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MissSunni · 03-14-2015, 07:01 AM

I can't tell you how much this situation worries me, and with good reason. I got sick right after Thanksgiving and ended up in the hospital. I just moved into this area so I didn't really know anyone well enough to ask them to take care of my 2 Shih Tzus. One was elderly and really did need care. He had bad eye problems. I was so ill anyway, I wasn't able to make any arrangements. My elderly mother was beside herself trying to figure out what to do. There is a large animal hospital/grooming facility/pet shop/boutique boarding right up the street! My mom tried driving back and forth to my house 3 times a day to walk and feed my boys, but it was taking a toll on her, because she was visiting me too. My brother told her he checked it out and the place was beautiful, its got 24/7 emergent doctors at the facility, etc. From the outside it seemed like it would be ok. When I finally was a little more awake, I asked my mom what it was like, and did she see the place, etc. She said it was beautiful and the people were so kind, and when she brought them in they all came over to play with the dogs. So, I said why don't you let them groom them too because they've missed their appt. Long long story…sorry, but I got out of the hospital earlier then expected and the first thing I did was ask my mom to drive me to get the dogs. Of course! She thought I needed a few days of quiet, but as you all know..I needed my dogs. When I got there and asked for them, you could see the actual shock on the staff's faces. I'm dead serious. They expected me 3 days from then. I was paying (won't even tell you how expensive this was) while someone went to bring them out. These were 2 dogs that have been treated royally from the minute they came to me. The door opened and my black and white Shih Tzu and the Gold and White one came thru the door…filthy, matted and shaking. They walked to me with their tails down and heads down, like they were in fear!! I actually just started to cry. I was shocked. I asked what the hell happened? Why were they covered in filth? I saw immediately that George had eye infections in both eyes. But the left one was so bad that his eye was glued shut with gunk. This was at a vet run boarding facility. The one other vets send dogs to for specialists. To end this sad story..My George ended up needing to have eye surgery, and got such a bad infection..he couldn't fully recover. After 2 months of medications and surgeries he just gave up. He stopped eating, all he did was snuggle. This perky little guy who loved his walks more then anything wasn't interested in anything at all. He was a senior dog, but that is not how I ever wanted his last days to be. I carry enormous guilt to this day over how his poor little life ended. I was devastated that my much loved dogs were so mistreated and I PAID for it!! I would have paid anything for them not to have been neglected and maybe abused. My other boy hasn't been the same since either. He misses his brother terribly, and just isn't coming out of his depression that well. He's 9 yrs old. Before this nightmare started if I brought the puppy home, Harry would have loved it…Now he plays with her, sometimes but he's just not himself. So, unless a place has 24/7 cameras on the dog I wouldn't leave them anywhere. Mine was an unusual emergency situation..but really its something I think about all the time now. IF something like that happens again, what is a safe plan for the pups. Something we should all know I think. I'm sorry to be such doom and gloom, but I'm not a stupid woman, so I just had to tell you that appearances are really NOT everything! Lots of advertising, expensive building etc..meaningless if its all BS just for money.

03-14-2015, 07:01 AM	#33
MissSunni YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NJ USA Posts: 492	I can't tell you how much this situation worries me, and with good reason. I got sick right after Thanksgiving and ended up in the hospital. I just moved into this area so I didn't really know anyone well enough to ask them to take care of my 2 Shih Tzus. One was elderly and really did need care. He had bad eye problems. I was so ill anyway, I wasn't able to make any arrangements. My elderly mother was beside herself trying to figure out what to do. There is a large animal hospital/grooming facility/pet shop/boutique boarding right up the street! My mom tried driving back and forth to my house 3 times a day to walk and feed my boys, but it was taking a toll on her, because she was visiting me too. My brother told her he checked it out and the place was beautiful, its got 24/7 emergent doctors at the facility, etc. From the outside it seemed like it would be ok. When I finally was a little more awake, I asked my mom what it was like, and did she see the place, etc. She said it was beautiful and the people were so kind, and when she brought them in they all came over to play with the dogs. So, I said why don't you let them groom them too because they've missed their appt. Long long story…sorry, but I got out of the hospital earlier then expected and the first thing I did was ask my mom to drive me to get the dogs. Of course! She thought I needed a few days of quiet, but as you all know..I needed my dogs. When I got there and asked for them, you could see the actual shock on the staff's faces. I'm dead serious. They expected me 3 days from then. I was paying (won't even tell you how expensive this was) while someone went to bring them out. These were 2 dogs that have been treated royally from the minute they came to me. The door opened and my black and white Shih Tzu and the Gold and White one came thru the door…filthy, matted and shaking. They walked to me with their tails down and heads down, like they were in fear!! I actually just started to cry. I was shocked. I asked what the hell happened? Why were they covered in filth? I saw immediately that George had eye infections in both eyes. But the left one was so bad that his eye was glued shut with gunk. This was at a vet run boarding facility. The one other vets send dogs to for specialists. To end this sad story..My George ended up needing to have eye surgery, and got such a bad infection..he couldn't fully recover. After 2 months of medications and surgeries he just gave up. He stopped eating, all he did was snuggle. This perky little guy who loved his walks more then anything wasn't interested in anything at all. He was a senior dog, but that is not how I ever wanted his last days to be. I carry enormous guilt to this day over how his poor little life ended. I was devastated that my much loved dogs were so mistreated and I PAID for it!! I would have paid anything for them not to have been neglected and maybe abused. My other boy hasn't been the same since either. He misses his brother terribly, and just isn't coming out of his depression that well. He's 9 yrs old. Before this nightmare started if I brought the puppy home, Harry would have loved it…Now he plays with her, sometimes but he's just not himself. So, unless a place has 24/7 cameras on the dog I wouldn't leave them anywhere. Mine was an unusual emergency situation..but really its something I think about all the time now. IF something like that happens again, what is a safe plan for the pups. Something we should all know I think. I'm sorry to be such doom and gloom, but I'm not a stupid woman, so I just had to tell you that appearances are really NOT everything! Lots of advertising, expensive building etc..meaningless if its all BS just for money.