Dog Community

I need Advice..PLEASE

Posted : 3/1/2007 10:55:47 AM

Where to start? This is probably going to be long. Some of you may know that I used to help out @ a local Doggie Daycare. I quit back in January. I'm trying to not be judgmental of the owner & I need advice on what to do by some impartial minds.
I quit for many reasons. Mostly because I did not agree with the way she treated the dogs OR me. If a dog was barking or acting out, she'd slap an electric collar on the dog & zap it @ will. She would use Gentle Leaders as punishment. Also she did no temperament testing on the dogs that came there. The end result is that she had many unstable dogs there & fights broke out fairly frequently. Also she was the only one beside me who was monitoring the dogs. I was only there so she could run off & let other dogs out & then I'd leave. On Fridays she'd have in between 15 & 20 dogs.
Here's the issue. It's come to my attention that she's putting all the dogs at risk. She calls herself a trainer & I sometimes wonder. The latest issue is with a 2 y/o DA GSD. She says that she's been "working" with this dog. Okay, I'll give her that. She brought this dog to her daycare where there were about 7 other dogs. She tied it to a pole in the middle of the room with a leather muzzle on. All the other dogs were running around this DA dog & she was giving them all treats while this dog was tethered to the pole. Can someone tell me that this is an acceptable way to deal with a DA dog? My fear is her lack of judgment with the dogs that people have entrusted her with. She does not care about liability. Direct quote from her "Let them sue me, I've got nothing" What about the potential danger to the *other* dogs? She is also bringing back some Filas that are *very* unstable. They had *no* socialization when they were young & are VERY schitzy. I do not want to be breedist as far as the Filas go. I'm sure they can be wonderful dogs but what I've seen of these 2 they have no business being in that situation @ this point.
I've grown to love all the dogs that I had contact with & I'm scared to death that they are in harms way. Am I totally helpless to watch this happening? I'm terrified that someone is going to get hurt or killed by her apathy.
When I was working there, I'd confront her about some of her actions she'd agree with me & then do a complete 180 with someone else. In other words, she'll say what's necessary to appease a person & then do whatever she damn well pleases. If it were just people involved I wouldn't care but it's not. There are innocents involved.
What are my options? If you have any questions that might help me see this situation clearly, please ask! I'm currently thinking of trying to have her investigated but I have no idea where to start. Help, please.

jones

Posted : 3/1/2007 11:39:49 AM

Boy... I don't know anything about that and have no practical advice, sorry - but it sounds pretty bad. And yet, I'm not sure there's anything that would look like abuse to AC - she could explain it all away as training. This seems to fall in that vast gray area where animals can be mistreated & endangered legally... but I could be totally wrong (maybe she could be penalized?). Is there any way you can think of to reach out to the dog owners themselves without libeling her?

Scout in Canada

Posted : 3/1/2007 11:45:13 AM

That's an awful situation........ I wonder if you would be able to personally contact the dog owners who take their dogs there? Either write them a letter or call them and explain your concerns.... but of course you would need to know or find their contact info to do that....

Beyond that, does she claim to be associated with any dog organizations or clubs? I would contact them..... maybe contact the local humane society just for the sake of getting the word out....

Cita

Posted : 3/1/2007 11:54:00 AM

I wonder if you would be able to personally contact the dog owners who take their dogs there? Either write them a letter or call them and explain your concerns.... but of course you would need to know or find their contact info to do that....

That's the only thing I could think of... that's awful. Poor doggies!

marty_ga

Posted : 3/1/2007 11:57:32 AM

That doesn't sound right at all to me, and I know little about training. Doesn't the facility have to be licensed to operate? I would start by contacting that agency.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 3/1/2007 12:06:59 PM

ORIGINAL: jones

Boy... I don't know anything about that and have no practical advice, sorry - but it sounds pretty bad. And yet, I'm not sure there's anything that would look like abuse to AC - she could explain it all away as training. This seems to fall in that vast gray area where animals can be mistreated & endangered legally... but I could be totally wrong (maybe she could be penalized?). Is there any way you can think of to reach out to the dog owners themselves without libeling her?

That was my first reaction. I only know how to get in touch with 2 owners. I don't really want to go that way because of libel issues. I know it's a totally grey area & that's my problem. Another issue that I failed to mention is that she is a hoarder too. Unfortunately in that case the township where she lives has no limit on the number of pets a person can have & she has 20-25 cats (that's a number she'll admit to but I suspect that there are more. It certainly smells like more) in her tiny apartment along with 5 dogs.
I'm sure that to AC it would look fine. This sucks because I feel so helpless. I'm afraid that nothing will happen until a dog gets seriously hurt or dies.

dlg81

Posted : 3/1/2007 12:29:30 PM

That was my first reaction. I only know how to get in touch with 2 owners. I don't really want to go that way because of libel issues. I know it's a totally grey area & that's my problem. .

