Im sorry to post this here but read it in one of my emails and feel it should be posted : (Names changed)

My Beloved Dog being boarded over a weekend, because  we were
out of
town. It was Mother's Day weekend. we went to pick him up on Monday
morning and the vet called her into his office. As we learned the true
story
over the past couple of weeks, he  had been bathed on Sunday evening.
A
cage dryer had been put on him and the workers left. They are timed to
go
off in 20 minutes, but it malfunctioned and was still on when they
arrived
in the morning. he  had been dead for a long time, and had died a very
miserable death from overheating. He had never had a sick day in his
life.

>
> My vet has taken complete responsibility and will be giving me

complete
recumpence, but it will not take away the horrific death Bugs endured,
the
nightmares I have every night thinking about it, or bring him back.He
has
also gotten rid of all cage dryers and they now towel-dry all dogs at
this
vet clinic and boarding facility.

>
> What bothered me the most, and something that I am still

investigating, is
that he told us that this is common and acceptable practice, to use
these
dryers like this. I cannot imagine this!! I am trying to get more
information from the American Dog Boarding Association. To leave any
electrical apliance on overnight seems grossly irresponsible to me.

>
> If this is common and acceptable practice, I plan to make certain it

ends
in whatever way that I can. I am posting this in hopes that it will
give
fair warning to everyone on this list and anyone else you may wish to
share
it with, that this is being done as a matter of practice. Even if they
are
not left on overnight, they are often put on dogs and then the dogs are
left
unattended for long periods of time. A malfunction like this, even if
caught
in time, can cause a dog a great deal of pain and suffering.

>
> Please check with your vets, groomers and boarders to see what their

practices are pertaining to these dryers. I had told my vet years ago
that I
did not want my dogs dried, if they needed to be bathed, because it
isn't
needed on a dog whose coat is barely 1 inch long. Obviously, that
message
had not been forwarded to the newer help.

>

That was America Mattie, but it has happened here too.  Two of my grooming dogs were put into a boarding kennel and only one came out alive.  The owner was told 3 different stories (one by the owner  on the telephone, another by the owner at the kennel and a third by a member of staff!) about the demise of the other dog, so she took him to her Vet for a post mortem.  The result was that the dog had either "been dropped from a great height" or had "been hit on the head with something heavy".  The owner tried to find a solicitor to take the case but failed.  I heard from a member of staff at the kennel (not an establishment that I ever recommended!) that the dog hadn't wanted to leave it's kennel and tried to bite staff when they handled it, so it was left sitting in it's own mess for the 2 weeks.  The day before it was due to go home, the kennel owner 'struggled' to bath it!  It was the put in a Vari-kennel - these are solid plastic travel crates with metal ventilation grills - and the dryer pointed on it and left!  A member of staff heard the dog going berserk, told the owner who said "leave the little **** in there!"  You know the result!
I had been trimming these dogs for a couple of years with no problem whatsoever.  As always, all equipment should be used in the way the manufacturer intended.
The moral of the story is ALWAYS get recommendations for your pet services!!

:( makes you worry about leaving your dog anywhere

Mattie and Val that is terrible... :-( I did not know such things as 'drying cages' existed!! Those poor dogs. I agree with blondebird and would worry about leaving my dog anywhere, though I am sure there are many good kennels out there. I just hope these dreadful places got lots of adverse publicity and went out of business

Not all kennel owners and groomers are dog lovers perhaps people should insist on staying at the groomers even if parking outside
everyone knows my opinion on cages but I watched as someone put a hairdryer on on one of these I said the dog cant get out of the way if it becomes too hot anyway she altered it but If I wasnt there what would have happened only just really remebered that now
I also saw a groomer washing one of our rescued labs she put soap in his eyes I said dont do that she said oh its ok it cleans the eyes :( needless to say she did do another of ours  !

