Dog Health Questions: Unsatisfactory dog boarding experience with my greys?

Yahoo community I need your help. We went on a 9 day vacation and left our 2 greyhounds with a lady who does dog training and boarding at her home. She was recommended by the local rescue group. We went for a visit before we dropped the dogs off to discuss their issues.. mostly that greys are delicate and NOT yard dogs. We paid a premium price to board them in a home environment. And now that my dogs are home we realize that is not what we got. They have callouses, chapped skin, missing hair, and sunburn. They are stiff, lame, and sore. I already paid her and didnt inspect them closely until I got home. I was very tired when I picked them up and I trusted her and her reputation.

What would you do?

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I would not use her again. I would also call her and ask what the heck she did to your dogs to cause this. It will be relevant if they need vet attention. If you have to take them to the vet for treatment, ask her if she will pay for it, if she refuses, and the bill's significant, take her to small claims court. Oh, and phone the rescue that recommended her and let them know what happened. They may be willing to stop recommending her to others.

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• First go to your vet and explain the situation. Get documentation and take pictures of their wounds/health condition. Ask the vet what they suggest you do. I would contact a lawyer and see what advice they can give as well.
  Once armed in writing with this info., I would go to her and let her know she did wrong, and you have the proof. Tell her you want a refund (or what ever it is you want) and if she doesn't comply tell her you'll take her to court. She neglected your pets and you should not have to pay if they were harmed and she did not give the service advertised/requested.
  Animal abuse is a crime and she should be punished. I am sorry your babies were harmed. It is like daycare for children, you can check and recheck but you never really know how they are going to be treated for sure. Again, I'm sorry.
  Best of luck with you and your dogs.


• Think BB has given a pretty good answer only thing I would add is tell the rescue group to make sure they never recommend her again.


• First - I would report your displeasure to your rescue group, so they do not refer others to her.
  
  I'm sure you'll never take your hounds to her again.
  
  Did you call her and ask her what happened to your hounds while you were away? I can't think of any reason that Greyhounds would get callouses and sunburn while being boarded inside someones home. The missing hair could be from playing with each other, as you know how easily these guys can get scuffed up.
  
  In the future maybe you can exchange dog sitting with other people within your own rescue. This is what our group does, and then instead of paying board, we make a donation to the group. So we are helping the hounds, as well as each other. (and your dogs stay in a home with other Greys)
  
  I'd be fuming about now ..........but if she did feed and care for your dogs, then I doubt you could get a refund of any type - as she did provide the service you contracted with her for.
  
  But I would make it well known to all pet owners I knew that the woman does not provide the quality of care that she advertises.


• Don't use her again, I don't think there is much you can do legally, I would call the rescue group that gave her the recommended her and let them know what happened, was the rescue group the greyhound rescue?? If not call the adoption group you got your greys from, I'm in the Phila.,Pa Area and the NGAP boards and the greyhounds get wonderful care, state of the art med care, paddocks to play in, best of food, they will do their teeth (laser) cut nails, have it all done if you want, maybe there is a NGAP in your area, they all treat the dog's great, but I think Phila has the med. center next time try them it is a large organization, I think there all over check the web National Greyhound Adoption Program.