I don't believe she can sue you for libel if you are telling the truth (that is the law in most jurisdictions). I wouldn't say anything like, "she is abusing your dogs." But stating a fact like "she has 20 dogs in her care and only one other staff member" or "she uses a shock collar to discipline dogs" would be a fact. Does she seem like a person who is likely to sue? Do you worry about retaliation by some other means? This lady sounds a little nutty, so I understand why you would worry, but I don't think she would have a a case against you if you simply stated facts.

Also, do you know if she is insured? I believe in my state you have to have insurance to run a dog daycare facility. If she isn't insured that might be a way to get someone involved to shut the place down. Even if she is insured, I wonder if she is violating her policy or not since she has so many animals with so little supervision.

marynh

Posted : 3/1/2007 12:46:57 PM

I would be so careful about contacting the owners of dogs in her care...I would start w/contacting the town government where she is located. Is she licensed to run a business? Is she insured for this business? Permits, etc.
Get your info before contacting any owners. If you are on friendly terms with any owner of one of the dogs perhaps you can get them to request an insurance binder from her. Proof of insurance...if she won't give one that pretty much would say she isn't insured cause binders are given out by the insurance agent at no charge.

denise m

Posted : 3/1/2007 1:31:26 PM

Yikes! I certainly would not be dropping my dog off at her 'tiny apartment'. As much as I agree that this lady is running her daycare poorly (to be kind), I have to wonder what is up with the dogs owners? Do they not check these places out? Do they not check how many and/or what kind of dogs will be interacting with theirs. Does the owner of the DA dog think their dogs best interest is being served at a daycare? If their dogs are being shocked, getting into fights etc. I would think they would notice a troblesome change in their dogs behaviour at home.

I think when ever you release the care of your dog to someone else, be it a boarder, walker or even a groomer, it is your responsibility to ensure that this person is in no way harming or abusing your dog. Just because someone is offering a service it does not mean they are professional or reliable. Buyer beware!

seashell

Posted : 3/1/2007 1:51:37 PM

I couldn't imagine leaving my dog at a place like that. One idea might be to contact the Better Business Bureau and see what they think.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 3/1/2007 2:02:44 PM

I have, after giving it alot of thought & talking to some authorities, I will *not* talk to the owners of the dogs that go there. That's too much of a slippery slope & I have slick shoes. Basically I'm a wuss & I hate conflict. That being said:

Mary, I know for a fact that she does not have insurance, permits or anything else of the kind.

Denise, I know that Olivia (not her name) is pretty good @ saying what people want to hear. I've seen her in action. I think when ever you release the care of your dog to someone else, be it a boarder, walker or even a groomer, it is your responsibility to ensure that this person is in no way harming or abusing your dog. Just because someone is offering a service it does not mean they are professional or reliable. Buyer beware! This is why I'm speaking up, to some degree. I *know* what's going on there. I've seen it first hand.

badrap

Posted : 3/1/2007 2:22:16 PM

wow. you're in a pickle. ignorance is bliss, as they say. i would want to contact the owners, but i wouldn't do it either. i don't think libel is the issue if you're telling the truth, but you do obviously live nearby and lord help you if it's a small town.... make one person mad and the next thing you know, your tires are flat. having said that, i think there are some very good suggestions here:

contact the BBB and file a complaint. anonymous and free. contact the town and complain as a "concerned resident" about health hazards. write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper that doesn't name names, but encourages patrons of doggie daycares to research their "sitters" as thoroughly as they would for their children.

lastly, start your own daycare![

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Xerxes

Posted : 3/1/2007 2:25:14 PM

My opinion is that you should get yourself out of this job AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You have liability if you are working there.

Susan Robertson

Posted : 3/1/2007 4:17:44 PM

Ed, I believe she did quit some time ago for all the above reasons. However, I would think if the owners don't know she's using an E-collar on their dogs that could be grounds for fraud?? Don't you have to disclose to your clients what equipment you use on their pets?

Is she supposed to be licensed? Doesn't sound like she has any reputable background work on owning a DD. But, like you said, buyer beware! Do your homework and checking on places like this.

agilebasenji

Posted : 3/1/2007 4:30:21 PM

ICK! I agree about not talking to her clients, especially in writing. If they ask, you could say, this is what I suggest, or "I wouldn't take my dog there" but that's about all I'd say.

Beyond that, of course checking liscensing, BBB, AC, insurance, etc might be useful.

Also, there's a freebie pet paper in this area and there are articles about stuff in it. Some good, some not-so-good, some make me cringe. If you have one of those (or maybe any freebie paper), maybe you could write an article about what to look for in looking for a dog professional.