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!  If an owner was concerned about leaving their dog with me, I always suggested that they watch me trim another dog.  Dogs, like children, often play up with Mum around!!  There were some though who's owners would say "You'll NEVER be able to descale his teeth!" and I would often say "Would you like to watch?" and their mouths would drop in amazement!!
Be aware that groomers don't need to be trained.  Anyone can buy a pair of clippers and put an ad in the local paper!
Owners also don't have to be experienced to buy a boarding kennel either.  I had one owner who used to bring their cocker in with each 4" thick with matts!  He was on his last warning (either groom your dog or find a sheep shearer to clip it!) when he presented me with a handful of brochures for a boarding kennel and offered me commission for sending dogs.  I said, "How can you look after other peoples' dogs when you can't look after you own?"  His reply was "I've been on a weekend training course in Norfolk!"  I wouldn't have let him walk my dog around the block let alone board it!!
There ARE good groomers out there.  There ARE good boarding kennels out there.  The difficulty is finding them and recommendation is always the best route!

Our dogs do not always react in the way we might think when left in kennels. Many years ago when my sisters oldest boy was getting married it was scalding hot in the middle of summer. We were going to be away from home for two days and could not possibly leave the dogs in the car so I booked them into a kennel which had been recomended to me. Bethany was around 4 years old and Lucy was 2.

On returning to pick up the dogs I was told by the owner of the kennel, "Arr yes, you are the owner of the bad tempered Labrador!" It appears poor Bethany was so worried that she would not let anyong near her or Lucy.

A few years later this same person brought a puppy to the club. She obviously did not recognise either me or Bethany. The puppy was keen to play but was trying to play with a dog who was obviously not keen. Bethany was noseing around it, mouth open and tail wagging. The person told her puppy, "Go and see that lovely Labrador, she wont hurt you"! From that day on, all her puppies were introduced to Beth as part of their socialising as soon as entering the club.

Bethany was the kindest, sweetest dog imaginable and I would trust her anywhere but suddenly finding herself deserted in a strange place with only herself to look after her baby she was obviously afraid and confused. It was outside anything she had ever known and the poor dog did not have a clue what was happening.

Best wishes, John

I know somebody whose Great Dane came out of kennels with weals on it's front legs where they had been tied together to stop him jumping up.  They succesfully sued the kennel owner.  One of my cattery clients worked for an estate agent and told me that she was selling a boarding cattery.  They had had an offer on it from someone who told her  "I can't stand cats and my husband is allergic to them but it'll be a nice earner" :( 

On recommendation from our vet we went to visit a boarding kennel and were horrified - although the building was new and immaculate the owner was a joke, well it was not even funny...

He also runs a grooming parlour and told us about a dog that he had staying at the kennels, he said that his coat was a real mess so he clipped it all off.  He also showed us a riding crop that he used if any of the dogs got out of hand...When I enquired about providing my own food he said that the brand he used was the best and he was not willing to change and use another brand (depsite my protests that my dog has a sensitive stomach and I was not willing to use any other food...) Needless to say we left quite quickly and explained to our vet what we had seen and they will no longer be recommending them...

I didn't think vets were allowed to recommend.

Vets in Berkshire recommended me as a groomer and certainly recommended the boarding kennels who paid them a retainer!

Well he is a friend as well but he used those kennels until we told him about our visit...

I'm absolutly horrified at these reports and greatly upset at the suffering the poor dogs went through. My heart goes out to the owners.

I was "recommend" a groomer by my vet who scalped my Westie (Angus). It was his first cut and it looked terrible. He showed his disapproval by leaving a very big poo on their drive (good boy). However I have now found a superb groomer who not only shows her own dogs at Crufts but has qulifications in grooming, dog psychology etc.

She is a real find and if anyone lives in the Bournemouth / Poole area and wants her phone number let me know. BTW I have no connection with her except as being a very satisfied customer.

John

Now that's the way to do it!!  Personal recommendation is always best.