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I read an article recently about a family whose dog escaped from a Dog Day Care Facility. The family was a new customer to this Day Care and when they returned to pick up their dogno dog. The article didn't share if the dog was later found, but what it did share was that after the escape, the owners told the day care the dog was a fence climber. 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. Two weeks later, the husband came to pick up the dogs. As soon as he came in the door, I told him what happened and that the dogs never got their ears cleaned. His reply"I'm so sorry you got hurt, they bite us too when we clean their ears!" 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. Unfortunately, there are pet care providers that just don't care enough. I cringe when I think about the heartbreak reckless or careless behavior could cause. I can't tell you exactly how to avoid these types of pet professionals, but I can give you some suggestions from someone who took care of pets for a living. 1. The pet business should be clean. I firmly believe that if a pet business owner doesn't care enough about the cleanliness of the facility, what else don't they care about? The pet business does not have to be 'state of the art' in design - 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 those references. There is nothing better to calm the nerves of a nervous pet owner than to talk with other pet owners who have experienced the care provided by this pet business. 4. Depending on your state - some pet care businesses are guided by local Animal Control licensing. If that is the case in your state, call the licensing agency and ask about any reports of abuse or misconduct with this business. At the very least, check with the BBB.
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