route.

I’ve been trying to stay cool about it, but it’s been very hard. He’s almost back to normal, but I shouldn’t of had any of this happen I was expecting a little diarrhea but not this.

I typically board him at a place that’s 30 miles from my house. He comebacks happy and healthy everytime. I should of stuck to that one, I chose the new one because it was a mile away, a non profit and had good reviews. However that was wrong.

My assumption is, he wouldn’t stop pulling and wouldn’t listen and someone got frustrated and roughed him up a bit. Based off the welts and his demeanor when someone would get near him after I picked him up. The punctures I think we’re from a missused prong and cheap prong.

Thank you everyone.
 
The consistency with the punctures was that of a prong. Circular holes, in unison with each other. Too clean to be from a dog fight.

I called them a few days after picking him up, they told me nothing happened since nothing was documented on his file. Then they were quick to get off the phone with me.
Like to see that prong collar, did it gave sharpened tips, prongs would not puncture the skin unless sharpened or left on as the dog grew and became to tight over a long period of time.
 
what the actual frick! Is this a boarding place where dogs get to interact with each other during the day or are they kenneled away from each other? We have both kinds around here but we've been using one in which dogs are kenneled separately but get to play with house mates or with a person and NOT other dogs which I prefer (Moo and Rubie get to romp around together with supervision). they're always happy to arrive but happy to come home and the staff is very honest about how rough Rubie plays with Moose (which we warned them about and recommended using a spray bottle to deter over the top play if necessary).

How frustrating for you that he can't tell you what happened :(
 
Like to see that prong collar, did it gave sharpened tips, prongs would not puncture the skin unless sharpened or left on as the dog grew and became to tight over a long period of time.

The prong was probably 3 or 4 links too large as he was wearing it as they brought him out. The girl bringing him out also had no idea to control him. Same with the person who took him in when I dropped him off. I imagine a hard correction ill fitted. I don’t see how else he would of gotten he punctures.
 
what the actual frick! Is this a boarding place where dogs get to interact with each other during the day or are they kenneled away from each other? We have both kinds around here but we've been using one in which dogs are kenneled separately but get to play with house mates or with a person and NOT other dogs which I prefer (Moo and Rubie get to romp around together with supervision). they're always happy to arrive but happy to come home and the staff is very honest about how rough Rubie plays with Moose (which we warned them about and recommended using a spray bottle to deter over the top play if necessary).

How frustrating for you that he can't tell you what happened :(

The boarding place does “social” hours. They are crated during the day and get walks and social hours thru the day. Hey informed me every dog out of their crate or kennel gets a person with them.
 
By any chance did you take pictures of the punctures/scabs?

Does the facility have video surveillance? Many places nowadays have ones where you can log-in and monitor your dog. If they do I would ask the owner to pull them.

Do you know if the President/owner was present that weekend? I wouldn’t be surprised if the “handlers” didn’t report/document anything.
 
By any chance did you take pictures of the punctures/scabs?

Does the facility have video surveillance? Many places nowadays have ones where you can log-in and monitor your dog. If they do I would ask the owner to pull them.

Do you know if the President/owner was present that weekend? I wouldn’t be surprised if the “handlers” didn’t report/document anything.

I didn’t picture anything, I should have but I did no correlate anything at that point. He also has sores on his paws, however I imagine that’s from the concrete.

I don’t think they have video, my coworker did some of the electrical at the facility and didn’t remember seeing any cameras.
 
Maybe you should speak with a lawyer...kennel is not going to pay 8k vet bill, probably won't even call back. IF there was something on video it is now deleted. Did you have vet document the scabs and welts on his body? So sorry this happened to your boy I AM LIVID!!!
 
Most of you guys on here know how adamant I am about how a boarding facility is supposed to be operated. Everything you described from the moment of drop off to pick up has many red flags flying for me.
There is so much I want to say but it’s only going to pour more fuel on your fire so I will refrain at this time.
Just let me say how truly deep this hits my heart because it didn’t have to happen.
I just pray that Rex does not have long term effects from this.
 

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