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WWYD? (sorry long)
So we have a 4.5 year old black lab mix who has been going to doggie daycare for three-four years. He needs the exercise and MH and I both work full time. The daycare we've been using also does boarding, and he seems to like it there. The owner is a trainer whose philosophy aligns with ours... the daycare alternates play time and rest time, which we like b/c he went to an all-day-play facility once, and he got dehydrated/etc b/c he didn't rest. The owner is also the go-to guy for some film companies, and they used our dog for a tv show once - which is great for bragging rights. This is not the cheapest daycare in the city, but it is not the most expensive, and it is directly along my route to work.
Here's the problem: Once, during the first year, they sent him home with the wrong person. Idiot woman called ahead b/c it was raining and she was in a hurry and asked them to have her dog ready when she got there. She just ran in and took the dog w/out paying any attention to the fact that the dog they gave her was 5lbs lighter and A Different Gender than her dog. They then tried to give me her dog, but I was all, "umm no?" Ultimately they worked it out and the woman came back - she was halfway home when they called her. We considered switching daycares, but figured they'll never make that mistake again - our dog is now a celebrity there b/c they've never done that before (also, they like bragging about his tv appearance too - which happened later).
So yesterday (3 years later) I went to pick him up and it took them a while to bring him out. The new guy apologizes for the wait and explains that he wanted to make sure it was the right dog b/c their leashes got mixed up or something. So I tell him I appreciate his diligence and tell him about that time my dog went on an unplanned field trip. This whole time my dog is acting fairly normal, but his tail is down. I notice his tail being low on the way home, and when I try to check it out, he rears back and knocks my hand away. I throw him his ball and he chases it, but tail is still down and now it seems like he's only wagging the bottom half. Luckily this is when DH came home, so we took the dog to the vet... who felt a bump in the tail, but wasn't sure. They shaved a section of his tail to get a closer look and there is definitely a bump, but no teeth marks or bleeding. Ultimately, the vet says that it might be broken, but it isn't serious b/c he has feeling all the way to the end, so he has pain pills and we are supposed to watch him for signs that it's getting worse. She suggests maybe he got stepped on, or stuck in a door. It took 5 calls to get the guy from the daycare on the line. He assures me there were no fights today, and he says his own dogs have sprained their tails before and there's no way to know how they did it.
So. Do I stay with the daycare and wait for the third strike? Or do I get out of there now? Do I look at this like my child skinned his knee at daycare, and I should get over it? Or the daycare allowed my child to sprain/break his ankle, and I should not trust them anymore?
Re: WWYD? (sorry long)
If the daycare knew about the injury and intentionaly did not say anything, I would be gone. You need to be able to trust the people taking care of him.
If they truly did not know that this happened, I would stay. You mentioned that the guy was new and as someone who is not a pet owner, I wouldn't realize something is wrong because the tail is down so I'm guessing he may not know your dog enough to realize that something is wrong. Again I'm not a pet owner but as a parent, that is how I would handle it.
This is tricky...
As far as the injury goes, I'm not sure. I don't know how obvious it would be to the individuals working (especially if they're new and don't know your dog). If the vet says it could have happened in any manner of ways ("normal" ways, not neglect or injury ways), then I'd probably let it slide. Granted, I'm not a pet owner or a parent, but I know I was a terror in day care and came home with any number of injuries -- it was never the caretakers fault, it was usually something as simple as I'd start to run across the playground and as my aide was yelling "Don't run!" I'd fall and skin my knees. It's not their fault I'm clumsy and don't listen, you know?
What concerns me more is the fact that they (once again!) got the leashes mixed up and had to figure out which was the right dog. That happens once -- it gets a raised eyebrow. It happens twice...I start looking for alternative care.
This is definitely a tricky one. First of all I think you should call the owner of the place or the person you know the best there and have a conversation with them. Try to find out what actually happened. It is not okay that they didn't fill you in - it could have happened when the new kid was getting your dog and maybe he just didn't say. You never know.
I would certainly have an issue with this though. I have a pooch and he is my son at this point in my life! I wouldn't want to send him to someplace I didn't trust. It sounds like overall things have gone well. Your dog knows the place and is comfortable going there. I'd definitely try to talk it out with the higher-ups and see what happens.
I would put them on (silent) notice. Since you can't really know what caused the injury, you can't really say it's their fault. As for the almost mixing them up--it's a good thing it was almost, they didn't actually mix up your dog. That tells me something--they're working hard to get it right. Plus two incidents in three years is not a huge deal to me.
From the earlier descriptions, it sounds like you've worked long and hard to find a place that aligns with your philosophy, your dog likes, it gives him the rest he needs and play, it's convenient to your location and well priced. I wouldn't throw that all away over this. But I would start looking at them critically. If there are any more incidents that concern you, then I would say you gave them a fair shot and it's done.
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I've noticed our daycare takes their collar off them, too. Not sure why. Could you maybe ask them to stop doing that so at least the mixups won't happen again? I can't see collars being a hazard since no one takes them off at the dog park.
As far as the tail incident, I would talk it over with the owner, not the new guy. If they only do certain play times, then people should be watching constantly. Someone should have known what happened and you should have been notified. Deal breaker? That would probably depend on the outcome of the conversation for me.
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Thanks all.
Today (3 days later) his tail seems mostly back to normal (although he is medicated...), so maybe it was just a sprain after all. I guess I was unclear before, but I when I spoke to someone on the phone after the vet visit, it was the owner, not the new guy. He basically said there were no fights that day, but he didn't go ask anybody. Then he tried to reassure me by telling me his dogs sprain their tails sometimes, and there's no way to know how it happened... I'm a little annoyed by that, but since the injury seems to be temporary, I'm willing to let it go this time. I don't think talking to them about it again will help - I honestly don't think they know how it happened.
I suggested the collar thing after the mix-up 3 years ago, but they gave me some kind of "this is how we do it" speech. I forget their reasoning, but they weren't going to change it.
Anyways, I can be sure he won't get mixed up when he goes back on Weds - he'll be the one with the shaved middle section of his tail. (we're calling it a Lion Cut)